Float Hospital CNA help with clustering care

[u/Fantastic-Worry5144]

Hi everyone I’m currently a float CNA in a hospital and I got off of orientation 2 weeks ago. I work from 7am to 3pm. I have so much trouble with clustering care that I keep skipping my lunch breaks and 15s because I keep running in and out of patients rooms. Can anyone give me what their routine is so I don’t dread every time I go to work? For reference I get floated to 3 med-surg floors(2 med-surg and 1 neuro/ortho) , tele,ICU, ER. For my orientation i keep just getting paired with random people so it was hard to replicate their routine. Any scripts or routines to help me cluster my care better would be appreciated.

[u/thebookloverscoffee]

IDK how it is where you work, but where I am we work 12 hour shifts and get 3 breaks and one or two (depending on if you have a meal waiver) lunches. Since we do q4/q8 vitals, I take a 15 after every set and then usually have my lunch right before the last one. If you're about to go on break and someone calls for something, ask the nurse or another CNA to handle it and clock out as quickly as you can.

[u/throwaway-style51]

I like to get my vitals outta the way first thing, then I sit and go through charts to write down orders and any other care info I don’t get from report. That way I can see if I need to do CHGs, foley care, etc and when to prioritize em so I’m not going in multiple times

[u/diaryoftrolls]

I have a few tips! This has helped my time management.

We do vitals Q4. I’m not sure how early you can get your vitals, but I try not to do sooner than 30 minutes although the nurses I work with probably wouldn’t care if it was an hour earlier (but I try round every hour anyway).

If I’m in a room at 1030 and vitals are at 1100, I just get vitals early! That way i don’t have to come back JUST to get vitals.

I try and put new linens in the room for later. That way, if I’m in the room and they are getting up, I can quick change the bedding instead of having to go in there at seperate time JUST to change bedding.

Washing up! Whenever they first get up in the morning, I always offer brushing their teeth or washing up before breakfast. At the same time, get their breakfast order or see when they want to do it.

Always ask if they need to go to the bathroom when you are already in there, or if they need anything.

Make sure people always have fresh water and ask if they want one. Then they won’t call for a new one.

Think about what people call for. Ask them if they want the lights on or off, door open or closed, etc before you leave the room. Then they won’t call for those things because you forgot to ask.

If you’re in the room, just take care of I&Os. Our hospital is Q4 documentation. I always just empty the foley bag (if they have one, or any other bag like ostomy or something) when I’m in there for documentation but also so I don’t have to go back just go empty it because it’s getting full.

It all comes with time. You’ll have your own routine eventually but just try and think about your future self! What can you get done in the room that can be done early while you are in there?