Not many people know exactly what a certified nursing assistant is or even what cna duties are. A CNA or sometimes called a certified nurse aide, is basically the start out point of all nurses. They get many of the unwanted jobs that most nurses are too busy to do. It is a great beginning position to get into the nursing field and to gain some experience before moving up the ranks.
On the pyramid of nursing it goes from the starting point of CNA, CRMA, LPN, and RN. Each type of nurse has their own specific duties no matter how small or great that contribute to your health care at the hospital, doctor’s office, and sometimes even a dental office.
CNA Duties In A Nursing Home
So what are CNA duties? They have many responsibilities depending on the type of setting they are working in. In a assisted living facility or geriatric care clinic they responsible with helping their patients with every day tasks.
Some Of The CNA Job Duties Include:
- Helping them do their laundry
- Changing their clothes
- Cook or even taking them to dinner
- Changing their depends if they are unable to
- Brushing their teeth
- Shaving
- Combing and brushing their hair
A CNA is also a support system for some patients. It is important that all tasks are done as well as possible to give patients a sense of trust. This means you must have compassion and the ability to understand your patients situation.
Live-In CNA Duties
Not only do cna job duties apply to large care facilities such as a hospital or geriatric clinic, but they also apply to in home care patients. Many patients who are paralyzed or in hospice care in their own home will hire a CNA to help them. Duties of a CNA in home patient care and even in some hospitals and geriatric clinics perform duties such as :
- Observing and documenting patients behavioral changes
- Assisting with rehabilitative measures
- Taking and recording vital signs and weight
- Assisting the mobilization of patients
- Collecting specimens for medical tests
- Providing emotion support to patient
- Family members and other caregivers
- Assisting with personal hygiene
- Assisting with meal preparation
- Grocery shopping and dietary planning
- Food and fluid intake and output.
Additional CNA Duties
Some CNA duties depending on place of employment include housekeeping duties. Things like mopping up vomit or taking care of bed sheets that have bowel movements on them. It isn’t always the prettiest of jobs. In some cases if you are working privately for an in home care patient you may even have to do household chores if your patient is unable to perform them themselves.
This may be frustrating and embarrassing to some patients and so the CNA can be the target for anger, hitting, biting, punching, and kicking by some of their patients. It is truly hard work being a CNA, but the job is rewarding if you like helping people.
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Working in this occupation isn’t always the most glamorous part of the nursing field but they do make a difference in healthcare. Many people who need to stay over night in the hospital will receive care from a CNA and think they are a nurse or the housekeeping. So even though you perform your CNA duties as well as you can you may only receive praise and appreciation from your coworkers or your boss.
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