What is a typical shift like for a CNA?

yousoldtheworld · Dec 11, 2010

When I worked at the hospital, my hours were 10 pm - 6 am. Generally you will do rounds every 2 hours (at a hospital, at an LTC...pretty much everywhere, this is the norm.) My routine went something like this:

10 pm - Get report. Do rounds, introduce myself to each patient, and take vitals. (My hospital required vitals done each shift).

11 pm - Pass ice water, make sure rooms are stocked with necessary supplies - towels, washcloths, soap, etc. Every unit is different, and depending on yours, you might have cleaning tasks to do. I try to get all of the "chore" type of tasks done early in my shift when possible.

12 am - Rounds. Depending on the patients, either change and reposition them, toilet those who need it/can't call when they need to go, make sure everyone is in good condition, breathing. Make sure they have everything they need. Ask alert and oriented patients who are awake if they need anything - this helps cut down on call lights later.

1 am - Any other various tasks your unit requires. Some might have you take blood sugars at some point in the night. In most units, you will have a lot of call lights. I would usually spend most of my time between rounds answering call lights.

2 am - Rounds again, same as before.

3 am - More call lights. At this time would try to start my charting, as it tends to be one of the quieter times of night.

4 am - Last full rounds. At this point, I would make sure everyone looked good and clean for dayshift - respiratory patients sometimes would need a gown change, trachs especially. You should try to keep the linens clean all night, but you definitely want to make sure they are clean before you leave - you don't want the day shift to find a mess you've left.

5 am - Preparing patients for breakfast. The breakfast carts would start coming out a little after 6 at my hospital, so I'd help anyone who was required to eat in their chair get up. I'd help people who like to eat in bed sit up, make sure they had a towel over them so they didn't get food all over themselves.

Before I left at 6, I'd have to bag up my laundry and put it in the large laundry carts, and all trash had to be bagged and taken to the large trash bin. The rooms had to be left in order, and I'd make sure linens and supplies were ready in the rooms for dayshift.

In hospitals, especially, you tend to have a lot of call lights. A lot of these patients aren't used to being in a facility, and they get BORED. Night shift is definitely more laid back - you have fewer administration and less bustling around, but don't expect much downtime on most units. People who don't work nights tend to think "They don't do anything, everyone's asleep!" but any night shift worker will tell you that it seems like NO ONE sleeps. Ever. Haha.

BUT, night shift is my absolute favorite, and if you can handle the hours, it's a great shift to work.

amel1115 · Dec 12, 2010

Thank you so much for asking this question and thank you so much for the person who answered it!

I am very new in this field and I start orientation on Monday......I am in the Nursing Assistant study program, where i will be working and going to school to become a CNA, the nursing home is paying for my course and all fees that are required....I am planning on going to school to become a LPN and eventually a RN soon, and I think this is a great first step and I was looking for this exact type of answer so thank you!

and good luck to all of you!

misha09 · Dec 12, 2010

I am a CNA ..starting a new job at a long term facility next year...the shift I chose was night shift so thanks for sharing that information.

yousoldtheworld · Dec 12, 2010

The big difference between the hospital and an LTC facility is that in LTC, you probably won't do as many vitals, and you'll probably have a few people to get dressed or up in the morning for breakfast. Same general idea, though. Rounds, call lights, and maybe a bit of cleaning. :)