cna/home health aid - paitent fell

[stirlingk]

Okay so I am a cna/hha and have been doing this for about a year. I love my job and love my paitents. Last week I was at a shower apppointment with one of my regulars. He's an elderly man who's been sick with the flu. Anyway I got him into the shower as normal and everything was ok. Normally he is able to do his own perineal care, but he was ill and a little weaker than normal so I told him I would assist him with that today. As he stood up I instructed him to use the grab bars to keep steady. Then out of no where he just went down in the tub. He weighs well over 200lbs, and there was no way I was going to lift him. I immediatly hit his rescue pendant around his neck. I called his RN and wrote everything down. I was really shaken up, more so then he was I think. I felt so utterly helpless and useless. That was almost 2 weeks ago. Yesterday I had another regular appointment begin to fall, this time I was able to grab her under the arms and kind of guild her to the chair in her shower instead of going down totally. Now I am feeling really upset and unsure of myself. I'm so paranoid about my paitents homes and keep feeling like there are fall risks everywhere and I'm terrified all the time. What can I do to get over this?

[AzDeb]

Hi. You sound like a very caring, conscienscious CNA/HHA. I too am a CNA that does home health care. I give showers also and I always have that worry.....every day. It's never happened with one of my clients but it's always a concern. Sounds like you use every precaution you can to make safety first. I'm sorry your clients had a fall and that it has made you paranoid but I think we all are paranoid to some extent that a fall could happen. I think you just need to continue being as safe as you can and do what you're doing. Accidents do happen, so don't beat yourself up over it.

[KareBear0609]

I feel the same way sometimes, but it sounds like you are doing a great job. It is spelled "patient" by the way.

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

People fall everyday. That's why I have to laugh when patients say things like "I'm not going to fall." One never knows when they will or will not fall. The best you can do is make sure you are doing what you are suppose to. For example, if someone is not suppose to get out of bed to use the restroom (ie: must use bed pan and urinal) then let them know that. If someone is allowed to get up, but they are a fall risk, then make sure they have non slip soles on their feet and a gait belt around their waist would not hurt. The point is just follow your employers policy. If they fall and you followed policy, it is not your fault. Do not take it personally.

[stirlingk]

I feel the same way sometimes, but it sounds like you are doing a great job. It is spelled "patient" by the way.

Haha, I am terrible with the placement of the letter "I" in some words...

Thank you everyone. I guess I'm just going to have to work through any worries I have. I just don't like feeling unsure of myself, you know?

[interceptinglight, CNA]

I understand completely. I work in a long-term care facility and one of my residents fell just a few days ago. It was somewhat my fault because I forgot to put her 'tabs' alarm on her wheelchair when I left her alone in her room. She also had a chair sensor that should have alerted us when she tried to get out of her chair by herself, but it didn't go off because it had 'expired'. Apparently it was a 6-month sensor and no one bothered to mark a date on it so we don't know how long it wasn't working. Nevertheless, the fact that I forgot the tabs alarm was grounds for me to be reported. I wanted to quit that day, but everyone reassured me that these things can happen and don't freak out about it. I was very shaken to think how easily I forgot something like that and someone ended up getting hurt. Fortunately no broken bones, but I'm still super paranoid about making sure I set people's alarms.

[mslulubelle]

Hello...I am just beginning my CNA career but during clinicals I know this was an absolute concern when assisting patients....

You are obviously a very dedicated, compassionate professional and you did your best in this situation. I don't know how it would've been possible to prevent a fall once this patient began to slip without causing you both harm...200lbs+ is alot of weight....Y...ou must continue to believe in your skills and abilities because I know this field needs more CNA's with your level of caring and commitment.....you make a positive difference! you absolutely do.....'hugs' from me!....

[interceptinglight, CNA]

Hello...I am just beginning my CNA career but during clinicals I know this was an absolute concern when assisting patients....

You are obviously a very dedicated, compassionate professional and you did your best in this situation. I don't know how it would've been possible to prevent a fall once this patient began to slip without causing you both harm...200lbs+ is alot of weight....Y...ou must continue to believe in your skills and abilities because I know this field needs more CNA's with your level of caring and commitment.....you make a positive difference! you absolutely do.....'hugs' from me!....

mslulubelle you make a good point. If 200 lb of 'dead weight' starts to go down there's no way to stop it, but you can help the person by lowering him down gently and thereby keeping him from falling hard. You are not at fault in any way. That same lady who I mentioned earlier that fell, I was walking her with a gait belt to the bathroom one morning and she started buckling her knees and going down. I made a snap decision not to let her fall, although I risked my back to do it -- I hooked my arms under hers and practically carried her to the bathroom which was several feet away (she weighs 180 lb). That was not smart, what I should have done was help her gently to the floor and not risk injuring my back but I was trying to be a hero. She ended up falling anyway a couple of weeks later because of that alarm I forgot.