Duties of a CNA
Certified Nursing Assistants also known as CNAs or nurse aides support the nurse practitioners in delivering essential medical care to patients. As the CNAs routinely notify the nurses concerning patients’ vital information and facts, they’re aptly known as the eyes and ears’ of the nurses. The duties of a CNA differ based on their places of work – as they are employed in nursing homes, hopitals, health care centers, elder care facility, or even at a patient’s home.
One of many objectives of CNA training is exposure to the various tasks you’ll have to grasp. CNA’s are all faced with one main responsibility -patient monitoring and care. Overall, the CNA job duties include the following tasks.
Monitoring the Patients’ Health: CNAs are responsible for observing any kind of changes in the patients’ overall health and updating it to the nurses periodically. In some health care facilities, CNAs should also submit a written report concerning the medical problem of patients.
Patients’ Record: Maintaining medical record of patients, like blood pressure level, body temperature, weight, heartbeat rate, breathing rate etc. on a regular basis. The CNA furthermore records the treatments delivered to a patient from time to time.
Personal Hygiene: To maintain patients’ individual hygiene which includes bathing, changing, nail care, shaving etc.
Housekeeping: Housekeeping services is another responsibility of a CNA. They help to change bed-sheets, clean up the patients’ rooms, etc.
Toileting Requirements: CNA are responsible for the patients’ toileting needs. Giving bedpan to bed-ridden patients, emptying the catheter bags are some of their duties.
Transport Patients: CNAs are accountable in moving the patients for health care check-ups, therapy treatments, and operations, back and forth from their beds.
Giving Medicines: CNAs administer medicines as recommended by the physicians.
Dietary Attention: CNA likewise helps the patient in feeding and walking. Additionally they help in setting up the food trays, feeding patients with and health supplements as recommended by medical doctors. In addition they note and report the patients’ food and liquid consumption.
Exercising the Patients: CNAs also support the patients in working out from time to time, as prescribed by doctors.
Psychological Support: Give emotional support to patients and their family members from time to time.
Sample Collection: CNAs also help in collecting sputum, stool and urine samples for analysis.
Protect against Bed Sores: CNAs need to turn and reposition bed ridden patients to prevent bed sores,.
Maintain Hygience: To stop spreading any type of infections, CNAs have to maintain hygiene and sanitation.
Help in Equipment Usage: Assist in use of various equipments such as ventilators, etc.
Equipment Care: CNAs are responsible for cleaning and sterilizing the equipments right after their use. They should also maintain the nursing areas clean.
Help in Surgery: Assisting the nurses in preparing the patient for operation, is an essential element of their work.
Change Dressing: CNAs occasionally have to change wound dressing as well as give therapeutic massage to the patients.
Laundry Storage: Stocking the routine laundry in the right place is another element of their job.
The duties of a CNA carry great responsibility, but present excellent rewards too. A CNA must be observant and report any type of variations on a patient’s condition. Nursing assistants require to deal with patients and their family members day to day in their job and that may cause plenty of psychological drain. CNAs therefore should have patience, compassion and strong self-control to be successful in their job. It is one of the most satisfying professions as the CNAs receive excellent pay for their abilities and derive satisfaction by helping other people and creating a difference in people’s lives.