uhhh.

LPNweezy · Mar 19, 2011

:redlight:Safety alert!:redlight:

yes thats so unsafe! Did you tell someone that you didn't know how to use the lift? I would have refused to do it because that would be patient endangerment. Just like how i wouldn't give a medication that i don't know.

cna23 · Mar 19, 2011

I told my hall partner and she looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. The orien t guy tried to show me, and I don't think he was doing it right. The lady said she was slipping and she kept telling him to get someone to help.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2011

Yes, always ask if you do not know how to use something! Especially the hoyer! And never ever ever use the hoyer lift without someone else (CNA, LPN) in the room!

cna23 · Mar 19, 2011

My hall partner actually got an attitude about it and all the other CNAs were acting like they were too busy to help me. It actually took a guy on his first day of orientation to get this lady in bed for the night.

mentalhealthRN · Mar 19, 2011

Try asking someone from the physical therapy department. When I worked in LTC for a short time and found many of the CNAs not using the lifts correctly went to the physical therapist and he was more then happy to hold sessions throughout the day for all the CNAs to review how the lift, and practice with each other, the PT there to help assure they were comfortable and doing it correctly. I also had them review use of gait belts. The entire department was more then happy to help. This is in their area of expertise. ---so head to the therapy department and ask one of the therapists to help you out......and take along the aide who was not doing it right! lol

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · Mar 19, 2011

This is a skill that should have been covered in your training program!!! Another thing about hoyers: they should NEVER be operated by only one person, no matter how experienced. Sadly, the reality is that you will often see aides operating the hoyer alone because the other aides are just too busy to help. When I was first a CNA I also ran into snotty attitudes when I needed help with transfers ("Well she's a one-person when *I* have her!" "Oh, really??? Well, she is CARE PLANNED as a TWO-person; must be for a reason and I need help!").

Good call in standing your ground and asking for help when you needed it. Never lose that quality no matter how poopy your co-workers act. :up:

nohika · Mar 19, 2011

This is a skill that should have been covered in your training program!!! Another thing about hoyers: they should NEVER be operated by only one person, no matter how experienced. Sadly, the reality is that you will often see aides operating the hoyer alone because the other aides are just too busy to help. When I was first a CNA I also ran into snotty attitudes when I needed help with transfers ("Well she's a one-person when *I* have her!" "Oh, really??? Well, she is CARE PLANNED as a TWO-person; must be for a reason and I need help!").
Good call in standing your ground and asking for help when you needed it. Never lose that quality no matter how poopy your co-workers act.

That's part of the reason I got "let go" for not enough experience. I'd have to go hunt down someone to do the two-person CAREPLANNED people and the other NACs were like "whatever, I always do her myself." Well, yes, but when you injure your back, gee, how are they going to cover that? You weren't doing what was careplanned so therefore, the back injury is your own darned fault.

I was kind of glad to be let go. That place was a hellhole. 30 patients in a 80 hr shift for a NAC, 10 of which were on the call light every two minutes, having to change them q2hrs, chart on all of them, attend to all the 30 "residents" who didn't need extra care (much anyways) who occasionally needed a change plus the one chick who was CONSTANTLY on the call light.

Frickin' unsafe.

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · Mar 19, 2011

That's part of the reason I got "let go" for not enough experience. I'd have to go hunt down someone to do the two-person CAREPLANNED people and the other NACs were like "whatever, I always do her myself." Well, yes, but when you injure your back, gee, how are they going to cover that? You weren't doing what was careplanned so therefore, the back injury is your own darned fault.
I was kind of glad to be let go. That place was a hellhole. 30 patients in a 80 hr shift for a NAC, 10 of which were on the call light every two minutes, having to change them q2hrs, chart on all of them, attend to all the 30 "residents" who didn't need extra care (much anyways) who occasionally needed a change plus the one chick who was CONSTANTLY on the call light.
Frickin' unsafe.

Wow, that's insane!! In my state they have mandated ratios. On day shift, no more than 7; eves, 11; and NOCs, 18. I can't imagine how anybody could safely care for 30. :eek:

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 19, 2011

is it wrong to put a cna on an assignment that needs a hoyer lift and then not show the cna how to use it because they've never used one?

that depends. is it something the cna should have known? did the rn know that the cna didn't know? the only time it would be "wrong" is if the cna told the rn that she'd never used the hoyer lift and the rn told her to do it anyway. otherwise it's just a mistake, and not even a very big one because believe it or not, rns don't know everything and we're not keeping track of whether or not your skills are up to date. it would be up to the cna to tell the rn that she didn't know.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2011

Agree with Ruby. Did you tell the RN you didn't know how to use the hoyer lift?

I would also assume that someone working in a place where hoyer lifts are used would know how to use one, or would have learned to use one during orientation.

Fiona59 · Mar 19, 2011

But again it's the safety issue. In my health authority, it is a regulation that TWO staff be present when operating a lift. One to operate and one to "steer" the patient.