Cthebigguy

Well, in the world where pockets are plentiful and we don't need to worry about weight and things getting in the way: Scissor, sanitizer, gloves, vomit bag (works for dementia patients that want to water the plants too), trash bags, phone, watch (with second hand), bleach wipes, wet wipes, gate belt, stethoscope, sharpies, post-its, ID, pens, paper, and specialty items for your specific field (disposable rags for LTC, EKG leads for ER, etc.) In reality: Sanitizer, gloves, paper, pen, and a watch. Trash bags if your going to be hauling stuff you need to bag up. That sum it up?

I have to agree with just 'bout everyone here. I go to bed every morning (I work 1800-0600) and I feel it in every bone, muscle, ligament, and tendon in my body. If I where in your shoes, go get a different job until your sure your healed, because re-injury is NEVER good on the pocket book, nor the job outlook.

Well, I guess it is facility/administration protocol. I have heard of some places that once they put out a schedule, that is it... no changes (even if census gets to be excessively high/low). Other places they have incentives to be on call, an example (a coworker had left for an offer like this) if you get called in Mon-Thurs=it is time and half, Fri-Sat= Time and half, plus paid breaks and 10$ meal paid, and if it is on Sun= 2x time, paid breaks and meal up to 20$, if you where not called in = nothing. And I have seen a place (I decided not to take this job), that I was on call every other week, and if I was called in I was expected to be there and no incentives where given... I told them unless there was an incentive I wasn't doing it, and they told me no, so I told them to find another aide (hard, given that place had just had over half the crew walk out.)

Worse thing I have ever seen done... one of our nurses (who's name shall remain in my book of shame) left a nice 21 gauge needle in a residents room. This kindly demented lady then proceeds to jab it at me (needle first) asking me to take it away, I can tell you that even a 20 gauge needle looks like a 7 gauge when you know it really has the power to change your life (did I mention that our facility doesn't do an STD panel on new residents?). I told the DON and was informed that it was a mistake and it wouldn't happen again. 2-weeks later the nurse got busted with stolen pills.

A facility in the area I work had a similar issue. One of the CNA's charted res. refused bathing (this resident will go WEEKS w/o so much as a wipe down). I can't go into too much detail, but the CNA was written up, and then later terminated (resident still refusing). Well, the CNA lawyered up, and the facility was hit with a nasty fine by APS, the former DON has a mark on [insert gender neutral noun here]'s licence, had to apologize to resident, and was in civil lawsuit that dang near got the place shut down. The DON got canned, and the CNA got a very hefty judgement (even after lawyer fees). You can NOT force a resident that has not been declared incompetent to undergo any medical treatment, showering included. That said make sure to CYA and document, document, document. Unless the resident has been declared unable to make decisions for him/her self, you can not force them. Even then it is tricky. Long story short, get your Ombudsman (or resident's rights specialist) involved, and document. That story is second hand, but you still can't force a mentally competent person into a shower if they say "No"... it will come back to bite you on the rear.

I work in a LTC facility, current census is 35, they have 2-3 floor CNA's during the day, plus one restorative, transport, and shower (minus the restor, shower, and transp on weekends). 1x 12-hour licensed staff, 1x 4-hour licensed staff (Day). Night shift has 1x 2-hour snack CNA, and 2x 12 hour floor CNA's, plus a 12-hour nurse. There are 4x total cares, 9x extensive cares, 15x limited cares, and the rest are mostly independent. Residents are allowed to have snacks whenever available (and we have to deliver). If a night/day shift CNA calls off they do not replace them, and I have worked 3x solo nights (me and the nurse) with 30+ beds, in the past 45-days. Should I look for different employment w/ better staffing levels?

Being honest, I don't care if a coworker sleeps at the nurses station as long as when it is time to do rounds and answering call lights they are up. We don't have sick time where I work, and since we are the lowest paying facility in the county*, we have a really hard time saying "I am too sick to work." More than one of my noc-shift coworkers has slept in an empty room for 30-40 min. and I understand, it is when it is habitual that there is a problem.

We had an elderly (pushing 100) year old woman, who was blind, had some for of dementia and was HoH. Someone (who shall remain written in my book of shame) gave her a brown cow (prune juice, milk of mag. and fiber powder) d/t no BM prev. 5 days... it worked better than intended and she went (filling up briefs, pads, and soaking beds) in about 45 min and was going the rest of the night (5 bed changes, 7 briefs, 6 pads, and countless wet wipes and trash bags). She decided to finger paint and EAT this foamy, brown, fecal matter and paint her walls with it. It was mutually decided that one of us would stay in there at all times to make sure she didn't do it again, switching out every hour.

You come on shift and the DON tells you that you have 2 (bringing the census up to 33) new admits, the other noc shift CNA called off (only 2 noc shift CNA's), Mr. Doe needs a bath (he had been finger painting, and they just cleaned it up and hadn't gotten to him), and Mrs. Smith is expected to pass anytime w/in the next 24 hours... that was the longest shift of my life and one of only 3 times I felt like walking out and quiting. Mr. Doe didn't get a bath (I did wash him down with wet wipes, but simply put there was too much to do for 1 CNA), the 2 new admits where (luckily) independent, and Mrs. Smith didn't pass until 20 min. AFTER I left (bless her soul).

At the risk of sounding like a butt head, I will tell you from my experience. Women can be great to work with, they can be compassionate, caring, friendly, and often can settle down residents better than men can. On the other hand though, we have had problems with gossip, back-stabbing, blaming (usual B.S.), and even temper tantrums (yes, one of my coworkers was not feeling well and was laying down for most of the shift, I asked her to do one thing and it was WWIII at the medication center). I have worked shifts with other male CNA's and it seems things get done much faster, and there isn't the drama. I guess it is easier to just say they are different, just be ready for anything. Do I regret getting my CNA... only when the other noc shift CNA calls off and they can't find someone to cover.