Hi everyone. I am a new CNA and just started a job with hospice in their in patient unit. I have a very out going personality, always smiling and laughing. I am worried that I have picked the wrong job in the CNA field. I am finding this job to be very, shall I say, Quiet. I am very conciencous about the seriousness of the job and the patients and families needs. But, I am seeing that the CNA's dont really talk to each other, they just do their job in a very timely manner, the nurses aren't friendly and I don't get to spend time with patients as I had hoped. I go in, do my duties and then leave to give the family their private time. I am finding this to be kind of a lonely job and am thinking I am better suited for the nursing home where I can make relationships with the residents. Should I hang in their or give this more time?
aastew wrote:Hi everyone. I am a new CNA and just started a job with hospice in their in patient unit. I have a very out going personality, always smiling and laughing. I am worried that I have picked the wrong job in the CNA field. I am finding this job to be very, shall I say, Quiet. I am very conciencous about the seriousness of the job and the patients and families needs. But, I am seeing that the CNA's dont really talk to each other, they just do their job in a very timely manner, the nurses aren't friendly and I don't get to spend time with patients as I had hoped. I go in, do my duties and then leave to give the family their private time. I am finding this to be kind of a lonely job and am thinking I am better suited for the nursing home where I can make relationships with the residents. Should I hang in their or give this more time?
Hi Stew,
Congratulations on your new job! You've picked a real challenging area to work in. As you've found, hospice can be a somber area but it doesn't have to be. Burn-out is particularly high in this specialty and it's possible that several of your coworkers are there. Depression with it's symptom of "failure to connect" with people is a hallmark sign.
At any rate, even though you've seen only reserved behavior where you work, it's possible and often desirable to lighten up a little around the dying. Of course, the care environment is a very personal choice to be made by the patient and family but your sunny disposition can be a welcome breath of fresh air. Sometimes the dying process can be a private thing but often the care providers involved at the end of life become quite close and are very much a part of the process. It's the patient's final act and the people involved probably have no idea what to expect or how to behave. During this time listen well and let your intuition guide you.
This brings me back to the subject of burn-out. Healthcare workers in general are prone to this condition and since you're just starting out, be careful. You sound like someone who isn't afraid to love people which will make you a top notch healthcare provider. As part of caring for yourself, develop a solid support system. Maybe you can help your coworkers too. Because of how you describe yourself, it is my sense that you will inevitably grow close to your patients and when they die, mourn for them. It will allow you to gain closure and move on. Some of your coworkers may say things like, "don't get too close" and "protect your feelings", but that's not really a healthy behavior and it runs counter to your profession. You're a caring human and pretending that you don't feel the hurt is a first class ticket to self destruction. In the meantime, don't hesitate to be yourself and, keep smiling. Everyone around you needs it.
Good luck and, keep us posted
R