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The Good Shepherd Community is a very rewarding place to work. We dedicate ourselves to caring for residents, tenants, and clients through the values of service, compassion, trust and respect.


Typical Day as a CNA

Working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a senior community takes a remarkable type of person. It takes someone who is determined, yet patient, and up for long days of rewarding work.

Being a CNA for the elderly means caring and helping multiple residents each and every day. You’ll be crucial in the day-to-day care of the residents as you’ll be responsible for the resident’s personal care and safety as well as possibly being the person who spends the most time with residents each day. The residents aren’t just patients at Good Shepherd. You’ll get to fully know them as you grow a professional relationship throughout your time caring for them. Not only can you help take care of physical needs but emotional as well. Not many jobs can say that.

Benefits

The Good Shepherd Community offers a very comprehensive package of benefits to our employees including:

  • Competitive wages
  • Medical/dental/vision
  • Profit sharing 401k plan with match
  • Flexible spending plan (cafeteria 125 plan)
  • Paid personal leave
  • Funeral leave
  • Life insurance
  • Employee assistance plan
  • Employee wellness center
  • Educational scholarships (upon availability)
  • Corporate discounts
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Here’s what a day for a CNA usually looks like.

If you’re on the 1st shift, your day is going to start early as you replace the overnight crew. After clocking in, you’ll discuss with the last shift about any changes in residents that’ll need to be addressed. Then it’s time to see what each resident you’re responsible for has lined up for the day so you’ll know what to expect. After that, it’ll be your duty to help residents as they wake up with washing and/or dressing, if they require so, or for breakfast. This is also the time to hand out medications to the residents that require them at certain times such as in the morning with breakfast.

Once the meal is done, plates are taken to the kitchen, and after you’ve helped all the residents back to their rooms, you’ll have a few hours to help the residents in a variety of ways. It may be time for one’s medications or someone may need to be bathed. You may need to do some room cleaning as required or check someone’s vitals to ensure nothing has changed drastically. There are so many things residents may need that it’s changing all the time. No matter what you’re doing though, you’ll be helping residents on a one-to-one basis, getting to know them with the knowledge that you’re truly making someone’s day better.

While between meals can be downtime on some days, other days you may find yourself answering room calls for specific needs. In their rooms, residents have a call light to signal if they need assistance which it’s the CNA’s duty to answer the call by going to the room and seeing what the resident needs. This can be hectic at times, but slow other times. It’s never truly the same.

It’s also important to note that between meals is also when activities are available to residents. It’ll be up to you to help any resident get to the activity area if they wish to be part of it. These activities are scheduled so you’ll know when and where they’ll be and what they are so you can help spread the word to residents to see if they’d be interested in them.

Lunchtime rolls around and it’ll be your duty to help residents get to the eating area to eat lunch. This routine is pretty close to the breakfast routine. After lunch, it’s time to help any residents lay down for a rest. For others, it could be time for more activities!

This all goes on until dinner where you know the routine. After dinner, it may be a time for an evening activity or time for bed for some. If you’re on this shift, you’ll help all of your residents get ready for bed by undressing or possibly washing and let the overnight staff know how the day went when they arrive.

As the overnight staff, it’ll be your duty to stay vigilant and help anyone who requires assistance throughout the night, whether it means helping someone to the bathroom or assisting someone who’s feeling pain or can’t sleep.

Beyond the basic CNA duties, daily needs will depend on the residents. No two residents are going to be exactly the same and no two CNA jobs are exactly alike either. Some residents may suffer from memory loss while others are sharp as a tack. Some may be more mobile and some may struggle to get around. When it comes to caring for the elderly, it’s important to keep in mind that CNA duties vary and being able to adapt and respond is important.

A day as a CNA can be stressful at times but it’s always hopeful and loving. The relationships you’re able to make with the residents will mean the world to you. Sure, some of the care-taking tasks that residents need may not seem like the most highly-sought thing to do. But the smile on the resident’s face after the work is done is the only thing you’ll need to come back the next day.