What I felt when I saw a new caregiver being told, 'That's a waste of time'

Hello.
I'm Yanagi, a former IT engineer and current certified care worker.🌱

The weather has been gloomy lately, hasn't it?
When the sky is overcast, there are days when my mood feels heavy too.
As someone born in the heart of the rainy season, I am a true rain-bringer, and lately, I've been feeling that trait more than ever.

It wasn't raining when I opened the door to leave for work, but by the time I locked it and turned around, it had started to rain.☔

Or it starts to drizzle suddenly while I'm walking...

With days like that continuing, I can't help but think, 'Not again...'🥲

When rainy days continue, it's easy for my mood to sink a little, but even in such times, going to the workplace makes me realize things through the presence of new staff members.🔰

Today, I'd like to write about what I felt from seeing a new caregiver I encountered recently.

Recently, I started working at a new workplace, so I've had more opportunities to see new staff members.

I am also still in the process of getting used to my new environment.
The location of items, the residents, how each staff member works, and the flow unique to that facility.

Even if you have a long history in caregiving, there are many things you don't know when you change workplaces.

That is precisely why, when I see the new staff members, I sometimes remember my former self.

The way they try to learn their duties.
The way they try to confirm things they don't understand.
The way they try to proceed carefully even while struggling because they can't finish within the allotted time.

Watching them like that, I find myself learning things too.

What I honestly felt was amazing when watching a new staff member

Among those moments, there was something I honestly felt was amazing.

I saw a new staff member who, whenever they found a little time, would communicate with residents or confirm things they didn't understand.

They were trying to interact not only with the residents in the unit they were assigned to but also with residents in other units on the same floor who were within easy reach.

Of course, this doesn't mean they were going to completely different floors and staying away for long periods.

They were just talking to residents who were really close by, checking on them, or confirming things they didn't know.
That was the kind of behavior I saw.

In a busy workplace, it's easy to become overwhelmed just by your own work, isn't it?

When you are still getting used to things, I think your head is already full just trying to figure out what to do next and in what order to move.

Even so, they are trying to get to know the residents.
They are not just sticking to their own assigned tasks, but are gradually showing interest in the other residents around them as well.
They are trying to confirm things they don't understand instead of just leaving them as they are.

Seeing that, I honestly felt a sense of respect.

The time spent getting to know the residents will pay off later

I feel that the work of caregiving is not something that can be accomplished by procedures alone.

Of course, procedures are important.
Safety checks, the flow of time, and the prioritization of tasks are also important.

However, there are words of encouragement that only reach someone because you know them.
There is care that is easier to accept because of the relationship you have with that person.
There are also things you can notice, like 'today might be a little different,' because you know their usual state.

• What kind of words make the resident feel at ease?

• When does their expression soften?

• What is important to them?

• Where do signs that they are a little different from usual tend to appear?

I think there are parts of these things that cannot be fully understood through records and handovers alone.

• Actually talking to them.

• Looking at their expressions.

• Observing their reactions.

• Building a relationship little by little.

That accumulation might be what leads to ease of care and a sense of security later on.

That is why I felt that the time a new caregiver spends trying to get to know a resident is by no means a waste of time.

Rather, it might be the time they are spending to build the foundation of their caregiving little by little.

Busy times and times when you can create a little breathing room

However, even saying that, the workplace is often busy, isn't it?

Especially the time from waking up until breakfast.
The time from dinner until bedtime assistance.

These times of day are inevitably hectic.

Tasks overlap, the movements of the residents overlap, and staff easily lose their composure.

I think new staff members also struggle when they can't finish their work within the allotted time during those periods.

But when I watch new staff, it's not that they can't do anything at all.

They can do it alone during times when they have gotten somewhat used to it and things are calm.
During the slightly calmer time from 10:00 until lunch, they can already move on their own.
They can also handle the short time after lunch, once excretion and bed-rest assistance are finished, until snack time on their own.

However, they still can't finish within the time limit only during the hectic periods, like from waking up until breakfast, or from dinner until bedtime assistance.

I think there are new staff members at that stage.

At such times, couldn't the person providing guidance lend a hand just a little to create some breathing room?

Recently, I've started thinking about things like that.

I don't mean doing everything for them instead.
I also don't mean robbing the new staff member of opportunities for growth.

But if it's a part they can already do alone, I'll follow up just a little bit.
For the few busy periods they haven't fully memorized yet, I might let them handle it alone or organize things together a little.
In exchange, during the times they can handle alone, the instructor can follow up to create a little time for the new staff member to talk with the residents.
Create time to confirm things they don't understand.
Create time to get to know the residents.

If it's during the training period, I felt that instead of leaving them to handle everything alone when they are almost there and causing them to lose their composure, there might be ways to create that breathing room for the parts they have already mastered.

Of course, if leaving their post continues while there is work to be done, the workplace needs to verify it.

Monitoring might become thin.
The burden might shift to other staff.
Necessary assistance might be delayed.

Therefore, this is not a story about saying 'anything is fine because you are talking to a resident'.

Times when you shouldn't leave.
Situations where you should prioritize monitoring.
Times when it's okay to talk a little.

