Subacute care?

[One Flew Over]

I work as a CNA in LTC. I'll be switching my floor to work on the subacute unit in my facility very soon.

I was wondering if any body had any tips or tricks to budget my time, keeping up with the changes and staying organized? Even a cheat sheet or something that I can use to write all of the info about the patients (since they change so frequently)

Also any information about the most common surgery patients I will see, complications, whether or not people with certain wounds/staples/injuries can shower, tips and tricks about positioning/bathing such patients (like I don't know much about hip precautions/knee precautions etc), what kind of devices/wedges I will see commonly.. etc..

Sorry I know it's alot. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :) :heartbeat

[NP Sam]

Yes, subacute is definitely busier and thats why CNA get paid more if they work that section. Yes, definitely keep a piece of paper with you. Where I work, most of the patients have suffered a fall or they can't take care of themselves due to a surgery. Most of these people can still shower, just be careful. We usually tape trash bags around areas with staples. It works!

[One Flew Over]

I did some of those this week. Also tried to tape a bag over hip staples, but it didn't work out as well as I'd hoped. Luckily it was ok for her to get them a little wet, just not soaked.

So what's your typical routine like?

[NP Sam]

I do the exact same things I would do in LTC. Patients on subacute tend to be more needy so be prepared to hear that call light constantly going off. Things are also more face paced, meaning you have to work faster because new admits could come in with little notice.

[mikejjmay]

Sounds exciting. Good luck!

[ricerocket]

i think like anything else, its going to be hard at first. i remember when we had new cnas working in the subacute. they were a little nervous at first, because a lot of the patients are trached, and some are pretty much vent dependent. after they got their routine going, got to know the patients alittle, they said it got alot easier. they only thing i seem to hear everyone complain about are the call lights!! ..

[One Flew Over]

Yea, those are definitely NON STOP!