Resident safety vs. mine?

[Cmtz108]

First time poster here! A couple of months back I completed my CNA certification and was excited to jump right into the medical field! I was hired to work in a memory care facility in Idaho with about 15 residents ( 9 of which are bed changes rest are able to stand and be changed) with moderate to severe alzeihmers and dementia. I usually work graves which means you work by your self with no assistance and no other cna's. I have not had a problem with it until recently, a particular resident which is a two person assist stopped being able to walk. This particular resident also has a bad attitude,VERY UNSTEADY and aggressive. My facility offers no hoyers or any fancy stuff like that, how do I go about toileting them? I have had the roughest time doing so and it usually ends on me almost hurting myself and her soaked.

[Nobody00]

Mmmm no. If a person is two assist there is no way I'm even attempting to help them by myself. We've had several girls on workers compensation for months due to back injuries.

I know it's annoying to have to wait for another person to help you and sometimes everyone is too busy. Where I work we do all single assists first then get a buddy and help each other with doubles.

So you work alone with 15 residents? Thats unsafe not only for lifting/rolling but if a fall occurs or other kind of emergency. Or if a person is aggressive you dont want to be alone in there either. If there is absolutely no way to get help I'd keep them in bed and toilet/change in bed. If they can't roll with just one person helping then sorry nothing can be done. I'm not injuring myself due to poor staffing/policies/money cutting.

Hope something can be changed to assist you, good luck

[Missingyou, CNA]

Use a bed pan. The risk of doing a one assist transfer on a two assist is not worth it. In most places it could get you fired.

Talk to your nurse and let them know about this resident's change of status.

You can only do what you can safely do and transferring this person alone does not sound safe. If you have already discussed this issue with your RN and you don't have a bed pan to assist the resident with, then I still would not transfer. If management wants to know why, tell them you do not want to put the resident at risk of a fall and injury. Focus on patient safety, because in the end, management is more concerned with resident safety than anything else.