CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT ON THE JOB

1. C.N.A.’s (certified nursing assistant) role on the care team.

Certified nursing assistants have different titles such as: “C.N.A.” “nurse
aide,” “nursing assistant,” and even “unlicensed assistant personnel.”

A certified nursing assistant or c.n.a. does a wide number of tasks relating to patient
care. One aspect of a c.n.a.s job is to monitoring a patient’s vital sighs. Vital signs
include Blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respiration. Most of a certified
nursing assistant’s duties revolve around giving personal care to the patient. These
duties include; bathing, feeding, toiling, dressing, making beds, mouth care and
more.

Certified nursing assistants are not permitted to give medications unless they
receive special training by a state agency. All medications will be administered by a
registered nurse.

Certified nursing assistants or c.n.a.s are the eyes and ears of the health care team.
They spend the most time giving personal care to patients. It is very important
for every certified nursing assistant to assess the patients for any changes in the
patient’s condition. If a change in a patient’s condition is found it should be written
down in the patient’s chart and, if necessary, reported to the nurse on duty.

2. Certified nursing assistant’s code of conduct.

Certified nursing assistants are licensed professionals and should conduct
themselves as such in the workplace. Acting professional means taking into account
how your dress, the words you use and the things you talk about. Being professional
also means being at work on time, completing all the tasks assigned to you and
reporting accurate information to the nurse in charge.

A certified nursing assistant comes in contact with may other health care providers
while at work. Yours ability to communicate and work closely with others is a very
important part of your job. Treating everyone with respect and consideration is
very important. Having a positive attitude, being polite and cheerful even when you
are not in a good mood is part of being a professional.

Working with patients can be rewarding and challenging. Certified nursing
assistants need special qualities to be able to give good care to patients. Compassion,
empathy, sympathy, tact, respect, and tolerance are just some of the important
qualities a c.n.a. should have.

 

3. Personal grooming for certified nursing assistants on the job.

There are several important grooming habits that a certified nursing assistant

should pay close attention to. Keep your fingernails short and clean. Long nails can
tear a patient’s skin and bacteria can hide under them. If you have long hair you
should tie it back while at work. Long hair can get in the way of patient care by
falling in your face. Don’t wear over sized jewelry. Large jewelry can also collect
bacteria, scratch patients and some patients may pull on your jewelry and injure
you.

 

 

4. Certified nursing assistants and other members of the health care team

Certified nursing assistants (c.n.a.) will come in contact and work with may other
professionals. Besides a patient’s doctor and the nurses on staff you could be
working with physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech and language
pathologist, nutritionist, medical social workers, and activities directors. Each
of these professionals have a specific goal that is set for their patient. It is very
important for the certified nursing assistant to follow any instructions given to them
by any one of these care providers.

A patient’s family can be an important part of the health care team. Do not
disregard a families concerns about how care is given to their loved one. Having
someone you love in a hospital or assistant living facility can be stressful for some
families. If a family member becomes upset or confrontational about how care is
given to their loved one take them to the nurse on duty for help. Don’t try to solve
the problem yourself.

As a certified nursing assistant your job is to give the best care possible to each
paitent in your charge. There will be times of great joy and sorrow. Your care and
support will make all the difference in the lives of your paitents and nothing can
take the place of a caring c.n.a.