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Discussion

PSW Problems

Hi there,

I would just like to share my thoughts of how it's like so far being a PSW for a month.

In my job, I have a cashual position. Meaning, the retirement home will call me if they need someone to cover someone else's shift. As much as I hate this, I am only knew and maybe in time, when I get my seniority, I'll be able to take a permanent full/part time job.

For this past month I have learned so many things from experienced PSW's and I try my best to apply that when I'm working on my own. But for some reason, I feel somehow defeated.

I'll give a scenario that happened to me: I'm working an 8 hour night shift (11pm-7am), everything is fine from 11pm-4:30am, doing my rounds here and there to check residents if they pee or poo. Changing diapers/briefs here and there was fine. Then comes the final round, I have 17-18 residents (I don't know if this is normal.) and EVERYONE must be changed.

Note: I don't know why our ministry/Director of Care won't allow us to use soaker/incontinence pad at night so I end up changing 2-3 fitted sheets.

Some of my residents are independent, maybe 4-5 of them and just needs supervision. The others are extensive and weight bearing and wouldn't cooperate when you ask them to lift or turn. So I have 2 hours to do this but I still didn't finish on time.

And here comes the question: How should I do it? How should I manage my time?

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    When I work nights and do my round I just start at one end and go to the other. I have a cart with supplies and I have a garbage and laundry cart on wheels.I have a flashflight. I whip in and change the brief and move on.I guess it just takes practice. I was a PSW for 8 years before I became an RPN.Organization and experience are the key.It should get better as you gain more experience. Make sure you have all your supplies organized before you start.Hang in there.

    You seem very young.You are checking for incontinence, not pee and poo.

    In order to communicate more professionally you need to brush up on your spelling.

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    I dont think the number sounds too unreasonable. For those that are drenched do them earlier in the night and get to them first. As for no soaker pads, take a flat sheet (flannel is best) and fold it over to mimic a soaker, take it out when you change them and no one ever has to know, your using the same amount of linen if you had to change the whole bed. You can double brief, but that is not an excuse to change someone any less, it often leads to skin breakdown.

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    I agree 17-18 people doesn't sound unreasonable. I'm a CCA(when I'm not in school), it's SKs version of PSW. I work nights, we have 40 people. I take my laundry cart with me, I put extra linen on my cart. In the personal laundry side I put a large garbage bag, that I take out after each round so I have less garbage to take out when I'm ready to go home. I turn on minimal lights and talk quietly to the patients, telling them I'm just going to change them quickly. Then I leave. I can check, change and turn everyone within the hour. You learn who the people are who need to be changed earlier and spread changes out over a longer period.

    I am also casual (by choice) but that doesn't mean I need to follow the positioned staff blindly. If I see something that doesn't work one night, I will change it the next night. So if I've noticed that a particular person has soaked their bed before 3 I will change them at 1 or I will go in at 2:30 and change. Just because our round times are set does not mean I can not go and pop in quickly to keep someone comfortable.

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    • Author

    Thanks for the advice!

    And my apologies if I used the words "pee" and "poo" instead of incontinence.

    And yes, I agree. I check the residents every 2 hours.

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