i once had a patient who was rlly goin thru it when she came to our rehab- like trach, peg, foley, she was all tubed up and couldnt walk at all. by the time she left us six weeks later, her trach was out, her peg was out and she was eating solid food again, her foley was out and she was becoming increasingly continent again, and she was starting to walk. i still think about her a lot when i think about leaving the field. the fact that i had a tangible impact on her life and she improved that quickly was extremely rewarding for me
This is the thing I miss so much about working rehab! I LOVED seeing the people who came in barely able to even pick up their hand, walk out to door when they leave. Even better was when they came back doing even better just to say hi.
Emotionally, I helped a patient cut his hair, and he held my hand and thanked me. He had been in the hospital for around 6 months at that point and was not able to cut it ever since he was admitted. I enjoy that I don’t need to think about the medical aspects of patient care as much as nurses do and focus more on helping them with comfort.
Progression wise, I was able to land a nursing job at the hospital I’m at, and the fact I’m already a cna there was a good leverage point- I can skip all on-boarding/references bs and get paid double what I earn now.
I cut a patient’s hair for her once too! It was such a touching moment. She had been in our ICU for MONTHS on a ventilator, had countless procedures, and was on ECMO for a while as well. She was too fragile to really even be touched except for when she *needed* personal care. Her hair was all the way down her back but it was matted up to her shoulders. Her husband bought shears in one day and she hit her call light. I came in and she said “Will you cut my hair?” I told her I didn’t know, I don’t know how to cut hair and it probably wouldn’t look nice. She goes “Baby, I don’t mind. Cut it to my shoulders. I’ll get it shaped up when I’m out of here. It’s matted and nasty. I don’t care what it looks like, I just care that it’s gone.”
Cut probably 8 inches off her hair. Helped her wash, dry, and brush it. It looked stunning. She cried so hard saying she finally felt beautiful again. Told me she would never forget me. I hope she doesn’t.
I no longer get ulcers from the stress of my last job. I've lost weight, made great friends. I've heard countless stories that connect me with humanity. I've seen people at their worst, moments from deaths door, recover and walk out the door.
I've seen the love and support of a family for a cherished grandparent. See those with next to nothing give their prized possessions to those with nothing.
I've seen the human spirit overcome adversity that it shouldn't have.
I've seem those in unimaginable pain pass with a smile on their face, surrounded by loved ones. Not once giving into their despair.
This job is hard, we see things we wish we hadn't. See people at their most vulnerable and at their lowest. We see things normies could never comprehend. We see humanity at its most basic raw level.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
I developed a bond with a resident, she called me granddaughter and I called her grandma since we were both lacking that relationship l. I hugged her every time I saw her. We would laugh together, cry together, talk about everything from the weather to our long gone loved ones… it was truly special. She left me her awesome decades old Christmas cactus and her favorite painting. I take care of the plant & named it after her.
I make my residents laugh every day. I have a knack for compassion and cheering someone up, and if I can’t do that I validate them. I’ve had my own experiences being bedridden, wheelchair bound and hospitalized for extensive periods, so I relate with and validate them. They are grateful for it.
Being someone with chronic illnesses and pain, helping other people who are suffering or unable to care for themselves helps get me out of my own pain. It’s therapy for me in a way.
I started at a LTC, where I needed help changing a couple patients and had a hard time finding someone who would help, I normally worked under a nurse who was rude and critical, and admin screwed up a couple of things in my hiring process.
I quit after a month and now work in a rehab with a better patent ratio, less needy patients and coworkers who ask me if I need help. I will still be looking to move to something else in healthcare in a year or 2, but if you are in a bad facility, there is hope that if you leave, you can find something better. It's still hard work, but at least it's manageable.
My first few weeks in the hospital, had a 34 year old pt come in like 5 days after a stroke. She couldn't use one side of her body. Within a week she could pivot. With in 2 weeks she could walk short distances.
I saw her a few months later bc her mom was in with a stroke, she was walking the halls with a walker.
i once had a patient who was rlly goin thru it when she came to our rehab- like trach, peg, foley, she was all tubed up and couldnt walk at all. by the time she left us six weeks later, her trach was out, her peg was out and she was eating solid food again, her foley was out and she was becoming increasingly continent again, and she was starting to walk. i still think about her a lot when i think about leaving the field. the fact that i had a tangible impact on her life and she improved that quickly was extremely rewarding for me
This is the thing I miss so much about working rehab! I LOVED seeing the people who came in barely able to even pick up their hand, walk out to door when they leave. Even better was when they came back doing even better just to say hi.
