Increasing speed

yousoldtheworld · Apr 15, 2011

Are you at a facility, or something like home health?

Carolinathe3rd · Apr 15, 2011

I am at a nursing home. I work the 3 to 11 shift. They are up for dinner. Then after dinner, 7ish, I have to get aprox 4 bathed and 14 to bed and changed.

yousoldtheworld · Apr 15, 2011

I feel ya - at my facility, I have 5 showers and 13-15 total care residents to put to bed every night. Our dinner lasts until 7 and we leave at 10, plus we have our lunch break in that time, too...so essentially, we have 2 and a half hours to wash/bathe and put all of those people to bed. Sometimes it's near impossible to do a good job and still get out on time. The key is organization and doing as much at the beginning of your shift as you can.

At the very beginning of your shift, make sure each room is stocked with the towels, washcloths, pajamas/nightgowns, sheets, blankets, and briefs that you will need. It really saves a lot of time later when you aren't running around looking for supplies.

Once your rooms are stocked, do as many of your showers as you can before dinner. Dress them post-shower in something easy to change later, maybe a tshirt and sweatpants or something similar, so that later you can just pop their pajamas on them and they're good to go.

When it comes time to put them to bed, in time you will work out the best routine for your residents. If you have any residents who are somewhat independent, you could set them up with their water and washcloths and have them start washing themselves while you work on their roommate or another resident nearby.

If you have residents who will be on their call lights asking to go to bed, save yourself a few trips and just get them to bed first.

If you have two person transfers, find another aide right after dinner and go lay down all your two person transfers at once. Then, you can go back and get them changed and washed on your own and not have to waste time hunting down another person later.

Before you leave a room, make sure you have done everything. Make sure they have their call light, fresh water within reach, enough pillows/blankets, etc. It will save you more trips later and hopefully reduce your call lights. Always ask "Do you need anything else?"

Your facility sounds a lot like mine. There are people on here who talk about how they have extra time at the end of their evening shift, which is a completely foreign concept at my facility, haha. It's hard. But over time, your speed should improve as you get used to the routine.

blackandyellow · Apr 15, 2011

Plan ahead as much as possible. Have clean briefs, powders/lotions, heel protectors, beds pulled down(if facility allows), pajamas, towels and clothes, etc out before you put them into bed. If you are working with a partner try to get your two transfers in early. You can do a residents top half while your partner is doing anothers and meet and put both into bed. If you have a bath I like to get it set up before I go in. I have all my towels, clothes, change of clothes, lotions, shampoos, etc set up before I go in. I think preparation is key. If you have a resident that can stay in the bathroom alone safely leave for a few minutes and pull down their bed, attack their call light to the bed, pick up a little bit, etc. Hope that helps!

Carolinathe3rd · Apr 16, 2011

I feel ya - at my facility, I have 5 showers and 13-15 total care residents to put to bed every night. Our dinner lasts until 7 and we leave at 10, plus we have our lunch break in that time

Yeh that is basically what I have to do.

Talking to someone realised I could have done some baths before dinner. It is just since most are in their wheel chairs I was uneasy about getting them out their wheel chair for a bath.

Lunch break I don't have time for. I just sit and eat then start again.

Carolinathe3rd · Apr 25, 2011

Things aren't getting better. Today had no showers to give but still got finished at 11:20 and I am scheduled to be off at 11:00.

Please let me know your tricks to building speed getting people in and changing them.

rosey2007 · Apr 25, 2011

Is there anyway you might be able to start dinner earlier?

Carolinathe3rd · Apr 25, 2011

Today I basically didn't have anything to do until after dinner. Didn't get through with dinner until 7:30. For had a few feeders on the hall. It took me from 7:30 until 10:45 to get 12 in bed and changed. I don't know what I would have done if I had had to give showers.

Carolinathe3rd · Jun 27, 2011

Well 5 months have gone by and still barely get done at 11:15. I see there are some things I do that other skip. Like floating the heals and asking the resident if they are comfortable. Even when I just have 6 clients I barely get done. The 6 clients are on the rehab section of building and constantly ask for help. When I have 12 on the nursing side I decide when I help them most of the time. I try to do showers before dinner. Usually only get 1 done. I am at loss as to what to do.

Thinking of going to Hospice care. For one, whom hires for Hospice care, said "working at a nursing home is like factory work. Hospice work is different."

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · Jun 27, 2011

hmmm i always hesitate to answer these types of questions because my facility is -pretty easy because we only have 7-10 residents at a time even when we're short and if we are night shift 15.....our residents are rarely total care..probably only two per floor so we are lucky....i still struggle with speed sometimes but i try to just go in with a game plan and anticipate their needs. ask for help always and dont sweat the small stuff

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · Jun 27, 2011

ps my facility NEVER smells like poop either! :)