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| Blogs > peekabooicu2ucme > Musings and mayhem of my mind |
Guts
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Guts Looking around at my coworkers today I found myself getting a bit discouraged. Often I'm surrounded by whiny childish and bitchy behavior. The finger pointing and the passing of the buck stupid crap that just frustrates the hell out of me. Some of these girls are afraid of anything that resembles a challenge, like a combative resident. I get hit, bit, scratched, kicked, groped, pinched, slapped, stuff thrown at me, sworn at, spit on, and just about any other form of abuse you can imagine on a regular basis. I don't love those times of course, but I recognize that it's all part and parcel of taking care of people that may or may not have all of their cylinders firing. Shit happens, both literally and figuratively. It's how you deal with it that shows your character. There are many different reactions to negative behavior. Some people get angry and have to excuse themselves from the situation. Some people take it very personally and get upset and have a meltdown. Some people just refuse to deal with it altogether and leave it to someone else. Some people just stand around bitching about the situation as if that helps anything. Some people try baby talk and try to reason with someone that is obviously beyond reason, or bribery as if the behavior is voluntary and can be switched on and off with the promise of a treat. Then there's me and those like me that choose to use humor and guts to face these challenges head on and take care of our residents no matter their behavior. We don't hesitate to make sure that those under our care are clean and safe and can keep as much dignity as possible even though it may cost us a few bruises, scratches, ect ect ect. We try to protect them from harming themselves first, and then ourselves. We're the ones that occasionally get hurt trying to save our residents from a fall, or other injury by putting ourselves at risk. It just comes naturally to us to help even if it harms us. Some of the people I've talked to and described some of my job to have told me that they could never do it. I agree. It's not for everyone. The turnover rate is pretty high. I've seen many people burn out very quickly. I'd never say that what I do is easy. But I still love it. Last night we dubbed "Hit your LNA night". It was either that or stripper night, but we lacked the pole and monopoly money. That's going in the suggestion box though.  What? If they're gonna take it off, might as well have fun with it right? And hell, they are calling them "exercise poles" now right? It'd be great for rehab.  Anywho, must've been a full moon or new moon or something 'cause it was wild. I think I've used up all my guts for the day. It'll be good to unwind with a few days off and recharge myself. So that's part of what my job is all about. What do you do? Does it take guts?  |
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My niece is a nurse and works in a residential care home and I've often said it must take a lot of guts to do that job. She's had similar experiences to yours, but she is so dedicated as you seem to be.
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I'm glad your mother received quality care. 
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My niece is a nurse and works in a residential care home and I've often said it must take a lot of guts to do that job. She's had similar experiences to yours, but she is so dedicated as you seem to be. We'll always be needed, that's for sure.
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I used to do highwire and fiber construction. I spent lots of time dangling at lethal heights from partially constructed poles and towers. I gaffed many rotten telephone poles and fought many animals and other creatures to get my job done. I had to work in every possible weather condition with life threatening power and high tension. It took some guts but now adays I just have to worry about heavy machinery and exploding munitions. I wouldn't take your job though. Sapere aude, cor ad cor loquitur. RaMbLiNgS oF a LoSt MiNd
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I work as staff in health care, and the only guts required is to present the quarterly reports. It includes a few nursing homes and home services, and I have held computer courses for the employees. I inserted the line: "You are dealing with demented and psychotic people, taking care of dying and dead patients - don't let yourself be intimidated by a computer program!!" <- Profile photo courtesy of Bonding with coworkers
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I used to cry sometimes when I first began. I guess I toughened up a lot since then. Or I just found a different way to view things. I think I'd prefer to work with all men. Most girls just annoy me.
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I used to do highwire and fiber construction. I spent lots of time dangling at lethal heights from partially constructed poles and towers. I gaffed many rotten telephone poles and fought many animals and other creatures to get my job done. I had to work in every possible weather condition with life threatening power and high tension. It took some guts but now adays I just have to worry about heavy machinery and exploding munitions. I wouldn't take your job though.
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I work as staff in health care, and the only guts required is to present the quarterly reports. It includes a few nursing homes and home services, and I have held computer courses for the employees. I inserted the line: "You are dealing with demented and psychotic people, taking care of dying and dead patients - don't let yourself be intimidated by a computer program!!"  We are "paperless" now with PDA's to put in all of our data. It's funny how some people are so intimidated by that, but have no problems with the physical aspects of what we do. Thanks for that.
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12/14/2009 11:58 am |
Relax....you deserve it! I hope you never lose your sense of purpose and dedication. The job you do is both extremely important and extremely difficult. If only there were many more like you.........
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I sure have seen a lot of different people with different issues, lifestyles, illnesses, personalities, and families. Some things just break your heart if you let them. I do work at a nice nursing home thankfully. I've heard horror stories about some that aren't so nice. Thanks for sharing.
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Relax....you deserve it! I hope you never lose your sense of purpose and dedication. The job you do is both extremely important and extremely difficult. If only there were many more like you.........
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Keep it up! The verbal abuse amuses me sometimes. What can I say, I have a twisted sense of humor.
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That's got to be the hardest thing I see, a younger person with their life cut short. Short staffing can be a real challenge. It's next to impossible to give everyone the care they need and deserve when that happens. Luckily the nursing home I work at is much more staffed than some of the previous ones I've worked at and the staff to resident ratio is much higher.  I'm sorry for your loss. Outliving your children is about the harshest thing I can think of.
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