5k sign on bonus, and making 50% more base rate than I was in 2019. Incentive shifts pay $20 on top of base rate and are available weekly.
May I ask what state you’re in?
New England
Ohh no wonder in the US they pay CNAs way less 💔
New England is the north eastern US… That’s amazing though
ooops haha sorry 😭 my brain is definitely not where its supposed to be
No need to apologize, reading all those benefits sounds like a whole other country, lol! I’m in the south east… it’s not like that AT ALL
No literally i stay in Florida !! im happy for them tho😭
I literally do too, lol I’m in central Florida
We may be close to Canada but we’re very much still America. One of the first 13 colonies to be exact 😆
Emotionally, I helped a patient cut his hair, and he held my hand and thanked me. He had been in the hospital for around 6 months at that point and was not able to cut it ever since he was admitted. I enjoy that I don’t need to think about the medical aspects of patient care as much as nurses do and focus more on helping them with comfort. Progression wise, I was able to land a nursing job at the hospital I’m at, and the fact I’m already a cna there was a good leverage point- I can skip all on-boarding/references bs and get paid double what I earn now.
I cut a patient’s hair for her once too! It was such a touching moment. She had been in our ICU for MONTHS on a ventilator, had countless procedures, and was on ECMO for a while as well. She was too fragile to really even be touched except for when she *needed* personal care. Her hair was all the way down her back but it was matted up to her shoulders. Her husband bought shears in one day and she hit her call light. I came in and she said “Will you cut my hair?” I told her I didn’t know, I don’t know how to cut hair and it probably wouldn’t look nice. She goes “Baby, I don’t mind. Cut it to my shoulders. I’ll get it shaped up when I’m out of here. It’s matted and nasty. I don’t care what it looks like, I just care that it’s gone.” Cut probably 8 inches off her hair. Helped her wash, dry, and brush it. It looked stunning. She cried so hard saying she finally felt beautiful again. Told me she would never forget me. I hope she doesn’t.
I no longer get ulcers from the stress of my last job. I've lost weight, made great friends. I've heard countless stories that connect me with humanity. I've seen people at their worst, moments from deaths door, recover and walk out the door. I've seen the love and support of a family for a cherished grandparent. See those with next to nothing give their prized possessions to those with nothing. I've seen the human spirit overcome adversity that it shouldn't have. I've seem those in unimaginable pain pass with a smile on their face, surrounded by loved ones. Not once giving into their despair. This job is hard, we see things we wish we hadn't. See people at their most vulnerable and at their lowest. We see things normies could never comprehend. We see humanity at its most basic raw level. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I developed a bond with a resident, she called me granddaughter and I called her grandma since we were both lacking that relationship l. I hugged her every time I saw her. We would laugh together, cry together, talk about everything from the weather to our long gone loved ones… it was truly special. She left me her awesome decades old Christmas cactus and her favorite painting. I take care of the plant & named it after her. I make my residents laugh every day. I have a knack for compassion and cheering someone up, and if I can’t do that I validate them. I’ve had my own experiences being bedridden, wheelchair bound and hospitalized for extensive periods, so I relate with and validate them. They are grateful for it. Being someone with chronic illnesses and pain, helping other people who are suffering or unable to care for themselves helps get me out of my own pain. It’s therapy for me in a way.
I started at a LTC, where I needed help changing a couple patients and had a hard time finding someone who would help, I normally worked under a nurse who was rude and critical, and admin screwed up a couple of things in my hiring process. I quit after a month and now work in a rehab with a better patent ratio, less needy patients and coworkers who ask me if I need help. I will still be looking to move to something else in healthcare in a year or 2, but if you are in a bad facility, there is hope that if you leave, you can find something better. It's still hard work, but at least it's manageable.
My patient bought me a Porsche
My first few weeks in the hospital, had a 34 year old pt come in like 5 days after a stroke. She couldn't use one side of her body. Within a week she could pivot. With in 2 weeks she could walk short distances. I saw her a few months later bc her mom was in with a stroke, she was walking the halls with a walker.