I will keep asking for help!

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

I was told by another CNA yesterday that I should learn how to lift a resident by myself. All this in spite of the sign above the resident's bed that says, "M is a 1-2 person transfer OR if you are not comfortable doing that, use the hoyer." Good on that CNA for being able to transfer M by herself but I fall into the uncomfortable bracket. I just looked at her and shook my head. I eventually got help to hoyer M.

I just don't get why the hesitancy from her to have helped me hoyer M. *so sick of getting attitude when I ask for help* My work place sucks monkey you know what.

:mad:

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Specializes in LTC.

I don't really understand what that sign means myself. You're allowed to transfer her yourself, or with another person, and use a hoyer PRN? That just doesn't make sense to me. How hard is this woman to transfer? How much does she weigh?

I can see how it's annoying to have someone ask you to take extra steps to do something that you're used to doing quickly and/or by yourself. Are you making sure that everything is ready before you ask someone for help? Like having the bed ready, the chair in the right spot, the sling under the person and the hoyer hooked up? Or are you making them waste their time doing these things with you?

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab.

If you feel uncomfortable transferring someone by yourself, then it's best to ensure the safety of the resident to ask for help. If the sign said that 'M' was a 1-2 person transfer, then I'm sure there MUST be a reason for the help of a hoyer or more assistance. (sigh) Some people don't know how to work as a team.

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Specializes in direct support care of disabled adults.
:mad: I feel the same BUT for me because i only have one arm ( and even tho i already got the patient ready to move i get attitude with " If you can't do the job you shouldn't be here"
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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

The patient probably has bad days when she can't weight bare and the help of a 2nd person is required. This should be outlined in depth in the patient's care plan. I know how it feels to ask for help and either you get help with an attitude or they tell you to do it yourself. I never deny help to another CNA if he/she needs it. More people need to work as a team. This is how accidents happen. I too have the attitude, "if you don't want to work, why are you here?"

This was one of the many reasons I took a break from working at LTC facilities. I could not deal with how unhelpful some of the CNA's and Nurses were. I felt like I was the only person who was there that actually wanted to do my job right!

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Thanks for understanding my frustrations. It is disheartening to have a love/hate relationship with my career. Yes, the residents are great but some staff contribute to the hate part of it. I enjoy being a CNA but, (you all knew there was a "but" coming) some attitudes that I work with NEED to change. The residents deserve so much more :(

M had a stroke and her right side is affected. She is in pain and does not tolerated being dressed or moved even slightly. She cries out in pain and whether or not she is exaggerating is not my call to make. Some CNAs are able to do a 1 person transfer with her. I won't go there.

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Specializes in LTC, CNA/SPN.

Bottom line is that if you are uncomfortable you shouldn't do it. I agree with everyone else that everything else should be done first so that all that is left is the transfer, but I have a feeling that person would still give you attitude. I would do exactly as you did.

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I have been in similar situations and that is one of the reasons I quit my last job. I had a partner who usually helped me but acted like I did not know my residents. There were some residents that I did not feel safe doing a 1 person transfer so I would ask for help. If I did try to transfer some of these people by myself the would drop there weight on my when they were in mid transfer. When she asked me for help I would go and help her but our two sections were just too much for us to handle.

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I leared the hard way that you must always check the careplan when transfering a resident. I had a resident one time and when I transferred him by myself, he fell to the ground. The nurses came in asking me what were the transfer orders by the doctor and I told them it said "transfer with 1 assist". It sure enough did and I wasn't held liable. It would be the doc's fault if he got really hurt and his family wanted to sue, not mines. No matter what always follow that plan. And like you said.. keep asking for help.:up: If they can't help you get one of the nurses to make someone do it. I've heard too many stories of nurses who thought they could do it alone and ended up getting injured. At the end of the day you will live with whatever consequences so keep asking. Good luck to you.:heartbeat

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg.
Thanks for understanding my frustrations. It is disheartening to have a love/hate relationship with my career. Yes, the residents are great but some staff contribute to the hate part of it. I enjoy being a CNA but, (you all knew there was a "but" coming) some attitudes that I work with NEED to change. The residents deserve so much more :(

M had a stroke and her right side is affected. She is in pain and does not tolerated being dressed or moved even slightly. She cries out in pain and whether or not she is exaggerating is not my call to make. Some CNAs are able to do a 1 person transfer with her. I won't go there.

What the heck? Why on earth would a stroke patient in pain be a 1 person transfer? I don't really know the situation, but it sounds like physical therapy needs to re-evaluate and your fellow CNAs need to start putting safety first!

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