1st day of clinicals.

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1st day impressions:

1. It is amazing where you can find poop on a resident.

2. If I had to eat that food, I would weigh 80 lbs too.

3. My wife better watch out, there are some lady residents on the prowl.

4. member is all the same size when your 80.

5. Who would have thought you would find plasma TV's in a nursing home?

The 1st day went better than I thought. I didn't waste much time watching. I jumped right in and got dirty. Very clean facility and all the residents were nicely dressed with nice hair and a bit of make up. Lots of activities. Nothing was rushed. Most CNAs we were shadowing were pretty lazy. Whenever I pulled out my gait belf, you could "hear" their eyes rolling. They would say that they could understand use wanting to learn the State way while we are training but it will all change when we are actually working. I really hope it doesn't.:jester:

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1. It is amazing where you can find poop on a resident.

That certainly is the truth! I haven't been a CNA is a couple years now but man some memories never leave you.

Congrats on landing in a good facility! It can be so heartbreaking and frustrating (and back-breaking) if you don't. Good luck on your 2nd day! :D

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1st day impressions:

. Whenever I pulled out my gait belf, you could "hear" their eyes rolling. They would say that they could understand use wanting to learn the State way while we are training but it will all change when we are actually working. I really hope it doesn't.:jester:

I hope it doesn't, too. But during my clinicals I saw two aides hoisting a woman from bed to wheelchair by grabbing onto the elastic waist of her pants! Now that can't be right. :no: I didn't see one aide with a gait belt.

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But during my clinicals I saw two aides hoisting a woman from bed to wheelchair by grabbing onto the elastic waist of her pants!

Where I was at, this was how the season pro's did it :eek:. It was frustrating and dangerous for the patient and unfortunately I was just the newbie who everyone rolled their eyes at for "wasting my time" doing things correctly.

Bravo to the OP for following proper procedures. They're there for the safety of the residents and for your own safety.

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Specializes in CNA.

Yeah. Things will change as you get more experience and you'll find shortcuts that are NOT dangerous.

I must admit, the gait belt is not that often used (in my experience). But at the same time, the people I saw using it regularly were some of the most experienced, long time, competent people.

They would carry the belt with them all the time and whip it out as needed. It didn't simply help the resident, it helped them and with practice, it takes all of 15 seconds to get on and adjust.

I think it's a tool that CNA's simply think is too difficult/too timely to use due to their inexperience. I would keep it, use it, get good at it.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Doesn't using the same gait belt on several residents pose a cross infection risk?

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Doesn't using the same gait belt on several residents pose a cross infection risk?

I asked that SAME question in class. Couldn't the gait belt be classified as a mode of transmission? I was told "no". But I think "YES".

I think each resident/patient should have their own gait belt if their particular situation warrants it. The gait belt should be kept in their room with THEIR name on it.

Of course a gait belt that is used on numerous people could transmit germs.

Marie

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