How many shifts are you "aideless"?

[JacelRN, BSN, RN]

Hi all,

Just a quick question about PCA/CNA's on your shifts. Frequently on my night shift, we are without an aide and it makes our job incredibly difficult. I didn't understand how much I helped when I was an aide working before graduating. A good PCA can make or break your shift. Turning, toileting, Blood Sugars, VS, getting ice/drinks/food, I&O's, simply answering a light you are too busy to get at the moment.

I feel it is too often we are ignored an aide and I wanted to find out if it is common practice for anyone else out there.

Also, a big, grateful THANK YOU for all hardworking aides out there! Know you are appreciated.

JacelRN

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

... A good PCA can make or break your shift. Turning, toileting, Blood Sugars, VS, getting ice/drinks/food, I&O's, simply answering a light you are too busy to get at the moment...

You're only dead on with the above.

No reason in the world for nurses / clients to be denied the assistance of an excellent aides / techs.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

It's tough without an aide. Lately we've been frequently going with one aide for the whole floor, when it takes two. Of course our pt. ratio doesn't go down when we have less help. But fortunately having no aide at all is rare.

Best wishes. I feel your pain. :)

[apaisRN, RN, CRNA]

We have more aides in ICU than we had on the floor (go figure, now that I have 2 pts instead of 6) but still not enough. I'd say two shifts out of three we have only the cross-trained secretary who's usually too busy to do aide work. On the floor we often had only one aide for 40-odd pts and that was useless. It wasn't really any help at all.