New aide advice?

[Youngandhopeful]

I've been an aide for 2 months, working in a long term and rehab facility. I'm used to being the only aide on the rehab unit, with 15 residents and very supportive nurses. (Like seriously, shoutout to these guys for being so willing to help out). However, I've recently been moved to the long term unit with 6 ish aides and everyone gets assigned rooms. Over the past couple weeks, I've gotten to know and love the residents I get to work with, and I want to make sure that they get the best possible care. This seriously affects my time management. For example, when coming back from break today, I noticed a very flustered aide in a resident's room. This resident has difficulty speaking so the aide who rarely works with her didn't know what she needed. I peeked in to see if she needed help, but she just looked at me and said you handle this. The resident needed to be changed, and her roommate needed to be pulled up and turned so I did it. And I don't mind. But it became an issue when I couldn't get all of my own residents up in time for lunch and had to enlist the nurses help. What is the best way to handle this?? How can I tell a sweet old lady that she's not my problem today because a paper says so? That she'll have to wait for her aide who probably won't do the job anyway? I'm 19 so part of me thinks this is naiveté about my job. Also an etiquette question: if I'm sitting down at the nurses station charting, about to start a round and get people up for my assignment, and a family member of a resident whose who is busy says that they need x care, should I do it or does work come first? Secondly, if I'm charting and an aide comes up next to me and asks me to do x while they take a breather (not a 15, I asked), what's the best way to decline? Idk I'm new and I don't want people to dislike me but these things need to be addressed and ughhh.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

Do the aides not work together at your facility. Often, if I needed help or if someone else needed help we'd team up and work together. I pretty much ignored the assignment sheet once I finished doing the cares for my residents.

Also, if a family member came up to me and said so and so needs help it depended on what it was. If it was a boost I'd hurry find someone and boost them up. If it was a change, I'd ask them to please wait (we do rounds anyway, honestly they can wait 2 minutes).

Finally, if we were all caught up I wouldn't mind if a coworker took a "breather" but if I needed help or if their call lights were going off the wall I'd let them know not yet because there's a ton of stuff to do.

[BBboy]

I too am a young aide. Traits of a great aide: being able to develop relationships with those that you are giving care to and those you're working with (although you can't please everyone). To me it doesn't matter if someone is my responsibility, you still perform the care that they need because that person needs it plain and simple. Time management is also key, that's just something you'll have to figure on your own to be honest. In my view I'll never decline care unless it's something out of my scope or something that I really should not be assisting with (ethical issues that we will be more exposed to as nurses). If I'm busy and someone asks for assistance I'll tell them I'll help them out as soon as I'm done, if it's something urgent and I'm with a patient (depending on the situation) I'll tell the pt im with I'll be right back to finish up again situation permitting (definitely not during a shower or if they were on the toilet). If it's something asked of me while I'm charting I'll revisit my charting after I assist.

[Missingyou, CNA]

Residents come first, charting 2nd.

Always help if you are able, if a family member asks you to help, then help if you can (your resident or not & if you're just charting, then you can help).

Keep in mind, you have assigned resident's that need your attention, if you fall behind because you're caring for other resident's not in your group, it will come down on you and you alone...so you have to have a healthy balance....know what you can do and what the limit on your time is. If you're falling behind and a family member wants you to do something else, there is nothing wrong with saying, "I'm sorry, I'm in the middle of something, I'll help you as soon as I can". Be willing to HELP your co-workers (not DO their job while they "hide")and they will help you.

If you have a few minutes and can help the other CNA's, go for it! There will come a time when you fall behind and they will remember that you helped them & they will return the favor.