Two days of orientation & liking it so far!

[daniellemarie]

Hi everyone!

I got switched over to PM shift yesterday & I like it so much better :) Everyone is extremely nice & helpful! I am going to have my last day of orientation today before I get my own section & I have a few questions..

1. What have you guys found is the best way to transfer a pt from bed to w/c & w/c to bed?

2. Tips for bringing pt to the bathroom when they use a w/c.

3. Any tips for giving showers.

4. Any tips for using lifts.

5. Any tips for changing pt out of long sleeve shirts. I've always been afraid of hurting them

Thank you in advance for any feedback!

[christy k.]

i have 1 good arm an the thing to remember is putting on clothes start with weak side 1st, when taking clothes off do good side 1st SO hope that helps.

[CoffeemateCNA]

I'm confused.

Have you ever worked as a CNA before? These are basic skills that you should have learned in class.

With that said. . . .

I remove the side of the wheelchair/armrest when transferring many people. Then I put a gait belt on them and scoot them across to their bed.

Showers? If they have dementia and are fighting you, then get in and get out ASAP. If they don't, then use the time to help them relax (and relax yourself), talk to them, get them nice and squeaky clean. Bath time SHOULD be a non-stressful, "safe" time.

To take of those cursed long-sleeve sweat shirts, I use one of two methods: 1) Pull the back of the shirt up over their head, then pull off both sleeves at the same time. If that fails, then 2) Remove arm from one sleeve, lift the head out of the collar, then pull off the other sleeve.

For button-up shirts, I unbutton it, then push the collar halfway down their back, which makes it easier to slide the sleeves off, either together or one at a time.

[daniellemarie]

This is my first job as a CNA. Thanks so much on the tip on changing them out of long sleeve shirts! I will definitely give that a try.

[daniellemarie]

@ christy k.

Thank you for the reminder :)

[pkuper]

Lifts: I ALWAYS use 2 people with a lift. It helps to have an extra set of arms to help guide the resident while another CNA is guiding the lift and handling the remote. always make sure you have the resident securely situated on the lift pad because they can fall out. I have never had that happen to me, but one of the girls at my facility did.

Mainly, you will develope your own way of doing things after your own your own and no longer in orientation. I used to be scared of hurting the residents but eventually you will learn that unless they are extremely fragile that it takes a lot to hurt them and you have to be pretty rough in order to hurt them.

You will also get to know each of the residents and they way they like to do things; many of them have their own tricks for doing things also. Once you get to know the residents you will learn how they like to do things and it will make your job much easier.