Speed and Quality Care

azcna · Dec 11, 2008

This is a great question, thanks for asking it! I have always wanted to know this as well. I know in some nursing homes they have 3rd shift get half the residents ready, and 1st does the other half. How you get 12 resident ready though, thats gotta be tough!

One Flew Over · Dec 11, 2008

If I had to get 12 residents up and washed before breakfast, I'd be very slow myself. Don't worry, as long as you're residents are happy with you, it's ok :)

The only advice really is, to just know your residents. As you get used to them it becomes faster and faster.

Do you spend a lot of time waiting for them to finish oral care, brushing hair etc? At one time I had a lot of morning people so I would wash one, set them up to do their teeth/hair. Wash another, come back and clean up after the first resident. Then repeat until I was done. Just whatever you do, don't spend time idle. Find something to do, even if it's just to gather linen for your next resident, making the bed etc.

As for the combative ones.. My assignment gets insane around full moon time, so I know what you're going through sister, and I wish you luck

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Dec 11, 2008

^that was good advice. You can get a bunch of people started on different things at once instead of doing each person one at a time and then moving on to the next when you're finished. Can you partner up with someone and get all your 2-assists out of bed at once? Then you can go back and do their care afterwards.

Part of it IS knowing the residents. Like if someone takes 10 minutes to brush their teeth standing at the sink, next time you'll know to set them up at the bedside table instead so you can use that 10 minutes for something else. Maybe you're doing too much for some of them too. Set the basin out and tell them to wash themselves. Some of them will try and take advantage of new CNAs and try to get you to do everything, but part of your job is to promote independence. At that age every tiny thing matters and if you don't use it you lose it.

And then part of it is just pure speed. When I started out I felt weird washing people as fast as I could. But I realized that's how everyone does it and you don't have a choice. Sit them on the toilet, hand them a washcloth for their face, underarms, whatever, take one for yourself and swipe swipe swipe, lotion, lotion, a sprinkle of powder and up we go! haha

diane227, LPN, RN · Dec 12, 2008

Don't give up. It has always taken me at least 6 months to be completely comfortable with a new job. Don't be so hard on yourself. You will speed up with time and you will get more organized. Diane RN

yousoldtheworld · Dec 12, 2008

I understand where you're coming from - in fact, I think we all do! In an ideal world, we would be able to spend the proper amount of time getting everyone up and ready, but realistically it's just not possible at your regular LTC. The biggest thing that helps is TIME. As you get more used to your job, you will get faster and more efficient at it, and you will know your residents.

Tips I can give you:

1. Pass out all of your supplies BEFORE you start getting them up. Make sure every resident has towels, briefs, etc. in their rooms, because running into the hall to grab supplies really adds up, timewise.

2. Are you working 3rds, or 1st shift? If you work thirds, or ever do, it helps to go around and get everyone's clothes laid out and ready way before it's time to get them up. On first shift, you might not have time to do this.

3. I find it's best to get the hardest people who take the longest time up FIRST, especially if they are two assists. A lot of people tend to put them off til last, but I think getting the hardest part done early while you're still fairly energetic is best. If I have total cares, I might get them washed and dressed first and leave them lying down until everyone is dressed, THEN get them in their chairs. If you have people who can mostly do themselves, get them set up and then work on their roommate or someone nearby. If you know someone takes a long time on the toilet, put themon the toilet and get someone else set up.

It's just a matter of finding a good routine that works for you. As you get more confident, you'll get faster. :)

One Flew Over · Oct 18, 2009

it helps to go around and get everyone's clothes laid out and ready way before it's time to get them up. On first shift, you might not have time to do this.

That's also good advice

If I have an extra minute while waiting for trucks etc where I can't really squeeze anything substantial in, I like to pass towels to my after breakfast get-ups/showers and pick out their clothes, ready their basins.. etc