Cna

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

I work as a PCT in a busy urban hospital. Ever since the surrounding hospitals closed out census has sky rocketed to an all time high. This does not make the fact that we were understaffed to begin with.

While there may be five RN's on the unit with 5 or 6 patients each I may have 15 or 16 patients. When I ask for help with turning I get the same answer "I'm busy passing meds" or "ask the other NA." I of course get upset because the other NA has the same amount of patients as I do.

When I tell them that hospital policy dictates that when 2 NA's are on the floor RN's have to do the Blood Glucose testing they become agitated and upset.

As an NA I understand that the RN's are frustrated because of the staffing and I also understand you guys have more responsibilities than I do. I know its' difficult but understand that we NA's are human and yes there are good ones and yes there are bad ones but we are physically drained. To come a unit and see the census at 31 and see that I am the only tech on the floor makes me frustrated and upset.

So with that being said for the new year appreciate your aide. come into the room and ask them if they need help even if they didnt ask for help because it will make us feel better. Have a Happy New Year everyone

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Specializes in CNA.

I know how you feel. I'm an agency employee and work at the VA hospital here in town. There are some days that I'll go to a floor and have about the same amount of patients as you and just get swamped! Thankfully, the nursing staff I usually end up working for are all great and very helpful. There have been a couple of times where I was the only aide on the floor and had 24 patients to take care of. They have all stepped up to let me know that they will help out where ever they can and some of the nurses will tend to all their own patients to lessen my workload. Although I have had a couple nurses not give a crap that I had all these pt's and she only had her 5, she wouldn't lift a finger to help me at all, but thankfully other staff stepped up.

I absolutely love the staff I work for on our psych ward here! I have to do q15 min and q1 hr checks, vitals and finger sticks if there are any and each and every one of them make sure that I get my breaks and will relieve me and help me out if I need an extra hand.

I'm sorry you don't always get the help you might need. I know it's frustrating. My plan is to one day become an RN and I don't want to be one of those who thinks they're way better than an aide and thinks she doesn't have to lift a finger to help his/her aide. I hope things start to get better for you in the new year hon!!

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
I work as a PCT in a busy urban hospital. Ever since the surrounding hospitals closed out census has sky rocketed to an all time high. This does not make the fact that we were understaffed to begin with.

While there may be five RN's on the unit with 5 or 6 patients each I may have 15 or 16 patients. When I ask for help with turning I get the same answer "I'm busy passing meds" or "ask the other NA." I of course get upset because the other NA has the same amount of patients as I do.

When I tell them that hospital policy dictates that when 2 NA's are on the floor RN's have to do the Blood Glucose testing they become agitated and upset.

As an NA I understand that the RN's are frustrated because of the staffing and I also understand you guys have more responsibilities than I do. I know its' difficult but understand that we NA's are human and yes there are good ones and yes there are bad ones but we are physically drained. To come a unit and see the census at 31 and see that I am the only tech on the floor makes me frustrated and upset.

So with that being said for the new year appreciate your aide. come into the room and ask them if they need help even if they didnt ask for help because it will make us feel better. Have a Happy New Year everyone

Why not suggest making q 2 hour rounds with the other cna? Present a plan to your manager and get her/his support.A good cna is worth their weight in gold....

I can't stand working with people that NEVER have time to help you but expect you to drop whatever you are doing if they need you.Everyone has the same goal no matter what license or certification you hold.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I know how you feel. As an aide, I hated when a nurse would say to get another aide to help, because the other aides were just as busy as I was. As a nurse, I prefer to help turn my patients because it gives me an opportunity to assess them and I know it's getting done.

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