What are the responsibilities of a Certified Nursing Assistant?
What are the responsibilities of a Certified Nursing Assistant?
https://explorehealthcareers.org/career/allied-health-professions/nurses-aide/
https://nurse.org/resources/certified-nursing-assistant-cna/
https://uniontestprep.com/cna/blog/the-role-and-responsibilities-of-a-cna
https://www.allalliedhealthschools.com/duties-of-certified-nursing-assistant/
List of Responsibilities
- Dressing Patients
- Bathing and Skincare
- Feeding
- Oral hygiene
- Hair care (combing, shaving) and nail care
- Cleaning and replacing linens
- Toilet and catheter aid
- Taking vital signs
- Ambulatory assistance for patients
- Patient range of motion exercises
- Turning and positioning bedridden patients
- Documenting and reporting patient changes
- Post-mortem care
- Gather supplies for Nurses and Doctors
- Answer patient calls
- Aiding with medical procedures
A Certified Nursing Assistant is an integral part of nearly any medical team. CNAs work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, hospices, long term care facilities and rehabilitation offices. They perform a wide range of tasks, functionally every aspect of the healing process that does not require advanced training. Many of these responsibilities are ADLs or Activities of Daily Life. There are a wide range of conditions that make it very difficult for a patient to maintain proper hygiene or eat or drink effectively. In such cases a CNA assists to ensure patients are kept clean and healthy. Many of the jobs a CNA performs have an incredible effect on patient’s mental health and wellbeing. CNAs are expected to brush hair and shave patients, as well as bathing and assisting with dressing. These sorts of tasks help a patient who has low mobility feel human again.
A CNA also has the extremely important job of monitoring conditions and documenting changes. A CNA will generally have the most time with patients out of the healthcare staff, and this time is typically very hands on, like moving patients who are immobile to keep them from developing bedsores, or assisting patients with the bathroom. CNAs are also expected to monitor urine samples for serious changes that could indicate disease. These changes could easily be missed by a doctor who sees the patient for only a brief visit, so it’s important for the CNA assigned to keep track of vitals and any changes to help assist in treatment decisions.
CNAs are also expected to assist with post-mortem care, this includes the removal of patients that have passed and general clean up. Unfortunately there are many aspects of the medical field that are hard to stomach, and many of those responsibilities fall on CNAs, from the removal of bodies, to assisting patients use the bathroom, inserting catheters, bathing patients, and inspecting patients for bed sores or rashes. Although not the most romantic aspect of the medical field, these jobs are extremely important for patient health and CNAs deserve the highest respect for taking these hard responsibilities.
But don’t worry, the work of a CNA isn’t all sponge baths and bedpan replacements. CNAs assist with patient exercises, answering patient calls, and generally spending time with patients, chatting with them, making sure they are doing okay. CNAs may also assist a doctor or nurse with medical procedures, from gathering supplies and medications to holding instruments or documenting changes. These are jobs that absolutely need to be done to ensure the wellbeing of patients. That makes CNAs an integral part of any medical team.
If you’re curious about becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, you will have to attend a certification course, like the one offered at Northwest Nursing Assistant Certified Training, and pass a written and practical exam before you can start assisting patients. Click Here to view our upcoming class schedule.