Duties of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are non-technical staffs of a hospital, nursing home, or a day care center. The CNAs, at times work for patients in their homes too. They are also called orderlies, nurses aides, patient care technicians or home health aides. They provide basic nursing care under the direct supervision of the nurses. Being a certified nursing assistant can be considered as a stepping stone to make a career in the health care industry. To become a CNA, a course can be pursued at various universities, colleges and nursing schools.

Certified Nursing assistants are called 'eyes and ears' of the nursing staff. They inform the nurses about the vital information of patients from time to time. Many a times they forge an unending bond with the patients and their relatives, as they spend maximum time with the patients.

Responsibilities of a Certified Nursing Assistant

• Personal Hygiene: To care for the personal and oral hygiene of patients, which includes bathing, changing, shaving, nail care, etc.
• Toileting Needs: CNA has to take care of the toileting needs of patients. Bedpan has to be given to bed-ridden patients. Emptying the catheter bags and bed pans at periodic intervals is also a part of their duty.
• Housekeeping: Housekeeping is also a part of the duties of a certified nursing assistant. They assist to tidy up the rooms, change bed linen, etc.
• Patients Record: They maintain the medical record of patients, like temperature, blood pressure, pulse, weight, level of pain, etc. on a daily basis. The CNA also makes notes of treatments rendered to a patient from time to time.
• Monitoring the Health of Patients: Making a note of any changes in the health of a patient and informing the nurses on duty accordingly, is also a duty of a CNA. In some hospitals and/or nursing homes, a report about the patient's medical condition has to be submitted by the CNAs.
• Dietary Care: CNA has to assist the patient in walking and feeding. They also help to set up the meal tray as per prescription. The CNA has to feed patients with nutritional supplements as prescribed. Making a note of the food and fluid intake is also important.
• Administering Medicines: Administering medicine is one of the important duties of a CNA.
• Prevent Bed Sores: CNAs are instructed to reposition and turn bed-ridden patients, to prevent bed sores.
• Assist in Surgery: Assisting the nurses in preparing the patient for surgery, is an important part of their duty.
• Equipment Care: Sterilize and clean the equipments immediately after usage. The cleanliness of nursing stations is also to be maintained.
• Exercising the Patients: CNAs also help the patients exercise at regular intervals, as per prescription.
• Transport Patients: CNAs transport the patients for medical investigations, surgeries, and therapy sessions to and from their beds.
• Sample Collection: Collecting urine, stool and sputum samples for investigation is done by the CNA.
• Laundry Storage: Storing the laundry in the right place is also a part of their duty.
• Change Dressing: Sometimes the CNA also has to change non-sterile dressing and give massages to the patients.
• Assist in Equipment Usage: Assist in usage of various equipments like ventilators, etc.
• Maintain Cleanliness: CNAs have to maintain cleanliness to prevent the spread of any kind of infections.
• Emotional Support: Give emotional support to patients and their relatives from time to time.
• Regulate Visitors: Regulate the number of visitors visiting the patient each day.

After completion of the certified nursing assistant course, CNA can also work as psychiatric nursing assistants, at mental health facilities. They work under the supervision of psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and psychiatric nurses. The psychiatric nursing aides work with mentally impaired and emotionally distraught patients. Along with the above mentioned duties of a CNA, the psychiatric nursing assistants perform other duties.

Duties of a Psychiatric Nursing Aide

• Socialize with patients.
• Play games, like card games or sport games with patients.
• Participate in educational and recreational activities with patients.
• Accompany patients to the therapy sessions.
• Note and record any behavioral pattern, which might be of importance in treating patients, and report it to higher authorities.

Certified nursing assistants work with small children, disabled and handicapped patients and old people as well. The duties of a certified nursing assistant is emotionally draining, as the job requires to deal with patients who suffer from acute pain everyday. It takes a strong will, patience and compassion to be a nursing assistant.