This is my first job as a CNA, I've worked at the same LTC for a little over a year now. It started off difficult for me because it was my first job like this but not because the facility was difficult.
I know we often post about working short handed and the challenges of that. I work at night, so working short(er than normal) doesn't happen on my shift because we are already very few staff. But what I do want to know is how many places run with short or NO supplies?
In the last few months, I've had to work with no appropriate briefs for the big residents (and highly incontinent, change 6 times a night residents!), only one bag of briefs in 10 rooms, no small briefs for the tiny residents (now we only have XL). And my favorite, no gloves :angryfire I am NOT going to change people barehanded, for so many reasons. Supplies like wipes and periwash I consider luxuries, when we don't have basics to start with. THis last week, we had 2 residents with contact precautions. With one, it was gown, mask and face shield. We only had gowns in the building and only a few of those. Another required face masks and of course, we had none of those either. Fortunately those weren't on my hall or I would have refused unless proper gear was provided. And I'm SURE that would have caused a ruckus. Oh and the ostomy residents... we had NO supplies for them when state was here. One aide literally taped a garbage can liner to the barrier and left it because that was ALL we had.
My nurses all say it's like this everywhere. And that if I think this is bad, I should see how it is other places. My question is is it REALLY like this where you work too? Short staff, I understand. Short supplies, I really don't get. The thing is we have a new supply girl who management thinks is doing a bang up job. They don't hear anything else and we've all tried to get this through, that there is a problem. This job also includes staff scheduling, which she is equally bad at. It's almost worthy of a separate post to talk about calling in sick procedures but for now, lets say that it is not working.
So tell me, is this kind of stuff a problem where you work? There are other reasons I'm considering a change but I'm really curious about this stuff. My nurses know I'm a nursing student and seem to take great delight in telling me how awful it is everywhere. I know new nurses don't have it easy but good lord, it can't be as bad as they make it out or NO one would do this!
editing to add other things we have run out of and management thinks is not a big deal:
Tylenol. Who runs out of THAT in any kind of medical facility!
Tube feeding. It's not like you can stuff McDonalds down that tube!
OMG! i thought some of the places i worked were bad!
well yes, i have worked seriously shorthanded, one night it was JUST me, and the nurse! 2 people for a facility that holds 75?!?!? i had about 20-25 q2's! it was the first and the last time i ever will work like that. as far as the supplies. i have worked at my ltc for about a year, now i am prn though, but we have had to go without proper sizes of briefs and a couple times all we had was lg gloves, i wear a small, so that was interesting and horrible! LOL. i worked one night at a ltc and it was WAK! there was a contact precaution and they had NO yellow gowns, i had to use a hospital gown. and the wipes were rationed out like water in the sahara. idk, but i will NOT be going there again. now i dont know if it's like that there all the time though, but at my prn job, they have been short several times. one time we also were given half a gallon of juice to use for snacks to give about 15-20 residents. we added much ice! in any case, if your facility is constantly like that, then if i were you, i would quit! the nurses may not care so much because they are not the ones on the floor. that place you work at is the worst that i have heard of!!!
As far as your question about breifs...many places do not use briefs for sleeping. They use special linens that they place between their legs instead (think cloth diapers). I don't know the exact name. It breaths better and is supposed to be much better for the skin.
No, it is not like that where I work, and I am sorry to hear that you have had to work in those unsavory conditions. I can't imagine having to take care of residents without enough supplies! This job is stressful at times with the right equipment, so you must be made of tough stuff!
Fuzzy, I'm curious about this statement. Do you not use briefs at night where you work? What about the ones that are incontinent several times a night?
We are not supposed to use briefs at night where i work. Can you imagine wearing plastic underwear 24-7, and never having your bits be open to air? That's gross. It's like wearing synthetic panties under a pair of nylons to bed. Plus we only have briefs in 2 sizes and they don't fit anybody *perfectly.* On some they're too tight or too loose in different areas. If the brief is too tight it can create blistering and in either case it helps to create pressure areas. Soft pull-ups are a little bit more breathable and have a better fit, but they're still not ideal because they hold the urine against the skin.
misspink789
41 Posts
OMG! i thought some of the places i worked were bad!
well yes, i have worked seriously shorthanded, one night it was JUST me, and the nurse! 2 people for a facility that holds 75?!?!? i had about 20-25 q2's! it was the first and the last time i ever will work like that. as far as the supplies. i have worked at my ltc for about a year, now i am prn though, but we have had to go without proper sizes of briefs and a couple times all we had was lg gloves, i wear a small, so that was interesting and horrible! LOL. i worked one night at a ltc and it was WAK! there was a contact precaution and they had NO yellow gowns, i had to use a hospital gown. and the wipes were rationed out like water in the sahara. idk, but i will NOT be going there again. now i dont know if it's like that there all the time though, but at my prn job, they have been short several times. one time we also were given half a gallon of juice to use for snacks to give about 15-20 residents. we added much ice! in any case, if your facility is constantly like that, then if i were you, i would quit! the nurses may not care so much because they are not the ones on the floor. that place you work at is the worst that i have heard of!!!