- Nature of work:
Who is a CNA?
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) plays a key role in the health care industry. A certified nursing assistant actually provides medical care to the sick and ill patients. CNAs usually undergo more training than the nursing assistants or aides.
Certified Nursing Assistant career can be a challenging career. Certified nursing assistants are more close to patients. The major responsibility of a CNA or a certified nursing assistant is to take care of the ill patients in the hospital. Certified nursing assistants are employed in a health care center or a hospital. A certified nursing assistant is responsible for monitoring the patient’s vital statistics. They also maintain medical records of the patients. They give prescribed medicines to the patients. A certified nursing assistant also maintains hygiene and performs housekeeping duties. The key task of a certified nursing assistant is to provide medical care to the sick patients. They also provide emotional support to the patients. A certified nursing assistant also called as certified nursing aide helps a patient with his daily living and basic fundamental tasks. They usually perform these tasks under the direct supervision of a Nurse or a doctor. A certified nursing assistant should also maintain oral hygiene of the ill patient.
Job duties and responsibilities:
● Basic care of patients:
Certified Nursing Assistants job description includes helping patients with their daily fundamental activities. They usually help the patients in bathing, shaving, brushing teeth and grooming. They support them and take them for treatment, tests or operation. They help patients with their daily tasks like walking, getting up from the bed and eating. They need to make sure that the surrounding of the patient is clean and tidy.
● Monitoring the health of the patient and reporting it to the doctor:
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) monitor’s patient’s vital signs like temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate etc. They also need to report about the patient’s health progress to the nurse and if it is an emergency then they need to inform the doctor also.
The overall job duties of a certified nursing assistant include:
- Recording the patient’s vital signs.
- Helping them while walking, eating, bathing, dressing and moving out of the bed.
- Performing housekeeping duties like changing bedcovers, dusting and mopping.
- Providing emotional and moral support to the patient.
- Monitoring patient’s health and reporting the changes to the nurse or doctor.
- Collecting blood or urine samples for testing.
- Feeding and observing food and liquid intake of the patient.
- Making sure that patient is safe and hygiene.
Qualifications and Expertise Required:
Education / Training:
- To become a certified nursing assistant you need to complete high school diploma or GED.
- After graduating from the high school you have join a college that provides CNA training.
- Certified nurse assistant should complete a CNA training program that is authorized by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
- Once the candidate completes the training program he or she is eligible to write the national assessment exam usually called as the National Nursing Assistant Assessment Program (NNAAP).
- Once the NNAAP exam is passed, they are eligible to work as certified nursing assistant CNA.
- It is important to pass the National Nursing Assistant Assessment Program (NNAAP) to work as a CNA certified nursing assistant.
Skills:
- A certified nursing assistant requires following qualities:
- Should possess the ability to do simple mathematical calculations.
- Should possess good interpersonal skills to maintain a good rapport with the patient.
- Should possess good written and verbal communication skills.
- Need to possess simple knowledge of the procedures, policies and standards of the health care industry.
- Should be calm and empathetic.
- Should have proper knowledge of nutrition and sanitation measures.
- They should be flexible with work timings.
Career Growth:
Future Prospects of a CNA:
- A certified nursing assistant CNA job is the initial step in a medical field.
- You can complete formal education and can progress to positions like registered nurse or licensed nurses or medical assistant.
- CNAs certified nursing assistants can complete four year nursing degree while working as a CNA.
- After completing the nursing degree they can obtain the license and become a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse.
- A certified nursing assistant CNA working at an institution can complete her education there and has a better chance of a long-term position.