Is this appropriate?

[Newbie93017]

I have a particular resident who is known to be able to transfer herself with assistance from bed to motorized chair. She's a slow mover and wobbly on her legs. She can only be up about a minute.

Today I was helping her, same as usual and she basically gave out half way and I had to ease her back on the bed and yell for help to save her from falling. After suggesting physical therapy evaluate her to the nurse in charge (she agreed and said she knew this resident has been having a harder time lately) and mentioning she may be a hoyer lift candidate now, when I go to get her in bed later that day while the head CNA is there because I wanted back up due to what happened earlier...she did as good as she used to do in front of him and made me look stupid to him.

That doesnt bother me so much that she seemingly made me look stupid to him, it bothers me more if my suggestion isn't taken seriously especially if others have noticed the same.

Was i right to suggest she be evaluated for hoyer transfers? I just don't want to see her fall on my watch and I'd hate to see her scared like she was that morning from almost falling. Quite frankly, I was a little scared too.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

You noticed a change, and you reported the change to the appropriate people. That is always the right thing to do. The thing is, change doesn't always progress in a straight line. People may waver back and forth for a good long time before making up their minds to deteriorate for good . . . If that makes any sense. My mother's dementia advanced in such a way that sometimes she was oriented, appropriate and interactive and later that same day she wouldn't know where she was or who I was and was looking for her long-dead parents. Physical changes can be the same. You did the right thing. I'm guessing that your colleague is also aware that changes don't progress in a straight line and is glad for the information. (Unless, of course, he's an ignoramous.)

[Newbie93017]

lol he may be, he thinks because I'm a new CNA that I'm being overly cautious

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

lol he may be, he thinks because I'm a new CNA that I'm being overly cautious

Ah, well. Cautious is a good thing. And he's been alerted to a possible change in this woman's condition. The next time he sees something or hears about something different, he'll remember this and add it to his knowledge about her and maybe put something together a lot faster than he would have without the information. Keep on doing what you're doing.

[abbnurse]

You absolutely did the right thing. When I worked in LTC, the CNA's were my "eyes and ears" when I couldn't be in the room with the resident.

Alerting your nurse and the head CNA is exactly what you should've done. Like Miss Ruby said, keep on doing what you're doing.

[coneal783, ADN, RN]

I agree that that was the absolute right thing to do. And as far as her abilities changing, there's a lot that goes into that. Time of day can have a big effect, as well as diet and if the patient had done any physical therapy prior to either transfer.

At my facility, the physical therapists are required to do a transfer evaluation before signing off on transfer method for the care plan. I have a feeling they would be highly offended if a nurse aide suggested any transfer method other than what they have recommended. So frustrating.

[Newbie93017]

I would just hate to have her fall and then of course I get the blame for the fall. I know PT knows what they're talking about and I respect them, but they don't have to do the transferring day in and day out. And I just worry that one day, she's gonna end up on the floor because her legs gave out. I have a mini heart attack every time I have her assigned to me.