seasoned cnas with 20 years plus, advice from seasoned aides only

[D_Angelo25]

First of all I want to say that January will make my 6 year mark as an aide, now my questions. I work 6 to 2 and I'm pretty fast and b give good care, but I needed advice on what I should do, we have until 7 30 to get our residents to the dining room, but I have showers to do and rooms need to be clean for dept heads to do rounds, I was wondering, from the experienced aides, how do yall work so quick and have residents looking great, my coworkers say I am good but I wanna be as great as an older aide. So how do I get things done in a timely manner and have my hall looking great? I wanna make my residents Hall look awesome and make them feel like they are getting great care. Also if you have to have people in the dining room by 7 30 would you do showers after breakfast or a few before? Given we have one shower room and have to have the rooms looking nice before 8? Help please ladies Thanks

[Missingyou, CNA]

It may not be a matter of what you do, and when you do it.

Other than what I already mentioned above, I would say that my hallmate and everyone on the unit work VERY well together. We communicate with each other. Decide who will do showers when, and if it changes, that is also communicated. We help each other out with transfers. If I can't get my hallmate to help me because she's up to her elbows in a "code brown", I can go find another aide on the unit to help. At the same time, I am willing to help them out.

I always make sure I have what I need (hoyer), sling under the resident, their shoes on etc, before I ask for help with transfer. This way my helper just shows up, does the transfer, and moves on.

Sometimes we get all (my group and hallmate's group) the hoyer lifts in/out of bed (just lay them down), then the easy stands, then, once all in/out of bed we each go back and get our residents settled in (slings out from under them, changed etc). Then do the one assists.

My co-workers and I also have no problem helping to take care of each other's residents. I will change a brief for them if I see them running behind, or even if I happen to have a few spare minutes. They always return the favor.

I guess team work is the MOST important thing you can have to be so efficient. If you don't have that now, start by talking with your hallmate, tell them you're willing to help them out and they can help you out as well.

It makes the shift go by SO MUCH easier!!