What does a CNA do on her 11p-7a shift at LTC, nursing home?

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · May 27, 2011

At mine it seems like it's pretty boring because there are always a ton of newspapers, magazines, fliers with coupons cut out them, etc laying around in the morning that I have to clean up. When the state comes the first shift is allowed to come in early and every year people from night shift make comments about how fast we're moving like they've never seen anyone work before.

But from reading this forum it seems like a lot of other places make their 3rd shift do things like clean wheelchairs, stock supplies, and get a certain number of people dressed and out of bed before 7. So you'll probably stay busy.

yousoldtheworld · May 27, 2011

In my experience, it's pretty busy. We have a few nurses who read newspapers and magazines, but the aides are pretty busy most of the night. Rounds every two hours, cleaning wheelchairs, putting away laundry, getting out the next day's clothes, matching and getting out socks for the next day, stocking rooms, cleaning shower rooms, etc. And in most places, CALL LIGHTS GALORE.

gorideaquad · May 28, 2011

wow guys thanks for all the great answers

I really appreciate it, off to bed for now.

Up and at it early in the am.

gorideaquad · May 29, 2011

update: I just spent my first of 4 days training. I was there from 7am to 3pm on the Alzheimer's unit. It was pretty much nuts and as long as I got down and helped when someone needed a hand, it was pretty much job well done. I asked if the other CNA's needed help, was pro active but it was still nuts and I could tell the other CNA's had their hands full with the residents. But the residents really do love the CNA's a lot. The place is great and I feel like I will learn a lot there. Plus I need the pay too! LOL

Drewby614 · May 30, 2011

Usually we come in we get the shift to shift report if there are any changes or any new neighbors on the unit. Then the LPN will give us our rounds the unit. The unit I'm on is split up into 3 different hallways but the unit is U-shaped so we have north, south, and middle. and then we usually each (there is usually 2 aides on at night, on a good night 3) get about 4 get ups. Then we stock our carts with breifs, chux, towels, etc. I usually start my rounds at 0030. Depends on which end of the unit we have it can take like 30 mins to an hour, because there are some pretty heavy wetters. Also, I work in a brain injury rehab, so you have severely demented pts. who go into seizures and then spit at you and hit and kick. TONS of fun. Also, call bells go off almost all night long unless everyone is zonked out on ativan. For us, there is usually downtime from about 3-4a, then we start get ups, and final rounds. I get called in for 3-11 shift ALL the time , which I don't do anymore, because when I showed up the other 4 aides disappeared and I had to put all these people into bed. So, I definitely prefer the overnights.

gorideaquad · May 31, 2011

Drew thanks for the answer

I just did my 2nd training day in rehab and will work the LTC wing. I have been told scary stories about the staff. Mostly scared of doing a 2 person lift if no one is willing to help.

I want to be able to have a good attitude when I get there and forget what people gossiped about in the lunch room LOL

Thanks again for your insight. i was told about rounds when I get there with the previous CNA. People told me to check beds for wetness, actually pull back the sheets. Check briefs. No people get up at night to pee or do they forget and use briefs? wondering.

I know i am not going to get everything right at first but I will try my hardest to do the best job I can.

AJ_427 · May 31, 2011

It can get busy during the night. It's not for everyone. Some of my coworkers tried once and never worked during that shift (same for every shift).

For my shift (10-6) it goes down like this. It also depends on which unit I am on but lately my supervisor has been putting me with young adults (they are anywhere from 20 to 55 years old). I have 16 residents to take care of. When I come in, I get my slings for hoyer lift from the laundry, get a good hoyer lift, and plug in any wheelchairs that run on batteries. Then I have to get socks from a huge pile of laundry (this takes me half and hour). I put out clothes, slings, socks, and diapers for the next morning. I check the temperatures. Then I help the nurse with any suppositories and enemas. I do my first round and change everyone's diapers. If any of them vomits or pulls their G-tube, I change the whole bed. I finish all of this by 2-3 am (sometimes things happen unexpectedly and I fall behind). Then I clean wheelchairs and I stock. I do my second round of changing diapers. In the morning, I get up 8 people. I start around 3:30 am or 4:00 am. This may sound crazy but some residents can be very difficult to deal with. I get up whoever wants to get up or is awake. I finish around 5:20 am and do my last round of changing diapers and I am done.

Some residents are heavy wetters so they will keep you very busy.

yousoldtheworld · Jun 1, 2011

Some people get up at night and go to the bathroom. Incontinent people, it is harder. Theoretically, you are supposed to toilet incontinent people every two hours. But I don't know about you, but if I had someone in trying to force me out of bed every two hours, I'd probably be pretty dang combative. So you have to figure out the best routine for your specific residents.

gorideaquad · Jun 2, 2011

ok so basically i started on the wing I will be working on. It was crazy busy. As a test, they put a new orientee (who was very good, male) with me. We had our own hall. did the charting, call lights, two rounds, emptied garbage and 5 morning get ups to the nurses station. We worked as a team Some of the residents are very heavy. Some don't talk and fight and hit hard. Some wet the whole bed. I think the previous shift did no rounds at all. We had one resident do 8 BM's and large ones plus she called 10 other times. Four other residents had BM's that came out of their briefs and onto the bed. Long story short, we got out at 7:20 which was good considering quitting time is 7. But I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I WILL EVEN DO THIS ON MY OWN. It was cool because there were two people and we could do stuff as a team. It is going to be very very hard to get people up and on time at the nurse's station unless I start before 4:30 am.

I have no idea. Plus people just say stuff that is so sweet and others call you names and stuff.

I mean I think I can do it easier. Just some of the men that can't move and dirty the whole bed with poop that is hard to deal with by myself

Any advice

Oh and the other two CNA's were cool but they are sisters in law that live together and basically just stick together the whole time