Third Shift in LTC

[GAstudent]

i am starting to work third shift on the weekends. i have to work every other weekend and only get off one day a week. i want to have time with my husband and children on the weekends , so i chose to work third on the weekends so that i have the day with them. my question is. i know that ltc and night is not always very busy. so for those of you on third with nothing to do, what do you do to keep awake and from being bored? thanks by the way i am a cna, so i don't pass meds. i only change and check on them and give them ice.

[jude11142]

at the facility where i work, there is always something to do on this shift. rounds are made every 2 hrs and we have several who call during the night for assistance. they restock the linen, supplies and order supplies. vitals are done for those on 24 hr report and/or on medicare. recently they started giving out nourishments on this shift.

they add up the days i&o's, sign off the cna books. we happen to have 3 pts who need to be walked as they are up most of the night and get ansy sitting at nsg station in wc. believe me the night goes by. if it's slow or the aides are done early, they will clean out closets/drawers. some go to adult daycare, so night shift gets them showered and dressed. water pitchers are collected and brought downstairs to be washed. ya know, i'm sure that there are other things that are done, but for starters that's it.

jude

[angelbear]

When I worked 3rd in LTC the cna's I had got breaks but hardly any other down time. There were 2 cna's and myself lpn for 50 residents. At leaste in that facility if you had time to be bored you werent doing your job very well. Not meant as a nasty coment just the truth at leaste at most LTC facilities. Hope that helps.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

How about asking the nurse if there is anything for you to do. Even if second shift does restocking you might be able to check the supplies. I second cleaning the wheel chairs. Another is checking the bedside for supplies.... restocking creams, lotions and soaps....cleaning/ restocking urinals and bedpans.....or just making sure the resident rooms are neat and tidy...this can be done while the res. is sleeping if you are quiet. Good luck on 11-7s!!

[healingtouchRN]

wow, you are to receive kudos to work in such a large facility with so little help. We appreciate you !!!! :kiss

[GAstudent]

well where I work we have 120 beds 4 cna's , and 1rn at night. We have three dry rounds, pass out ice. So the way i figure

Change First time at 1:30 , second 3:30, and 6. they all take an hour. We don't give showers on the weekend.

I think that the wheelchairs is a good idea

dirty linen, and things of that

stock rooms with deo, shampoo

clean the shower room

clean a few resd. rooms

check on lights..guess that is it

[FullMoonMadness]

Why no showers on weekends? When I worked in LTC,showers were scheduled, but also given as needed.

[GAstudent]

Don't know....I don't agree with it. The residents only get showers TWO days a week. I think that they need them every other day or at least three days a week......AS NEEDED..doubt it, they (co workers)would complain about it..

I am PRN and only work three days a week and every other weekend. So of course when a PRN person says something should be done, it gets blown out of portion..Don't agree with it