I think such judgments need to be conveyed little by little.

But even then,

I think it's important that you're trying to get to know the residents.
This is a time when they need to be watched, so let's go talk to them a little later.
It would be helpful if you could let me know when you're leaving your post.
At this time, it might be okay to talk to the residents for a bit.

If it were communicated that way, I thought we could preserve the new staff member's good attitude while also keeping the workflow of the floor on track.

Hearing the story about being told, 'That time is a waste'

There was something that new staff member told me quietly.

When they were trying to interact with a resident,

'That time is a waste. You need to learn the tasks right now.'

They said they were told something like that by their supervisor.

Of course, I understand the meaning behind those words.
It might just be that the person giving the instruction happened to be overwhelmed and their delivery became harsh.

New staff members have tasks they must learn first.
It is also important to understand the flow of the workplace.
They also need to gradually acquire the ability to finish their work within the allotted time.

In a busy workplace, it is easy for those giving instructions to lose their composure.
I think there are times when you want them to prioritize tasks to ensure safety.

So, I don't want to simply dismiss those words.

But when I heard that story, I feltit was a bit of a shame.

Is the time spent trying to get to know a resident really a waste?

The new staff member is showing interest not only in the residents they are assigned to, but also in other residents nearby.
They are trying to confirm things they don't understand instead of leaving them as they are.
They are finding time to try and interact with the residents even a little bit.

I think that kind of attitude is very important when doing caregiving work.

Honestly, I feel that this kind of new staff member is valuable.

At a time when it is easy to be overwhelmed just by learning the tasks, they have the desire to get to know the residents.
They are trying to see the person, not just follow the procedures.
They are trying to reach out on their own.

I feel that such an attitude is not something that is easily cultivated.

I want to gently convey what I can do for them right now.

Of course, I have only just arrived at my current workplace.

Having just changed jobs, I am not in a position to comment on how training is conducted.
I am still in the process of learning the flow of the workplace myself.

Therefore, I do not intend to say anything strongly about the training policy.

However, I felt that when I interact with that new staff member, I want to be as supportive as possible.

If there is something I can help with, I want to help a little.
If there is something I can teach, I want to pass it on gently without being pushy.

"I think it's important that you are trying to get to know the residents."
"Right now, we have to prioritize our tasks, but I don't think you need to lose that interest."
"If you finish this part first, you'll have a little more breathing room later."
"At this time, it might be okay to talk to the resident for a little bit."

In that way, rather than completely denying them, I hope I can support their attitude even a little.

Learning the tasks is important.

But I think getting to know the residents is also an important part of learning caregiving.

I hope to be able to nurture both little by little within the flow of the workplace, rather than choosing one over the other.

That is what I felt secretly.🌱

I am also learning from the new staff member's perspective.

For the new staff member, I think the time spent getting to know the residents also leads to peace of mind.

Learning their names.
Learning their reactions.
Learning their favorite topics.
Learning the timing for speaking to them.
Getting to know their individuality little by little.

When you do that, your feelings change a little when providing care.

Instead of just going through the motions,

"This person feels reassured when I speak to them like this."
"This person seems anxious when I rush."
"This person is more likely to accept things if I explain them first."

Perhaps in that way, they might gradually see how to interact with each resident in a way that suits them.

I think that accumulation will also lead to the new staff member's confidence.

In a busy workplace, it is inevitable that eyes turn toward efficiency and time.

That is by no means a bad thing.

To keep the workplace running safely, it is necessary to complete tasks within the allotted time.
Coordination with others is also important.
If one staff member is away for too long, it can place a burden on others.

However, I feel that if we only look at efficiency, some things might slip through the cracks.

The desire to get to know the residents.
The attitude of wanting to confirm things one doesn't understand.
The positivity of wanting to learn about the surroundings little by little, not just one's own assigned tasks.

Those things might be like precious buds growing within a new staff member.

Because it is busy, it might be difficult to protect all of that.

But, if we could cherish even a little bit of it.

Let them handle what they can do alone.
Lend a hand where it is needed.
Organize together during hectic times.
Create a little time to get to know the residents during calmer moments.

I thought that if we could interact in that way, new staff members would surely be able to grow with a little more peace of mind🍀

Conclusion

In a busy workplace, our eyes inevitably turn toward efficiency and time.

That is by no means a bad thing.
To keep the workplace running safely, completing tasks within the allotted time and coordinating with others are both important.

However, even within that, I felt that I want to cherish the new staff member's attitude of trying to get to know the residents as much as possible.

I want to know the residents.
I want to become able to interact with them more.
I don't want to leave things I don't understand as they are.

I believe those feelings are a very important strength for continuing to work in caregiving.

Of course, I am also in the middle of relearning at my own new workplace.
Having just changed jobs, there are limits to what I can do.

Even so, if there is something I can help with, I want to help a little.
If there is something I can teach, I want to pass it on gently without being pushy.

While finding the good points of new staff members, I will also interact carefully with the residents.
Even in the midst of busy days, I hope to cherish such moments, even if only a little.

While being made aware by the presence of new staff members, I thought once again that I, too, want to do my best little by little in this place from now on😌

Thank you for reading until the end this time as well!

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