7 hoyer lifts?!

[Newbie93017]

I'm a brand new CNA. I've been working my first job for a month and I'm still struggling. They also float me so I'm never working the same assignment. I had an assignment yesterday and I'm getting the same today and their are 7 hoyer lift residents out of my 12 people. I also have to do dining room duty at 12. I feel like I'm drowning as most days feel like this. There's never anyone to help, I have to hunt people down ano waste precious time. I barely stop all day. I feel like all I'm doing is hopping from person to person and not providing my best care to them because I'm so frantic trying to get them all up by 12. Idk what to do. I almost want to quit but I don't want to be a quitter. What do I do?

[Missingyou, CNA]

This is typical in long term care. You will always be running around trying to find help and going room to room feeling like you are not providing the best care because of the time constraints.

The thing is you have been only working there for a month and with being a "float" it makes your job that more difficult because it takes you SO much longer to get a routine down!!!

My advice would be to just keep doing the best you can. You may have to let other less important things slide in order to get the direct care things done.

You can try making a "deal" with your coworkers. I'll help you get Mary in bed right now if you help me get Joe in.

What helps too when it's crazy busy is provide personal care to all hoyers at one time (both you and your hallmate get together on this) and once they've ALL been changed, go around and get them up.

Same for getting the hoyers down. Everyone who is a hoyer gets put in bed, once all hoyers are in, go back down the line and wash/change them when you have a chance. This way, they are in bed and you will be able to toilet the one assists and go back to change the "hoyer folks" inbetween. It really does go faster that way! Both you and your hall partner will spend less time hunting down help and more time providing care.

[Newbie93017]

My hallmate doesn't want to team up ever. Only one sometimes wants to when I work her Hall. So basically I'm on my own. And I know for a fact some CNAs do hoyer a by themselves which I REFUSE to do. It's not safe and I'm not going to risk my job.

[Missingyou, CNA]

If this is the case, then you need to address it with a supervisor. You don't need to report the other CNA's, just tell them you are having trouble getting help for the 2 assists.

and/Or you can just jump in and TELL your hall mate that you are going to help them and would appreciate their help since it will make both your jobs easier.