Is it reasonable or do we have no choice?

Noney · Mar 9, 2004

There are laws. Every state differes in the reg's, but they ratio's for LTC are incredibly low. Three good CNA's with good teamwork can do it. But should you have to do it? I say probaly not. I feel for you you have a hard job, one that isn't always complimented. So on behalf on everyone I'll say THANK YOU:)

Noney

jyoung1950 · Mar 10, 2004

I feel your burnout! I work 3 - 11:30.

On the unit I'm on there are 40 residents. All types of care. 3 aids. 2 of us have 13 residents each. One has 14. I swear I go 80 miles an hour, 40 hours a week. Most of the residents on this unit are in wards - 4 women in each ward room. I can't enter a room without all of them wanting my attention.

7 of the women that I am assigned to are classed fall risks. They have those little alarm boxes on their wheelchairs that have a string clipped to their clothing. Most of the 13 are alert enough to be verbally demanding and needy.

By the end of the night I am drained - physically and mentally and emotionally. I go home numb and to do basic housework is like climbing Mt. Everest. I have no energy for much else.

Two other units here have 62 residents each. Weekends the staffing (CNA) on those units are cut to the bone. On weekends they have 4 CNA's each for the full 8 hours and 1 other aid who is scheduled till 7:30 pm. One of the floors had a call-off this past weekend so they only had 3 aids for 62 residents.

Some how or another those aids get everybody in bed but not much else. One of those floors has a skilled unit (and we all know how busy that can be!). And yet that unit still only has 4 aids for 62 residents.

The collaborative that runs things now has eliminated overtime for both aids and nurses. Our nurses would like to help the aids more when we are short-staffted but they have to squeeze their time so they get the meds and care and paperwork done so they don't have to work overtime and get the higher ups in hysterics.

I know there are rules about staffing. I also know that management will do what they can to get away with breaking the rules until someone gets the guts to call state.

It's a lose-lose situation for both nursing staff and residents. If I had a dollar for every time I had to tell a resident "hold on" or "wait a minute", I could retire now.