A bit of background, I'm doing a traineeship to become an EEN, and have less than a year to go. However I have been working in the Aged care industry for a year and a half.
Out of the four Australian girls working as carers in this place, three are training to be enrolled nurses and none of us are taken seriously, or are given any kind of education by the CCC's or RN's. Often the information we are given is completely incorrect, or not given at all. I'll be handed a dressing to apply to a resident and would refuse to tell me why that particular dressing is appropriate for the wound. I have school one day a week, and no prac experience at school on the premise we are actually learning something at work; my learning just happens to be not what to do.
I also discovered this week that I am the only trainee in my class who actually isn't doing dressings (I applied my second dressing this week, just given the dressing and told to scoot) Makes me furious!
I've been frequently told that I'm not to have anyone learning from me, as I am only a trainee, however I seem to have the touch that a lot of PCA's are missing. However I took one Nursing student (first placement) under my wing today and she told me that she learnt more from me than any other staff member that she has worked with. And this was only working in low care. Other students who might help me with transfers also talk about me in a positive way, and then note the treatment given by the other non-Australian staff there, some of which just worries me to no end.
I know I might be just bitching about my facility, and that no facility is perfect, but it just makes me sad for the people who come there expecting top care at top price and having to be treated like caged hens. I wouldn't say cattle because where most of the staff are from cattle are respected more than most people.
Just remember guys, this is their home, not just our job. It's stressful for us, but comparing to the life that these residents have led don't you think they deserve a little diginity and respect?
