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! :)

Hysterical strength- defined as a display of extreme strength by humans, beyond what is believed to be normal. This term among the medical community is still considered a myth, but I for one, believe in it. Teamed with adrenaline, this can be a powerful tool in the arsenal of a CNA, especially when push comes to shove (which often happens to us unfortunately) I was doing my clinicals when five firefighters brought in a woman who weighed...I can't even remember now, easily 400lbs. They transferred her onto a stretcher, on which she had to lay sideways to fit, and then told us to have a great day. We got a bed ready for her, and then called all available staff to the room. It took every aide, nurse, and assorted staff member that was available to transfer her, which was 8 people. In coordinating and a lot of work, we got her transferred to the bed, but it took about ten minutes. As soon as we had gotten her across, they sent us new aides to answer the call lights that had been goin...

As a CNA we tend to see a lot of strange behaviors and actions from patients that you would never have imagined in your life. One of those was a graveyard where a patient had sundowners and was known for some less than ordinary behavior after the sun went down, and this night was no different. It was in the middle of the graveyard shift, and a smell was coming from his room, that when investigated and on first survey the source wasn’t found. Upon entering the bathroom it was discovered that this 80-something year old had climbed up onto the sink, pooped in it, then climbed back down and gotten back into bed. That was a one-time instance, and how glad I am that it hasn’t happened again, but this leads me to tell of another patient’s strange habit which is still enough to bring a smile to my face every time I think about it. When I first met this patient, she was on the toilet. No big deal right? Everybody goes to the bathroom, a natural thing. However, the next time I came into he...

Hey guys! Sorry I'm late again :) I just found a new feature for the blog though that will help me post on time in the future. So today's post is a bit more solemn, as it talks about one of the more negative aspects of my job. As CNAs, we deliver a lot of messages, run errands, take phone calls, etc. When communication between coworkers or between an employee and a patient, there is a chance of error and/or miscommunication. Last night was one of those nights--we had a full house, all beds filled at the facility, which has been rare lately, so administration was very happy. Unfortunately, we were short an aide, which means each aide, instead of having 7 patients, each of us had 10. Just hearing the number doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but if you add in the factors that any new patients coming in are extensive, and it adds at least one shower to your night, (one shower for every 2-3 patients you have is the average) then it makes life miserable. We also have one...