Time management

CoffeemateCNA · May 10, 2010

Multi-tasking!!

If someone is using the bathroom, then use that time to make their bed, pick out clothes, and tidy up.

If your more independent residents don't need help with toothbrushing, etc., then leave and take care of someone else, then come back.

JDZ344 · May 10, 2010

You learn tricks as you go along. Look at your co-workers who have been there a long time, they will have good time management skills and tricks.

Key is multitasking.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · May 10, 2010

I try to get my shower out of the way as early as possible. If not before breakfast, then right after. In fact I try to get as many people crossed off my list before breakfast as I can. If they have to be up to eat, they get washed and dressed right away. Then if I have time I sneak in on a couple of the people who eat in bed and wash them up too so when it's time to get up later all I have to do is put their pants and shoes on. I move really fast too. It shouldn't take that long to wash an ass, you know? lol. I carry a bottle of lotion in my pocket because no one ever seems to have it in their night-stands and I'm not wasting time running to the supply room every 5 seconds. Besides, you get everybody stocked up with everything and the next day it's gone again. I don't understand that but whatever.

You'd be surprised at how many people can brush their own teeth. The earliest people get set up at the sink or bedside table after they're dressed. If for some reason I don't have time for oral care I toss their little basin at the end of their bed so I don't forget to do it later.

I usually make my beds as I go along. Some people are in a hurry to get everyone dressed and leave the bed for later, but I'd rather get it out of the way. It makes for less mental clutter and personally that makes a big difference for me.

I pass out food trays to the people that can feed themselves before I pass out the feeder ones. And if I have a resident who can be difficult/combative in the morning, I don't even go into their room until all the trays are passed. By then I'm more relaxed, and usually the resident can sense that and they don't fight me. If I have 2 feeds in the same room I feed them at the same time. While one chews and swallows the other gets a bite. I'm not feeling like "geez I wish this person would just hurry up and swallow" and it gets done faster even if both residents eat slower.

After breakfast I try and do a really quick toilet run, especially on the people that go to activities and/or the people who are ALWAYS wet. When i do my morning care I leave a few washcloths and briefs in every bathroom so I don't have to grab them when i do this, and I finish my oral care on the people that didn't have it done yet. As I go along I repo everyone by either turning them in bed or tilting back their wheelchair. With that stuff out of the way, I finish up my morning care. Pretty much everyone is supposed to have those supplement drinks at 9am, which I think is stupid because they've pretty much just finished eating and don't want them, but one of the nurses is militant about forcing them on people at exactly 9am so I pass those out too. I don't have time for everyone so if the resident isn't mine I just put it on the table and let their CNA give it. That's generally what everyone does. If the water pitchers are available at the same time (they're usually not), I will whip those out with the other drinks.

Right before lunch, after everyone is up, I try for a 3rd potty run. After lunch things are easier- just toilet, walk, and lay everyone down.