Feel pressured to do 2 people transfer alone

zippeh · May 26, 2011

I had the same problem when I started. I called people even for the easiest patients to move. As you get to know your patients, you'll know who you can move by yourself and who your can't. Yes, there are patients you need to learn to move by yourself, and you can do it safely, without risking your back (or other part of your body) and without risking hurting the patient, or his/her life. It's fairly easy, anyone about your weight, you can easily just grab under their arm and then slide your other arm under their arm and hold onto their pants. put the chair close to the top of the bed and lift them for 2 seconds and then boom, their on the bed and all ready. Then patients that are a little heavier and can't help you, you usually just do them last, when everyone else is done and can help you without interupting their work. What I do when everyone is busy is, I'll get them all ready for bed, get their nightgown on, bed ready, chair set up, and then I'll go on to my next room, or wait outside the room if its my last patient, and even get a Nurse to help me, because it honestly is a breeze to lift anyone with two people. There is no excuse for a Nurse not to simply take 3 seconds to saftely, and easily move someone from their chair to their bed. If they say no, just either say what I just said above. It's easy as cake, or two, pull your DON aside and talk to them about the Nurses not helping you. A CNA is a Nursing Assistant, you assist the Nurses in their duty's, so it is also their duty to make sure all the patients are safe, and if they can't help you, then they are not doing their job. Simple as that. All the nurses that I work with, I have gotten help from all of them if the CNA's are to busy. If worst comes to worst, simply ask if you can use stand up lift with them, and transfer them that way. Sorry that I wrote a novel :] Once you work long enough, you get to know what people are willing to help, and what people you just leave alone and use as a last resort. Everyone is very very very hard on you when you first start. Always telling you what your doing wrong, but once you get to know everyone in your facility, you get through with them, and they aren't so tough on you and you get the routine down. But really, even if theres just 2 CNA's, just go find the other one, tell them you need help and whenever they get a chance go to what ever room, most often they will say ok, I'll be there in 5-15 mins. whichever, just go help another patient until they show up. I finally got my **** down, and now I finish putting everyone to bed at about 9 (dinner gets out at about 7) and I make sure I go around after I fill out my charts if anyone needs help. Thats the best way to earn respect at the workplace, to return favors when you have time. Always offer help and ALWAYS ALWAYS say thank you. Again, sorry for the novel :]

yousoldtheworld · May 26, 2011

Okay, but the poster stated that the transfers she is talking about are TWO PERSON ASSISTS, and if you read her post, she is getting grief for asking for help with them. If a person is supposed to be a 2 person assist, then it is possible that you CANNOT move them safely yourself.

zippeh · May 26, 2011

Okay, but the poster stated that the transfers she is talking about are TWO PERSON ASSISTS, and if you read her post, she is getting grief for asking for help with them. If a person is supposed to be a 2 person assist, then it is possible that you CANNOT move them safely yourself.

Yeah I was just giving advice on what I did and now do because I went through the same thing. I even said there are 2 person assist that you can and cannot do.

lrlat · May 26, 2011

As a CNA with several years experience...I agree .DO NOT EVER transfer 2 persons ...ALONE. If or should I say when , something happens...it will be YOUR license. It does not matter WHO gets upset, they can not write you up , or reprimand you for doing your job CORRECTLY and LEGALLY.

Carolinathe3rd · May 27, 2011

I am guilty of doing two transfers by myself in the past. What ended up changing my mind? I was doing a hoyer lift that I usually did by myself but the nurse just happened to be in the room and offered to help. The hoyer lift broke with the resident in mid air.

I have been doing the hoyer lifts by myself lately. For other CNA's told me to do so. Now I will think twice.

cogath · May 29, 2011

I have been doing the hoyer lifts by myself lately. For other CNA's told me to do so. Now I will think twice.

We had an incident where a hoyer lift lost battery power and the person was stuck mid-air. Also once a resident slipped out of the hoyer lift sling and fell (thankfully onto the bed). Also a worker was transfering using the sit-to-stand alone and the resident's bottom slipped off the edge of the bed and they fell. That is why I never do these transfers alone.

allnurses Guide · May 30, 2011

I have been doing the hoyer lifts by myself lately. For other CNA's told me to do so. Now I will think twice.

Always use good judgment instead of following blindly.

Should anything go wrong, because you went against your better judgment and education and "did it because they told me to", you will find that will not be accepted as an excuse.

The argument will be that you should have known better.

There is always a reason why things need to be done a certain way.

It is not because The Powers-That-Be want to waste your time.

It is usually because it has been proven safe for all involved.

I'm not picking on you, Carolinathe3rd.

I'm quoting your post because you stated this "they told me to do it" mentality the clearest and most honest way.

Every new aide has fallen for this or has darn near fallen for this very subtle form of bullying.

This is often a problem with new aides until they gain confidence and experience to "just say no!'.

zippeh · Jun 7, 2011

See, I mean I was never there in any of these situations, but personally I feel like a person slipping off the bed with a stand up is a cause of not lowering the bed low enough, or not raising them up high enough, or both. I don't think thats the lifts fault. If the lift breaks though, then, what I would think (I may be wrong) but I would assume it would be the manufacturers fault for a defective item, and/or the facilities fault for not inspecting/maintaining the equipment. So even if the resident falls because the hoyer bolt broke, I would assume it would be the company's or facilities fault and you would not be at fault because obviously the equipment didn't behave the way it was supposed to and advertised to do so. But I may be wrong. I was always taught that the lifts were there so you could transfer people by yourself, making it easier and safer for the resident. :x

scottcna · Jun 18, 2011

I was always taught that the lifts were there so you could transfer people by yourself, making it easier and safer for the resident. :x

Wow, you may want to consider asking for your money back for your schooling, as it's obviously quite faulty...

Carolinathe3rd · Jun 18, 2011

I was always taught that the lifts were there so you could transfer people by yourself, making it easier and safer for the resident. :x

Are you certain that they were talking about all lifts and not just the sit and stand lift? For with the sit to stand lift we are allowed to do them by ourselves.

zippeh · Jun 18, 2011

Are you certain that they were talking about all lifts and not just the sit and stand lift? For with the sit to stand lift we are allowed to do them by ourselves.

Yeah, I talked to the Nurses and other CNA's at my facility and they told me for the stand up lift its fine, but for the hoyer lift, we need 2 people. But back to one of the lifts breaking. I really wouldn't think it would fall onto the aide if the patient got hurt, mostly because again, it is a mechanical error, not the operator. In my opinion.

northernguy · Jun 18, 2011

Some people might be listed as a two person transfer so the facility can cover their ass, but in reality they can usually transfer fine with one person. In other cases though you really do need 2 people to safely transfer that person. As a new CNA who is unfamiliar with the particular residents its better to error on the side of caution. Unfortunately you have some CNAs who are so obsessed with time constraints that they will repeatedly violate basic safety, common sense, and proper lifting mechanics in order to save a minute or two. In my opinion it is these CNAs who ruin it for the rest of us, and these people cause a lot of injuries and have ended a lot of CNAs medical careers. Eventually most of them will ruin their backs, unless they change professions before their lack of judgement does permanent damage to themselves. Unfortunately management loves these types of CNAs(so long as their recklessness doesnt injure residents).

If you feel transferring that person hurts your back or is unsafe, dont do it, PERIOD. You will be the one who will live with the consequences if you are injured, dont assume that you will be taken care of if you are injured. Back injuries on the job are extremely hard to prove, I have seen dedicated hard working CNAs crippled for life on the job who are left to fend for themselves.

Yet another reason why the sooner someone continues their medical education and ditches the CNA gig, the better off they will be.