Dimple's Discoveries

As CNAs we have codes amongst each other to talk about patients in order to not violate HIPAA laws for privacy but still be able to communicate. We also have terms for different situations and things that happen, so here are a few: AJU = All Jacked Up (multiple issues) FTF = Failure to Fly (usually head-bonks, but can be used throughout traumas) ATS – Acute Thespian Syndrome (the patient is faking illness) FTW – Friggin Train Wreck (patient with multiple problems). LOBNH – Lights On But Nobody Home SALT – Same As Last Time TMB – Too Many Birthdays TUBE – Totally Unnecessary Breast Examination (Usually involuntarily done to the CNA's) Christmas-lots of call lights going off Brown Cow- A mix of Milk of Magnesia and Prune Juice (made to kick out any constipation) Blowout- (use your imagination haha) when a patient explodes out of their brief  Coworkers-comment with more, I will edit this post as I receive input or ones that I have forgotten! :)

I got to go back to work this week after finishing finals, hence why there was no post last week. I’ll post twice to make up for it. Here is a picture of something fun I did while I wasn’t posting-bridge jumping! Super fun, what a rush! I’ll even make this a “ Do Not Try This At Home ” photo. ;) I have noticed something this week that I had never really paid close attention to before, and that is how aides are treated by those around them, be it family members or nurses or the patients themselves. I will share two experiences of this, the first is a negative response, and we’ll end on a happy note, I promise. :)  We were having one heck of a night. We have three aides for over 20 patients, and for some reason this batch of patients are very extensive and demanding. In lieu of that comment, as you can imagine, we were running our heads off, literally running from light to light to catch up. Showers didn’t get done, we clocked out really late that night, it was cra...

Every aide has had scary moments on the job where they were in danger. I had never imagined when I first started my CNA course that I would ever be put in any dangerous situations. I thought it would all be very predictable and boring work. I was wrong. The first time I ever even knew we could be in danger was a patient who was 6'2'' if memory serves me right, his wife had recently died, and he was determined to die. He had quit eating and drinking as well as taking his medication, and would just lay in bed all day and night. He was refusing to shower or go to the bathroom, and changing him was a nightmare. I came into work one day with a note in the book to see the med tech before I hit the floor. I soon learned that one of our older aides had gone in his room to help him into the shower, and he was livid. She wasn't backing down and he got up, knocked her backwards where she hit the wall, grabbed an oxygen tank above his head and went after her. By a miracle our tra...

So every CNA has poop stories, and I am no exception. Disclaimer: I am not responsible for your body's reaction to the following post. A year ago on the 4th of July I was at the assisted living center for the holiday. This was a lot of fun, we had special flag services, we got to take all the patients, many of whom are veterans, out to the road to help them watch the parade. As we were slowly bringing in the patients, all of a sudden the activity director came running over to me telling me that my patient needed to go to the bathroom really bad and that I should hurry if we were gonna make it in time. Unknown to me, he had had some magic medicine called Miralax, a stool softener. I got him into the building as fast as I could, even choosing the main bathroom instead of heading all the way down to his room. What I hadn't remembered to be cautious of was the timing of pulling down his pants and getting him on the toilet. The entire floor, which was a 10ft x 10 ft room, was lit...