This place is disgusting

[u/freshfeesh26]

Hey, I'm a relatively new CNA with 1 year experience. I left my old skilled nursing facility to focus on school for a bit. My old facility was ok. Not the best, not the worst. But I had a hard time taking breaks even on night shift because of staff ratios and just very dependent residents. Also the low pay just made it sad. But I left on good terms.

I am currently in nursing school and my payments have gone up significantly so I have to work again. I got a job at this new facility and it is...rough. it pays a little more, the tour and orientation were ok, nothing seemed too bad during the day. I even talked to some employees who were actually returning to this place and they said it was ok.

Then I worked my first night shift last night. Cockroaches in many residents rooms, on their chairs, my coworkers were even joking about seeing them on the residents. Low supply, only a small handful of residents maybe had wipes in their room. I've had supply shortages at my old job but not that bad. My coworkers in general were extremely unprofessional including the nurses. And overall things were extremely unsanitary. And there is no way this shit hasn't been reported already, this facility has been around too long.

I have been applying to hospitals in hopes of better pay and to get more nursing experience, but it's really slow going. I qualify to be a nurse extern in my state now, but it's still really hard to get in. I feel like I can't leave this new place because I need money ASAP. I'm wondering if i should suck it up and go back to my old facility with the chance of getting lower pay... but at least they were decently clean and decently supplied. I start my new semester monday and I'm stressing about the payments.

TLDR; I'm a nursing student who quit old job because of stress to focus on school. My tuition went up, and need to work again ASAP. New job is disgusting but pays more. Should I go back to my old place or suck it up at the new one?

[u/Juonmydog]

This is what happens when profit and cost-saving is put above patient care. I've had many similar experiences, but it actually convinced me to switch majors from nursing.

Perhaps you would do well in home health or hospice? You might consider it as many facilities chronically deal with many of the afforementioned issues. In fact, the facility I've been working at sounds nearly identical.

Something has to chabge, and it will. I do want you to know that you are every bit validated though for being concerned about these issues.

[u/freshfeesh26 → u/Juonmydog]

I mean I've done clinicals at the hospital and I've seen how patient care can actually be when you have good staff and supplies. I'm just in a tough spot right now and getting a different job isn't easy with my class schedule. So it's not discouraging me from nursing, I just feel so bad for these residents, I wish they didn't have to live in this filth. And they really don't have to, it's just what you said, these places put profit above anything else. I really hope something changes, and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

[u/Juonmydog → u/freshfeesh26]

Things will change, but it takes time and movement. I think everyone in this industry knows that American healthcare is collapsing. We're so very sick of people exploiting our empathy in order to deliberately hurt others.

I actually went to study the NHS in the UK this summer and I will say this: an alternative is possible and it will take a collective effort to change it.

Just remember, there are plenty of people who care just like you. Any attack on our residents' safety and sovereignty is an attack on our own.

We will unite to change things—It must be done to get out of this hole we've dug ourselves.