Why is it that CNA's get paid soo much for MISTREATING people?

I don’t know what to say…. My sincere condolences.

Last time I worked as a CNA (It was 30 years ago) we only got paid minimum wage. Has that changes much in the last 30 years?
It is a thankless job, wiping adults butts, keeping them clean and comfortable with no real rewards.
I had some pretty scary co workers. It’s hard to find quality people willing to do such a back breaking and heart breaking job for minimum wage.
I am so sorry for what you are going through.
You need to take the initiative and make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
Your mother will get better care if you are nice to them.
Bring them cookies, say thank you often and give them a lot of positive reinforcement.
I know you just want to scream and get pissed, but that will not help your mom to get better care.
Knowing that the family is checking up on them often and randomly, and a family who treats them with dignity and respect is the best way to get the best care for your mom.

If it is anything like the nursing homes here the problem is that they don’t pay enough to get good quality staff.

I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know, there are a lot great people in the medical profession who choose to be there because they truly do care about their patients. These people are angels on Earth. However, sadly there are many others who shouldn’t be working in this field at all. They are in it for the wrong reasons. As a medical professional myself, it angers me to hear of such stories as the one you and your family have recently experienced. Again, I’m so sorry you and your family are going through such pain. God bless.

I’m sorry about your loss. I really don’t think you can have such generalized ideas about CNAs or nurses though. I worked as a CNA for a couple years and as @Judi pointed out it is thankless. It pays a lot better than it used to though. I took excellent care of my people and I liked the job, but it was hard on the body. Some nursing homes are excellent and some are horrific.

I volunteered at a nursing home for a summer once, @Judi is right about all that.

It’s a lot like working in low-end retail, too, taking a bunch of $hit and getting not much in return. I bet a bunch of the employees are about as unhappy as retail workers, too, and have a hard spot in their hearts for the ‘customers.’ It’s not like they’re respected or paid like hospital workers.

Her ideas will get you far.

I think it simply depends on the person. My wife works in a facility that is run by the state for DD type people. She doesn’t even have a nursing degree. The work is hard, the pay is rather abysmal, and if it wasn’t for the union benefits, I really don’t see how anyone could do it. I wouldn’t do her job for a thousand bucks an hour, but she loves it. I guess it all depends on your state of mind. Wiping butts, and cleaning up puke all day, having people take swings at you, and maintaining a chaotic environment while your co-workers want to just sit on their ass all day and gossip, for $12 an hour?

Not for me, but she loves her job, and she loves her ‘individuals’, so it works out fine for her. I’ve always said, if you hate your job, then find one you can look forward to everyday.

I don’t have any input except to say I’m sorry that has happened to her.

Ahem

CNAs do not get paid all that much, and it’s a thankless, high stress job that takes an emotional toll on the people who do it. The people who really care about the job burn out within months; the people who don’t care are the only ones who can survive.

Meanwhile, the nursing home is under pressure from insurance companies and relatives to charge as little as possible. This means they aim at staffing levels where they can do an adequate job, because they simply can’t afford to hire enough people to do a good job—and if they try, the same people who scream at them for only doing an adequate job will scream at them for charging too much. Some of the staff will go above and beyond because they care about the job and about the people, but if they do too much of that, they burn out.

Thank you all for your condolences….........they do pay alot more now and $13—$15 an hour is good pay if you stay where i do…........and i can understand being nice to get better results, which that was done…...but its a lil too late for that because shes gone now. and…..she wasnt too much of a bother as a patient because she was basically in a vegetable like stage she just layed there so it probably wasnt too hard to care for her. now i have heard in some cases where cna’s have told me they had patients who spit, bit, cursed, threw things etc and thats where i feel the underappreciation comes in at. im a MAA and i went to school with the CNA’s and i didnt wanna get involved with the cna thing because i get attached easily to people and i couldnt bear losing a patient/friend…......but i can understand everyones input and comments.

thanks

Hi
Sorry to hear about your mom in law,are you sure the CNA are totally at fault?Sometimes people just let go and family has a hard time dealing with that.I have seen residence who can walk and are in fine health ,code and be sent out and pass away while they are out.

I am a CNA and I do not get paid well at all even for the work I do taking care of 14 plus people $13 an hour wouldnt be sufficient.I only maike $10 an hour but I do love the work most of the time,Sometimes I feel blamed for stuff that cannot be helped and I feel overworked and way underpaid,and def under appreciated But I knew that going in so I keep that in mind.

Sometimes I go 8 hours without stopping not even for a second…. sometimes I cant even chart till after the new aides come on,and I never get my 15 min breaks and once a week I may get my lunch….In order to be compliant with my employer I clock out so that they will not get in trouble and I still work.

Just a couple of days ago I worked with one other aide on the entire hall it was so tiring and crazy if I didnt love the people and have compassion to do everything in my power to ensure good care I would have walked out cause for $10 an hour its not worth it unless you care that much.I feel loyality to my residents, family come in and see them but I am there more then family is,residents become attched to us as more then aides we are there when they are soiled, dirty and dying we hold their hands while they cry about feeling lost and worthless while they wonder where and why their family hasnt been in,I have literally watched poeple die from broken hearts becuase thier families got too busy.

I will hold the hand of your dying relative and be strong while they pass away especially for the ones who are very much aware they are dying then I will wait until I drive home to cry….

If the wages where better or the job easier I might stay an aide for years but as it stands I cannot support my family for so little pay doing such back breaking ,heart wrenching work so I will continue in school and get my cota for a while then move on from thier.But I will always love being an aide.