What Q's to ask during an interview+whats a good ratio of residentsto CNA

[Lacymom]

Hello, just got certified in August and I'm starting to put in applications. What kinds of questions shouldi be asking during the interview? The only one I can think of is the ratio of how many residents to CNA and what is a good ratio w that? What ratio would show too many to adequately takecare of? Benefits. Scheduling? Is there anything else? Thank you for any and all help.

[RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN]

I'm interested in patient/CNA ratio, scheduling (rotating? self-scheduling?), duties/what a "typical" shift would look like, the average patient age and the diagnoses/conditions of the patients on the floor, and how often they are short-staffed and what they do when that happens. I like being given a tour of the floor so I can get a "feel" for the nurses and CNAs. I'm not interested in benefits or what my salary will be (I already know it will be LOW!) since I'm only working as a CNA to get my foot in the door when I graduate with my RN, but if that's important to you, then be sure to ask!

[funtimes]

What would be a good ratio varies depending on the shift, how much work the people you are taking care of are(are they feeders, how do they transfer, can they assist in dressing and other things, are they continually incontinent etc.), and what the facility expects the aides to accomplish. Where I worked on days everyone was expected to be dressed, washed up, and fed in the dining room by 1030, and every aide had one shower. It matters a lot how experienced and hard working the other aides are. One new aide with no experience can cause headaches for the other aides, so they usually started new aides on evenings.

Each aide had 7 people and one had 6 but had 2 showers, and we had 20 people total to answer call lights and help out with. Only a couple people could do things themselves and just needed to be set up or supervised, the rest were total care and either could barely stand with help, or required a lift. It was doable, but we had a really good experienced crew. If you have any new or incompetent aides it would be a lot harder.

[Lacymom]

I'm interested in patient/CNA ratio, scheduling (rotating? self-scheduling?), duties/what a "typical" shift would look like, the average patient age and the diagnoses/conditions of the patients on the floor, and how often they are short-staffed and what they do when that happens. I like being given a tour of the floor so I can get a "feel" for the nurses and CNAs. I'm not interested in benefits or what my salary will be (I already know it will be LOW!) since I'm only working as a CNA to get my foot in the door when I graduate with my RN, but if that's important to you, then be sure to ask!

Thank you both. I will def be asking these questions when the time comes.