New Charge Nurse needs advice with float assignment

[AdamRN2007]

I am an 11-7 charge nurse/superviser with less than a year experience in SNF/LTC. Our units consist of Long term care, skilled nursing (my unit) and a dementia unit.

Our ideal staffing for 11-7 is as follows...

Skilled - 1 CNA per 20 (maximum) residents.

LTC - 2 CNA's per 30 (maximum) residents.

Dementia - 2 CNA's per 30 maximum residents.

We, like a lot of other facilities, have staffing issues, and we are frequently short at least one CNA per night. I've addressed this issue several times, and was recently asked by our DON to create a float assignment for our 11-7 CNA's when we are short.

I am very new at this, and would like to ask some of you experienced charge nurses, and nursing administrators to make some suggestions on how I should proceed with this assignment.

Regardless, I am going to involve all of our 11-7 staff and get their input before handing in a first draft to the DON. Any suggestions?

Thank you for reading!

[mom4josh]

If all of the CNAs come from the same group, just keep a list of who floated when, so that each can take their turn fairly. If they are all separate units, then you have to decide who would be affected the least and take one from that unit.

I'm not sure about LTC facilities, but on my hospital unit, if we are short a CNA, then every attempt is made to have an additional nurse, just to have the required number of staff on for that shift. Not always possible, but it helps a great deal.

I know it's not an easy situation, but once your plan is in place, there should be no bickering about who should float. Also, as the charge nurse, you must stand behind your decision and not cave in to pressure if someone just doesn't want to go.

Good luck.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

How are the units separated? by floors or are they on the same floor?

Keeping a list to make sure it is rotated is a good thing.

You need to look at the acuity too. I would also suggest asking the CNAs what they think will work.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I would also suggest asking the CNAs what they think will work.

Absolutely. They know what it takes to get the work done, ask them.

[infectionRN]

I have a CNA float from 11p -3pa on one unit, then go to the other unit from 4a-7a. By doing this it helps out both units, we keep a pull book so everyone shares the wealth. Good Luck

[medusa22]

you need to be careful and check if your cna,s are in a union first.If they are there might be rules regarding floating.:)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

you need to be careful and check if your cna,s are in a union first.If they are there might be rules regarding floating.:)

The OP works at a nursing home. It's highly unlikely that the nursing home/LTCF is unionized.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

We are unionized...there is alot of that depending on what area you live in.