How long do you change a resident?

[Anhnguyen2912]

Hi, I'm a new CNA. I've been working for about one month and I wonder if it is too slow if it takes me 20 minutes to change a resident. Moreover, today I had to change a small but stiff and totally dependent pt who did number 2 soiled all the bottom area and catheter between legs of her pants. I did not notice the time but only tried to clean her carefully the best with soap and rinse. She objected me in the middle because she had to lie on the side too long I thought so and I tried very hard to finish the work. The nurse heard all the conversation and she was not satisfied with what I did, as for her she noticed that it took me half an hour for the change which means too slow, and I should not use soap because she does not need bed bath. Although after all the pt said sorry to me but her anger made the nurse take me to different area to work, maybe they'are not gonna hire a slow worker like me, I don't know.

Should I work less carefully and less cleanly as a CNA?

[kai_altair]

Okay, first of all, you should always use soapy water when cleaning someone that is incontinent. If you don't, the area just doesn't get cleaned as properly

Secondly, it's not really a bed bath if you only wash the resident's legs and peri area, more like a partial one?

Is it taking you half an hour to just change them, or change them, plus redo the bed?

I usually take like 4 minutes cleaning a resident that has just urinated, maybe 6 minutes for a moderate amount of #2, but sometimes I take closer to 12 minutes with the really really soiled ones. Plus a minute running the water and 2-5 minutes to redo a bed, depending on how soiled it is. We have a lot of residents per cna at my LTC, so we have to move fast

This isn't including the "prep time." At the beginning of my shift, I go to each room and pull out 2 or more briefs, a few towels, washcloths, the soap and peri cream, and anything else I will need for the day. This can save a lot of time, especially towards the middle of your shift, when things can get very busy

I've been working prn for a few months now and I still feel like I'm so behind the people that have been working for years. Sometimes I feel like they'll fire me because I'm too slow and sometimes I need help moving a resident, because I'm not that strong. It's really stressful at times, and my coworkers don't help Guess we just gotta persevere

[Pudding212]

When I first started as am aide, it probably took me about the same time to change an incontinent resident. No worries. It will get better! By the time I quit being an aide, I was changing residents in under 5 minutes.

[Sundance327]

Absolutely don't start working "less carefully and less cleanly". That's how accidents and injuries happen. When I started working as a CNA, I was the exact same way. I was terrified to touch my residents because I was so nervous that I would break them. I was horribly slow! I promise, it will get better and you will become faster. Now, this isn't to say to rush through your residents and just to think of them as a number until you're done, but it is possible to provide them with quality care and not take 20 minutes to do so (now, if there is a case where there is BM everywhere and all over a catheter, it is entirely expected to take longer than if you were cleaning someone up who had only voided).

And as for the nurses and other CNAs who say that you take too long, they clearly don't remember what it's like to be brand new at a job. Ignore any remarks they have about how long it takes you to do something, take a deep breath, and just keep getting the hang of it. You WILL get better!

[caliotter3]

The best way to get the job done in an efficient manner is to team up with another CNA to do your assigned tasks together. You will develop a system with your partner CNA that will cut down on the time required to do the work. This will even help your individual skill level. If you can't get the charge nurse to make the assignments this way, take the initiative to team up with someone on your own. The nurse won't care as long as the work is done and the residents are in good shape.

[Yancyq]

I'm a new Cna and I understand what your saying . It does take a long time sometimes depending on the person becouse patient can be annoying sometimes . Don't feel bad it's a lot of work !!! But practice makes perfect