3pm-11pm shift duties for a Support (CNA)

[thekidisback]

I just got hired as a support (instead of a sitter which I originally applied for) and I will be working the 3-11 shift. Anyone know what I would typically be doing during these hours? I know 7-3pm is busy because during my clinicals I would see the supports giving baths. I'm assuming during the 3-11pm shift there won't be a lot of baths being done? I don't mind doing bed baths, but I'm just curious. Hope someone can give me some info. Thanks!

[Fribblet]

I don't know how anyone can answer this considering we don't know where you are working or what type of floor you'll be working on.

You should contact your manager to find out what duties will be required of you during your shift.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Passing trays, feeding, incontinence care, and, yes, some baths. Maybe VS. HS care. Taking people to the commode/toilet. Changing linens. Answering call bells.

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

On our floor the CNA's take vital every 4 hours, give bed baths, help with personal care and bathroom, linen changes, get drinks, take out the trash, keep track on I&O, answer call lights etc.. Day shift does not give bedbaths, they assist while night shift gives the total baths.. So your duties may vary but this is what our CNA's do on a shift.. I agree with first poster, call the NM and ask what your duties will include.

[silverbells_star]

I'm surprised you took a job not knowing what the duties were, hope it works out for you.

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

I'm a charge nurse LPN in a LTC facility. The aides feed, pass trays, change and wash residents, toilet, assist with bedtime cares, do vital signs, answer call bells and assist the nurses when needed such as maybe help turning someone when I do a dressing etc. They also change/empty colostomy bags and foley bags and urinals, help with bedpans etc. All the things you learned in CNA class.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I used to work 2nd shift at an LTC facility and this is how it went for us:

First shifts lays most people down after lunch, so when 3-11 gets there they start getting everybody up. Everyone gets changed/toileted, and the ambulatory people get walked. When that's all done there's usually some time before supper trays get sent over, so you do vitals, take down beds, and lay out linens and supplies for your HS cares. Sometimes you even have time to do a shower or bath- I don't know about other places but where I work the baths are divided equally between 1st and 2nd shifts.

Around 5 or 530 the meals come up. After feeding is done and all the trays are collected the CNAs start taking turns going on their 30 minute breaks. So there is less staff on the floor for a couple hours and if your hall has a lot of alert people the call lights will go on like crazy. Everybody wants to go to bed right after supper. You start doing your HS care on your assigned residents- wash them up, get them in a gown, brush their teeth, and put them in bed. You kinda have to rush through this because everybody tends to be wet after supper, plus they need a position change. So depending on my assignment I'd throw everybody in bed just to get the wet brief off and get them off their butt, then go back and wash them later. Or sometimes you have residents that are particular about how and when you do their care so you have to plan for that.

Around 8:30 you finish getting everyone ready for bed and you go back to the 1st person you did and turn them + check for incontinence and go down the line checking and turning everybody. You can give your supplement drinks as you go along.

After that you have some downtime to do your paperwork. 9:30 you do a final set of rounds. After that there's not much to do because everybody is sleeping. You can stock gloves, stock the linen closets, etc. Anything to stay busy until the next shift comes.

[JDZ344]

When we work 'lates', we do vital signs, blood sugars, toilet, change, feed and help people to drink, basically. Plus our extended roles, which we picked up later. We put people to bed and offer them a hot drink. It's a busy shift because almost all the admissions/discharges come on that shift.

[LynM75]

Fuzzywuzzy has written an excellent description of an evening shift in a LTC facility... In a hospital setting, you may be assisting patients with thier HS care, we give (short) backrubs where I work, you may be doing more VS and answering many more call lights, which will keep you hopping all night long. Good luck in your new job!

[caliotter3]

Don't worry you will find all of this out on your first few days as you are oriented to your duties and start to get the hang of it. It may seem overwhelming at times, but gets better. Just ask for help when you need it and be willing to help when someone needs help and you will be ok. Enjoy your new job.

[WhiteScrubs]

Excellent description, fuzzywuzzy. Almost makes me think we worked at the same place, the schedule is so similar. :)

OP: keep in mind, if you applied for a sitter job, full-on CNA work will be very different, and much more physically demanding. Wear good shoes, use good body mechanics, and just do the best you can, with an open mind. If it's not for you, don't force it. Nobody wants a CNA who doesn't want to be there.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Ask for a detailed job description from the person who hired you - that should give you a good idea.