Do you expect the CNA to wash all patients in the day shift?

[crunchytaco]

I had a question for the nurses. I am a nursing assistant in the float pool. All floors are different in how things are done, but I wanted to know if you expected the CNA to wash all the patients during the day shift. I understand day shift (7am-3pm), this is when the patients are waking up and become oriented. However, I feel like everyone looks down you when they hear one of their patient was not washed. I am running around everywhere trying to do vitals every 4 hours, blood sugars before breakfast and lunch, answering call bells, new admits, etc. I try to get to as many patients, and I get so overwhelmed. There are 3 shifts, can't I leave the patients to other shifts when I can't get them washed?? I sometimes do not go on my breakfast break or cut down on my lunch so that I can finish what I can..

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

Each unit is different, on one floor all "walkie-talkies" were washed on days and night shift did the total care pts. My last unit AAO pts were washed on days and the vented and sedated pts were done at night. My current unit which is 16 bed ICU night shift is expected to wash all pts.

We as a team do the baths, we don't expect only CNA's to do the baths, some of the units didn't have techs/CNA's at all. So my answer would be no.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Every floor is different. When I was an aide in med-surg, it was expected that everyone's VS were done, linens changed and patients washed by 10 am.

When I was a hospital nurse, it was like pulling teeth to get the aides to even help with a bath... and this was pediatrics so the majority of the time, the parents would do most of the bathing themselves. A typical CNA would have at most 2 patients who needed to be bathed in a day and they'd still roll their eyes at you if you asked them to help you do it. So, on that floor, no I didn't expect the CNAs to bathe all my patients. I expected very little from them and found it was just easier to do everything myself- that way I knew it was done and done well.

[SaoirseRN]

We don't have any care aids where I work, so I can't answer really. Best thing to do is to talk to the charge on each unit and ask what is expected of you.

[rita359]

I've been a med-surg nurse for a long time. Yes, I expect most baths to be done on day shift. Baths should at least be offered. If patient is off the unit for tests etc and is worn out etc oncoming aide should be informed so bath can be offered later.

[loriangel14, RN]

All our patients are washed on day shift but the nurses do their share of washing. Same goes for HS cares.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

No, I expect CNAs to help me get them done, not to do them all by themselves. Been a CNA, know how it works. You are there to help, not to be personal slaves. However, I do have issues with anyone who is sitting around while I'm drowning in pt care and trying to do meds and treatments.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Yes, CNAs should make sure all patients get washed during day shift.

However, it is the responsibility of management to ensure there is enough staff to make this happen.

One of the sad realities is that everyone looks at the CNAs and RNs when patients are not given the most basic care - hygiene - when they should be looking at management.

[Nurse_]

Personally, I do not expect my CNAs to do anything. I ask them at the beginning of the shift, tell them what I needed done and who I need help with and the rest I do myself.

I prefer to be there when a patient I am not familiar with is being washed, it's the perfect time for me to conduct my skin assessment.

[msjellybean]

Yes, CNAs should make sure all patients get washed during day shift.

However, it is the responsibility of management to ensure there is enough staff to make this happen.

One of the sad realities is that everyone looks at the CNAs and RNs when patients are not given the most basic care - hygiene - when they should be looking at management.

I don't agree that the CNAs should be sure everyone gets cleaned up - that's also my responsibility as the nurse.

But I do agree about the bolded part. I work on a stroke floor, where at any given time, 50% of our patients are total feeds. We typically run 1 RN and 1 CNA short of our staffing matrix. There are some days where it's not even possible to make sure that these 1:1's get fed. It's very sad and the issue has been raised multiple times, but things never change.

[duskyjewel]

Wow, what a brave new world we have created where feeding and bathing are luxuries afforded to a precious few. This is why I will never go back to the hospital and would never work long term care.

To the nurse who said we aides are not there to be personal slaves, thank you, but I have met tons of your colleagues who do not agree.

[MrsCuoco]

You as a CNA need to talk to the nurses you work with, not necessarily the nurses here. It's only your coworkers preferences and policies you need to worry about.

Just talk frankly to them and say hey- I really want to help you as best as I can....here are my limitations since day shift is so jampacked. What are our priorities? What can wait? Can I coordinate with CNAs on the evening shift to distribute the bath load more evenly? If they know you're concerned about wanting to do good work for them and concerned about your residents, you'll have their respect and they'll be more apt to help you with solutions.