Bringing own supplies?

Published

I've been working as a CNA for the past month. I just finished classes before that so I'm pretty new at this. I have 18-19 residents to clean up from dinner and then lay down to bed and most are suffering from some form of dementia. Our facility is always short on washcloths and when they run out of those you have to use bath towels to clean up the residents. If those run out you have to use pillowcases! I also don't feel like they are getting cleaned up they way they should with just a wet rag. So all in all I'm tired of running around trying to find something to care for my already tired residents. I was wondering if anyone brings in there own supplies such as wipes, lotions, denture tablets, etc...? If so what brands/types are acceptable? Or if there is any advise on how to better do something I'd appreciate it.

Thank you for all your replies! It's been really helpful

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatric, Acute care....looking for mor.
And I discovered that smearing lotion on the person's behind and wiping it off with a dry towel works pretty well to clean them without irritating their skin.

Really? this is a first-i know about the shaving cream/bm trick, but the lotion thing is new to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Rehab.

I thought your facility was short on washcloths and towels. Are they short on body wash, moisturizer and deodorant, too? Even if you do have to use half a towel to wipe clean and the other half to dry, the residents should still be cleaned effectively with warm soap and water. Have you thought about writing a comment or suggestion to your DON and/or administrator? I have never heard of residents being cleaned with pillowcases, that kind of breaks my heart. I personally could not afford to pay for supplies out of my own pocket. I'm sorry to hear this story.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Recently the facility bought a ton of new washcloths, which is making things a bit better. If they could just get the staffing under control that would be great. However, I'm actively looking for a new job after only 3-4 weeks at this facility because I think the conditions are poor and I can't be the only CNA working her tail off on my shift.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Recently the facility bought a ton of new washcloths, which is making things a bit better. If they could just get the staffing under control that would be great. However, I'm actively looking for a new job after only 3-4 weeks at this facility because I think the conditions are poor and I can't be the only CNA working her tail off on my shift.

Be careful. You may very well find yourself the only CNA working her tail off at all of the facilities where you work. It is quite common that only one or two work like this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Home Health, Hospice.

The treasures of working is a SNF....IN the facility that I used to work in, we were always, I mean always short onlinnen for the noc shift. we barely had enough for 1 round, soo....I've been know to do laundry after the first round for many weeks, then get yelled at by the laundry supervisor when they came in because they've seen me doing the laundry. So, after I got yelled at by the supervisor (by the way the charge nurse would give me the keys to the laundry room) I went to the Admin to explain the chronic laundry shortage, told her that for 3 weeks straight I was doing laundry cuz when we started we had exactly enough for one round, so I did laundry to ensure that the patients were able to be cleaned as needed. I told her that the laundry super yelled at me for being in his domain and used the words he used, From that point forward, the Noc shift had more than enough laundry for the shift, we even got our own closet.

As for supplies, I didn't buy them. I felt that doing the laundry was good enough.

I also got a little bonus..haha

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If your facility pays for the patients briefs use them when you run out of supplies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion