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..

[CrunchyMama, ASN, RN]

Before becoming an RN I was a CNA in a nursing home and worked on he dementia floor. As CNAs we were expeced to bathe all residents who couldn't bathe themselves and even possibly had a shower to do on some days. It was part of the job, so yes as a nurse, I expect that the aids bathe those who can't. I work on a medsurg floor for now and I'm sure every patient doesn't get bathed and it's a shame because I take a shower EVERY day and patients in the hospital especially should be washed everyday.