What is the Night Shift For a CNA working at a nursing home like?

Working the night shift would be much easier than the day shift. Most patients will be asleep during your shift so you won't have to do as much work compared to the day shift. You might have to sit and watch a patient that is confused. You might have to take vital signs on patients once during the night. You might have to help feed patients during dinner time IF you shift starts early in the night. If your shift starts when most patients are asleep then you might only have to help a patient to the bathroom occasionally. During the day shift CNAs have to feed, wash, and dress patients which is hard back breaking work. During the night shift you would probably rarely have to do those things. I suggest trying the night shift out and if you hate it, once you gain work experience you can switch or apply else where for the day shift.

You do rounds when you get there and then every two hours after that. Except for any people who require rounds more or less often (it should be written down in their care plans/kardex or just ask another night aid.) During rounds you make sure everybody's where they are supposed to be and that they are clean and dry, changing them if nessacary. Depending on where you work you may have a shower to do and some people to get up. Ask another night aid who these people might be and when it is best to get this done. Also another night aid can tell you if there are any night shift duties like laundry or wheelchair cleaning. These are done a lot of times on the night shift. I didn't find it too hard to work a night shift--I usually work pms though. Take a good nap in the afternoon, and bring caffine--it helps.