An open letter to the families of the residents I take care of.

I'm a trained professional. No, I didn't go through years of schooling to do this job, but I am educated, trained, and certified by the state and my position deserves a fair amount of respect. I'm not a CNA because I'm too lazy to go to nursing school, I'm a CNA because I care about and enjoy working closely with the residents. I'm a CNA because I love this job and I want to do it.

By placing your loved one in our facility, you have asked us to perform a job that you are unable or unwilling to do yourself. I perform my job with compassion and professionalism, whether you're watching me or not. I care about your loved one as if she were one of my own grandparents, and spend hour upon hour providing for her needs, listening to her stories, and cheering her up when she's feeling down. You may not see me much in the hour or so that you're visiting each week or month, but that's because I'm also responsible for twenty or so other residents whom I care about just as much as I care about your loved one. I am spread thin but I work diligently to provide sufficient care and attention to all of my residents. I sacrifice my own personal comfort to make sure my residents are well cared for. I go hours without a bathroom break to make sure all of my incontinent residents are clean and dry. I spend my 12 hour shift hungry, thirsty, and physically exhausted to ensure that my residents, including your loved one, have everything they need and are comfortable. I am cussed, hit, bitten, spit on, scratched, and I have my hair pulled nightly while trying to care for residents; most of whom don't know what they're doing. Your loved one may have at some point hit, bitten, or scratched me, but I don't hold it against her because I know if she knew what she were doing at the time she would feel ashamed of herself, and I don't want her to feel ashamed or guilty over things she can't help. She has probably apologized to me before over the way she has sometimes acted toward me and I have told her there is no need to apologize. She has probably apologized to me for having to perform care for her and I have told her there is no need to apologize because this is what I'm here for and if I didn't want to do it I wouldn't be here. When your loved one thanks me for performing care on her I have to blink back tears as I tell her there is no need to thank me for doing what I'm here to do. I can't put into words how much your loved one's appreciation means to me.

I'm not asking for a pat on the back from you. If I were doing this job for the recognition I would have quit ages ago. All I want for myself and my fellow CNAs is respect. We do a job most people don't have the patience or stomach for, and we LOVE it.

Thank you,
Clarissa