Duties of a Nursing Assistant
Nursing assistants are responsible for providing non technical care to patients. They work under the supervision of qualified nurses and are meant to aid them in their day to day duties. In the article below, I will discuss the various duties and responsibilities expected of certified nursing assistants.
CNA's are responsible for
the personal hygiene of their patients. This includes bathing the patient as well as oral hygiene. The patients toileting needs are also under the duties of the nursing assistant. The CNA is required to help a patient with a bedpan and/or provide assistance in visiting the toilet.
While patient hygiene is an important part of a CNA's work, they are also responsible for room hygiene. This includes the cleanliness of the room as well as changing of bed linen and pillow covers.
Nursing assistants may be asked to check vital signs of patients. This includes blood pressure, temperature and heart rate. They are also supposed to record this along with other information in the patient charts.
When a patient is first admitted to the hospital, the CNA assists in transporting the patient to the bed. Any movement after that is the duty of the nursing assistant. Paperwork is also supposed to be handled by a CNA.
A CNA's duty towards senior patients includes that of preventing bed sores. A CNA would have to ensure the patient is constantly moved from side to side thereby preventing the occurrence of bedsores. As mentioned above, proper management of personal hygiene also prevents bedsores.
Collection of specimen is sometimes allocated to the CNA. They may have to collect stool and urine samples from the patient so that relevant tests can be carried out. They also assist in operating medical equipment should it be required.
CNA's are to a certain extent also responsible for the preparation of a patient before surgery. This may include getting them set up and transporting them to the theatre.
Whilst the above are more physical duties, a CNA's most important duty is that of building a rapport with the patient. They are the closest to the patients and are almost always in contact with them. A CNA is supposed to provide emotional and social support to a patient while they are in the medical facility.
Taking your CNA training will help you get a feel for what nursing will be like. It acts as a stepping stone to a career in the medical field.
Interested in becoming a nursing assistant? Find out how much you can earn by looking at the CNA Salary and Payscale Structure, then visit Sandra Stevens site on how to get the best possible CNA Training Classes available today.
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