Certified Nurse Aid (CNA)
Becoming a CNA can open up many career opportunities for you and could begin you down an increasingly lucrative career path in the healthcare industry. First, however, you’ll need to pass the CNA exam and earn your certification. In order to do either, you’ll need to enroll in a state approved CNA certification program.
What Is a CNA & What Do They Do?
Certified nursing assistants are front line patient care professionals who perform vital care responsibilities for patients. Typically, nursing assistants work in hospitals, retirement communities, physician offices, community care centers, and nursing care facilities. Some are employed by family members for their loved one, making in-home visits to provide companionship and physical care for their patient.
The core duties of CNAs include:
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Ensuring high-degree personal hygiene for patients by helping with baths and showers, assisting with movement to bathrooms and toilets, and giving shampoos, shaves, backrubs, urinals, bedpans and baths.
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Providing daily living activities such as feeding patients, serving meals, ambulating, positioning and turning patients, and providing nourishment and freshwater between meals.
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Maintaining patient stability through prompt checking of vital signs and weight, recording intake and output volumes, and testing urine.
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Ensuring patient comfort by applying appropriate materials and resources, transporting patients, answering patient calls, and reporting observations and changes to nursing supervisors.
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Documenting activities by completing forms, logs, records and reports.