Feeling Responsible

bethin · Jul 5, 2007

Does anyone out there feel like they are taking on more responsibility than they should? I work 3rd shift in a LTC facility. Here is an example of what I am talking about. This morning I was going to give showers to 2 of the residents. One of them it is our responsibility to shower and the other I do because she prefers me to wash her hair because I am very particular about how i wash it because her scalp gets very dry. In the mean time someone else wanted a shower also and the day shift girl was giving another resident a whirlpool bath. I wound up showering her and 3 others. Did not get out till 8:30. I just couldn't see making them wait. One other thing that makes me feel overly responsible is when I am working on the floor I prefer to do the paperwork myself just so I know it was done.

Are you doing others paperwork? If so, I wouldn't do that. You don't know what they did and what they didn't do. Never guess when it comes to charting.

Nursing is a 24 hr job. You should have politely told the third resident that you did not have time at the moment but you would pass it on to day shift, along with the 3 other baths that you did. Sometimes when I'm super busy and everyone wants something at once I tell them you are second in line, third in line, etc. They're ok with that because I'm being honest. You are allowed to delegate and there is no reason that day shfit or evening shift can't do showers either.

Yes, it's hard to tell a resident to wait but you will never leave work on time if you don't and then day shift will expect you to start their showers and will take advantage of you. Every shift is busy and there's no reason why everyone can't share the responsibility of showering.

You said that the day shift aide was showering someone when another resident wanted her or his shower. Where were the other aides?

casi, ASN, RN · Jul 5, 2007

Apart of taking responsibility for your work is to know when to pass it on to others for help. I know it’s hard not to do everything, but it’s not possible to do everything.

caliotter3 · Jul 5, 2007

There is nothing wrong with going the extra mile for your residents, but please do it within your own eight hours. Do not stay over unless you have been approved for overtime. This can be a sticky point with the employer. And be very careful not to get into the habit of doing work that is not assigned to your shift. Continue to do showers on your shift that should be done on the next shift, and someone in management will make it a permanent assignment. They will probably decide to pile on more than you want to do willingly. This does not help you or your coworkers on your shift. However, if you truly feel that a few (or all) of the AM showers can be handled by your shift and should be, then by all means, go to upper management and make the suggestion. It doesn't hurt for night shift to help with a few things in the morning, but there is a thing called overkill and doing things that are not appropriate (like starting showers at 3:30 AM).

Remember that there is always a different way of looking at things. You are staying over to help out. That can be construed into you are displaying poor time management skills. I've seen where supervisors will come to the conclusion that you are staying over because you couldn't get your work done in time; not that you are just trying to be helpful. If you don't learn to let your shift go, when it is finished, you will burn out and lose your enthusiasm for what you do. You can also lose your good health and that is not worth it. So learn to look at the clock and go home when you're supposed to. Then you can get some proper rest and come back healthy the next day. By the way, while I enjoy working with people who are conscientious like you, I've also seen examples of good workers burning themselves out. And I'm speaking from experience because I had to learn all of this the hard way.

25(2)+2 · Jul 6, 2007

I don't chart the things that the other aides are responsible for. On third shift we are not responsible for any particular resident we work together on all of them. I have worked at this facility for almost 6 years and the supervisors know that I stay later to help the shift out. They only assign one aide to do showers. the aide showering residents that day had to give someone a whirlpool which is located on another station. The person I showered after I got done with the first 2 was getting upset because she had to wait. I enjoy my job and the girl giving the showers appreciated my help and the RN thanked me for staying and helping out.

bethin · Jul 6, 2007

I don't chart the things that the other aides are responsible for. On third shift we are not responsible for any particular resident we work together on all of them. I have worked at this facility for almost 6 years and the supervisors know that I stay later to help the shift out. They only assign one aide to do showers. the aide showering residents that day had to give someone a whirlpool which is located on another station. The person I showered after I got done with the first 2 was getting upset because she had to wait. I enjoy my job and the girl giving the showers appreciated my help and the RN thanked me for staying and helping out.

I would suggest assigning residents so you know who you are responsible for and it cuts down on repeated trips to a room. If you have the whole floor you're probably spending time hunting down your coworker to see if they did this or asking residents if so and so got them fresh water.

I understand staying over once in a while but please don't make a habit of it. Residents and coworkers will take advantage of you.

25(2)+2 · Jul 6, 2007

On 3rd shift we work together as we only have 2 aides for almost 40 residents. we get 8 people up in the morning and we each take 4. we are responsible for 1 persons shower on a thurs. morning because he requested to have it before 5 am. It actually goes quite well. You are right about being taken advantage of. I do feel taken advantage of when some of the aides you are helping take it for granted but most of them do appreciate the help. I recently have taken a position in the altzheimers unit which leaves me on the regular floor only 1-2 nights a week. I really like it and since I am only part time on the regular floor I feel like alot of the responsibility has been lifted off of me. Thank You for your input

bethin · Jul 7, 2007

You sound like a wonderful, caring person and the residents are lucky to have you. Sounds like you love your job. I was just worried about people taking advantage of you. You give an inch and they take 50 miles. You have to stand up for yourself in this business because no one else will.

Good luck to you!