CNAs, or certified nursing assistants, provide essential support to nursing and other medical staff in hospitals, nursing homes and residential clinics up and down the country. They are also sometimes known as Nursing Aides and their main job is assisting the nursing staff in caring for their patients. Their duties are wide and varied but fall into three main categories; although these duties are among the least glamorous in the hospital, they are the things which make the biggest difference to the experience a patient has in the hospital, and having a compassionate and caring CNA can make a massive difference to them. Here we'll take a look at what's involved in a CNA job description.
Personal Care
One of the most important functions of a CNA is to help the patient with personal care. This may include such things as helping take the patient to the toilet, bathing them, helping them to dress after a shower, changing soiled clothing or sheets and serving them their food. All of these things are essential to the wellbeing of the patient and require a caring and compassionate nature from the CNA. Duties will vary depending on the type of establishment where the CNA works. For example, a CNA in a nursing home may have more responsibilities surrounding bathing and dressing elderly patients, whereas a CNA working primarily in a hospital setting where patients stay for a shorter period may spend more of the time serving food and taking patients to the bathroom.
Infection Control
Irrespective of where the CNA is working, one of the main things they will be concerned with on a daily basis is infection control. Poor infection control practices and hygiene in a hospital can have fatal consequences for seriously ill patients and is of paramount concern in all medical establishments. Infection control mainly involves ensuring good hygiene practices are followed in all areas of the hospital. Duties will involve promptly cleaning up any spills or bodily fluids, ensuring that patient rooms and communal areas are kept clean at all times, being aware of issues such as cross contamination and ensuring that items such as gloves and hand washing gels are kept replenished and the cupboards are well stocked and properly ordered.
Observations and vital signs
Although CNAs don’t administer medication, give injections or other medical procedures, CNAs will often support nursing staff by doing checks on patients such as taking temperature, blood pressure or heart rate, and then logging it on the patients charts and in their medical notes. CNAs will be expected to notice any deterioration of the patient’s condition and bring this to the attention of the nurse or doctor so that care can be adjusted if necessary. CNAs will not be expected to do minor medical procedures on their own, but may be expected to assist the nurse or doctor while such procedures are being performed. In some establishments, CNAs work closely with nursing staff to administer medication to the patients. In these cases, the nurse will measure out the medication then hand it to the CNA who will administer it to the patient.