We have finally added a printing function to all posts and pages here at NursingAssistants.Net

The Printing Function can be found at the top of each page: Either as a stand alone link (for pages) or as part of the small print credit directly below the title of posts. The link takes readers to a PRINTER FRIENDLY page. Readers no longer have to email us to receive Text/Word versions of our articles! You can simply print them up yourselves now.

Here’s a sample of what a printer friendly page looks like.

Also as you’ve noticed, (yet) another new theme is being used. The other theme was difficult for IE users to view the site with; this theme is better AND we recommend everyone get the FireFox Browser. It’s designed for the new Web.2 Internet, and all sites appear better using FF. It is much more secure than IE or the other browsers and offers thousands of Add Ons created to make web browsing more productive, fun and interactive.

One of the things so many people like about the Culture Change movement is the upside down chain of command structure. Residents call the shots; next the CNAs have this “power”. Nursing homes that are seeking to change their culture often do a lot of window dressing but actually change very little of the management and leadership culture. Fear is the reason for this.

When a facility is looking to really change, actions do speak very loud. Pioneer Network has been working tirelessly to assist nursing homes and assisted living facilities with culture change. Matt over at Setting The Nursing Home On Fire found this gem of an article at the Pioneer site:

Low Cost Practical Strategies to Transform Nursing Facilities
it is a pdf report.

One of the things I noted quickly was the attention to the staff break room. When the staff are respected and trusted, it shows in many ways. Having a retreat style break room is a viable and cheap idea most nursing homes could manage. With the right motivational leadership, the nurses and aides would be more than willing to assist with creating this room.

Staff Amenities
Overall Goal:
Routinely staff members have been assigned break room space in the basement of a facility that is
furnished with cast offs, has equipment and appliances that often malfunction, and space that is expected to serve the dual purpose for staff who want to socialize as well as those who want a quiet time. Reverse this trend and provide staff with an abundance of spaces including tables in main dining room, a computer station and quiet space for reading or meditation.

Really now? Do staff need all this? DO we really care if our break room is nicely outfitted with decent working microwave ovens and fridge large enough to accommodate ALL our bagged meals and drinks? And who has a computer in their break room? Management would never trust the staff to go online because they might be wasting time, right?

Get with the times, management.

Examples of Improvement Strategies:
• Enhance the staff break room. It should have good lighting, comfortable chairs, conversation arrangements, appliances that work, flat surfaces for both eating and writing and a quiet corner

• Provide computer area or computer station for private staff use

• Designate a table and regular day as “give-away or exchange” where children’s clothes, extra produce from gardens, reading material, videos, and other items can be exchanged or given away

• Provide prayer corner or small meditation room designated for staff

• Encourage staff to use lounge or dining spaces to hold baby or wedding showers or other celebratory events. Invite residents to participate along with members of the community

A big bulletin board might be the only resemblance to the “old” break room.

Wow. Comfortable chairs and seating arrangements that mirror a living room more than a waiting room? Why not? When respected, staff deserve such spaces. Most of the furnishings for such spaces can be purchased cheaply through group purchasing associations, trade group memberships and, the old fashioned way- yard sales and thrift shops.

Another GREAT source of help is the resident families. I am quite sure most would donate a chair or small table; an area rug and some table lamps. The residents themselves could make wall quilts and other artwork. Bookcases and ottomans (YES- so the tired feet of CNA’s have a place to rest UP on);
everyone has a book or two they would be willing to give to the new staff LIBRARY located in the break room (same with DVD’s and the TV/Player to go with it).

Think outside the lead box. A transformation can happen within a week if it is truly wanted. Under the culture change movement every room has significance and front line staff have much more value and respect.

I’ve been busy with this new theme here. Please let us know if you’re having trouble reading the site now.

Regular posting will begin shortly.

And we have another CNA to add to our small and hopefully growing list of bloggers.

Old Folks Say The Darndest Things is a blog by Holly.

Here’s a post about the way of it:

Our residents see the issues with low staff to patient ratios. The staff sees it. Step outside during a smoke break after a new schedule comes out and you’ll hear all about it. Try cramming eight hours of patient care and general house duties into four, five or six hours. What ends up suffering? The facility as a whole. Staff can’t get simple things done, general cleaning, keeping up on the laundry, stocking supplies, tidying rooms. The building is starting to look a little shabby. I don’t have time to turn on the music in the main room, to sit and chat with a resident, listen fully to their concerns. I’m always rushing out the door to get another task on my huge daily checklist completed. Then patient care starts to suffer. The little things are let go. Teeth aren’t brushed thoroughly, bottoms don’t get washed the way they should, people aren’t rotated on a proper schedule.

Excellent write about how our typical day goes. Very true…and sadly, how it all effects the residents.
Make sure you go over and say hello to Holly and read her posts.

Tracy has started a CNA blog, where she shares personal reflections and antidotes about this work. Here’s a sample which brought a smile to my face:

Not a full staff!

Last night was my first experience working with a full staff. I didn’t know how to act. I still ended up helping out on all the halls, but I got to take a real dinner break for a change.

Go over and say hello and read some of Tracy’s posts and leave her some comments. And while you’re there, start your own blog through Blogger!

Our very own Patti is interviewed by Elise over at the PHI web site. Go check it out!

Ahoy there! We’ve been very busy this week, WORKING tons of shifts and not having ANY spare time for this site. Next week looks less busy for us so we will resume our regular posting schedules then.

Have a good weekend.

There is an ever growing list of state Direct Care Giver advocacy sites. CNA’s are considered direct care givers. Here’s a few:

Read the rest of this entry »

A new LTC orientated blog…Matt, the Nursing Home Administrator, introduces us to another Matt, a consultant to LTC facilities seeking culture change- “Setting The Nursing Home On Fire”:

One tidbit:

Starting today, send an employee a thank-you card to their house. In it, say something along the lines of, “On behalf of the residents and your co-workers, I would like to thank you for the hard work you do. It is really appreciated, much more so than you can ever know.” Have the administrator and the person’s department head to sign it. Everybody should get one at random at least once during the year.

Welcome to the blogosphere Matt!