Tips?

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Mar 23, 2012

I have never worked 3rd shift, nor have I worked in a facility that makes 3rd shift get anyone up, so I can't tell you anything that specifically works for that situation. *Personally* as a first shift worker I think I would rather that you leave the mechanical lift people in bed! It gives me a chance to change them if needed. Maybe your facility is different, but I would love it if people were washed and dressed, but still in bed at 7am. Then I could just do a quick change and get them up myself. Having a bunch of people dressed in bed is probably a lot better than having just a couple people dressed and OOB anyway. On first shift, I don't waste time looking for people to help with lifts and 2-person transfers. If no one is around after I get someone dressed I leave them in bed and move on to the next resident. Then when I do find someone to help me, the both of us usually have a few people each that need to get up so we just go room to room all at once. It's faster than looking for someone (and waiting for them to finish what they're doing) every single time you're done washing someone.

If dressing people and leaving them in bed doesn't work out because first shift has a fit about it, maybe you could check with 1st shift to see who needs to be up for breakfast. Some people eat in bed and some are required to get up. So if you MUST get some people up they may as well be the ones that can't eat in bed. It's also nice to hit all their assignments evenly. And don't waste your time dressing anyone that's supposed to have a shower that day!

During your earlier rounds, you can lay out clothes, briefs, and washcloths in the rooms so you don't have to waste time scrambling for everything later when you're really busy. That tip applies to any shift. You might be able to start dressing people earlier than 4... if they're wet and you have to change and wash them off anyway, you may as well throw some clothes on.

Sometimes when our staffing is good (HA! Not lately!) we have an extra aide on the worst hall, and whenever I have that assignment I always try to be as thorough as possible. I cannot stand it when the extra aide says she did someone for you, and all the did was put a brief and a shirt on that person and leave them in bed. Okay buddy thanks for saving me a whole 2 minutes! When I am the extra I dress the person completely, do oral care, get them up, make the bed, get rid of the laundry, etc. so their aide truly doesn't have to do anything. But if making beds is taking you that long, you might just want to skip that part and use the time to get one more person up.

yousoldtheworld · Mar 23, 2012

I think it's best to do the most time consuming ones first, so you know how much time you have for the easier things. Yes, I would save the beds for last. And if someone soaks right around get up time, get them up then, it's quicker to change the bed once they're out of it.

If they use the toilet, put them on the toilet and wash them up there, instead of doing it separately. If your facility has more than one resident in a room, it can save time to get them up at the same time - help one dress while the other uses the toilet, or get one started on washing themselves as able as you set up the other, etc.

You might be able to get away with dressing someone partially at your last rounds before get-up time, maybe washing and dressing their top half and putting their pants at the foot of the bed, ready to grab. This is mostly useful if that person makes a mess and you have to change and wash them anyway.

Make sure you set out your clothes, washcloths and towels, and briefs for the morning in advance. I used to do that on my midnight rounds so everything's ready.

I think it's easiest if you assign yourself the same people to get up each morning, so you can get a good routine going.

Above all though, is practice - you'll gain speed as you gain experience with your residents.

nguyency77, CNA · Mar 28, 2012

yousoldtheworld: You always give such good advice! :)

I don't work graveyard, but when I work day shift my patients/residents that are hard to get up (i.e. 2-person assists, weigh a lot, etc.) are already up. Graveyard at my work is usually good about getting up the people that take more than one CNA to transfer. When I come into day shift, I get up everyone else who needs to get up and they are usually already dressed but are sleeping in. All I really have to do is toilet and help with AM care.

OP, a good thing to do is keep a mental list of who takes forever to get up in the morning. I would do those people first, and do the easy ones last since they're fast. :) Good luck, and don't worry! We're all slow in the beginning.

EDIT: About the bed making-- It doesn't have to be perfect; as long as it's tidy, you will be okay. Don't waste time making beds to perfection if there are people who need to get up.

RN1485, BSN · Mar 28, 2012

Thanks for the info! I am getting a little faster as I go along. They say it gets better with time, but I am starting to realize that this or nursing in general just might not be for me. I knew going into it what I would be dealing with, but experiencing it is a whole different ball game! I respect anyone who can do this job because it really is tough and isn't for everyone. Thanks again for the advice!

tucaymarissa · Apr 2, 2012

Do shortcuts! Dont follow every single steps in the procedures you need to do coz you will never get done! All of the things you learn by the book is very different from real life. Thats what my cna instructor told me.