The State's real responsibility

[ecmb]

I'm taking a class in Ohio for STNA (state-tested nursing assistant). Ohio doesn't use the term "CNA" because in Ohio that stands for Certified Nurse Anesthetist.

Anyway, after reading over the Manual Skill Tasks Listing sheet, I've come to see that it is not all that realistic. After working in a LTC as a trainee, I've heard many times, "Well this is what we do, but in order to pass the test you have to do it (and then they describe the state's requirement).

I am not criticizing the state's requirement, but they are not consistent. On some of the skills they say to wash hands and then hand the resident his or her call light. Other times they say hand the resident the call light and then wash your hands.

I'm a bit disconcerted, too, by the resident to aide ratio. I think 10- or 12 to 1 is way too high. Some of these residents have to be fed, showered, etc. and when you are showering one resident, what are the other 11 residents under your care supposed to do regarding their needs?

It seems to me that instead of publishing an unrealistic list of skill tasks the state would better serve the LTC population by mandating a lowered resident to aide ratio.

Does this make sense to anyone?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm a bit disconcerted, too, by the resident to aide ratio. I think 10- or 12 to 1 is way too high.

I'm an LVN/LPN who has spent most of my short career in LTC facilities, and many of my CNA coworkers would absolutely love to have only 11 or 12 patients. On most days, they must juggle the needs of 17 patients. On a truly understaffed day, they must care for up to 35 residents by themselves.