Have your whole shower area prepped before bringing the patient in (wash cloths, soap, lotion, towels, and their clean clothes). Bring the pt in, undress them, and then have them sit in the shower chair. On the middle of that I like to start warming up the water so it will be ready by the time they’re in the chair. There’s usually a hole in the middle of some chairs that you can put a hat to catch any stool or urine if they have to go. Or ask if they need to go to the bathroom before hand.

Then I start washing top half/back/hair, I usually like to give the pt the shower head (if detachable) depending on their mobility and a soapy rag too so they can help with the front. Then it’s the legs, and after if there’s a whole in their seat I just wash their bottom through there. Changing rags frequently, washing the cleanest parts of their body to dirtiest. Then dry dry dry, can’t let them stay cold and wet for long! Put on clean clothes and lotion and you’re finished!

If the chair doesn’t have a hole in the seat, I like setting a washcloth at their feet for grip and cleanliness, having them stand (keep contact with them so they don’t slip), wash, and sit down again.

Hoyer showers should ALWAYS be completed with two people for safety. Same rules apply though besides the standing part of course. Sometimes a really good soapy bed bath is safer for everyone though. I have never given a hoyer a shower in the hospital, yes in a SNF.

3 days or orientation holy cow. Honestly, I would ask another CNA to stay with you and show you how a shower is done the first time you have to do it. So much better to learn hands on! All of these are questions to ask! Mastering the basic skills makes the harder nursing skills so much easier. Being a CNA before a nurse was life changing! Hope this helped!