To: A current CNA student
From: A former CNA student, now a CNA
November 2007
I told your instructor I would tell you a little bit about the nursing home where I work and where you are doing your clinicals. As she has probably told you, I also did my clinicals there and loved it and loved the people. I’m not sure what floor you have been doing your clinicals on, but wherever you are, I’m sure you are having fun and loving the residents. That is why I chose to work here - because of the residents. And after a while the residents aren’t just residents anymore. They are like family. You spend so much time with them, and share in such intimate moments of their lives, it is hard not to think of them as family. I’m glad you are wanting to come and work at this nursing home. It is a wonderful place to work, and such wonderful people to work with. I’m also glad that you chose to become a CNA and to make a difference in these residents’ lives. As for you and your classmates, as well as the people that already work there, or anywhere for that matter, for most of the residents, we are the only people they get to share their lives with. As you go on in your career as a CNA, just remember they are people, too. You will become more comfortable in your job and might at some point forget that, as we all have done. But, try not to forget for too long, because they do have feelings and they do need people to talk to. And, although you are there to do a job, you still need to take the time to listen to them and hear every word that they say. Right now in clinicals it’s easy to do that when you only take care of one or maybe two people - to listen to their stories, but as you get out there and work in a healthcare facility, you will be taking care of a lot more, and it does get harder to stop and take the time to listen. Just remember you are their source to the outside world, to something more than just the nursing home, and to most of them who don’t have any family left, to them you are their family, and they just need you to take the time to listen. Being a CNA is hard, but it is worth it just to maybe catch a smile from someone who rarely smiles, or to hear a story from someone who usually only says a few words. I promise you, you will love being a CNA, and like both of my instructors told me and my class, don’t ever let anyone tell you, or don’t let yourself think you are "just" a CNA. You are much more than that! Good luck to you and to everyone in your class. I know you will all do well and you will all be great CNA’s. Take care of my residents. As I said before, they are no longer "just" my residents, but my family as well.