If you’re thinking of switching careers or if you’re in high school still considering what course to take up; one of the frequently asked questions of people considering to become a CNA is – What does a CNA do? CNA actually stands for “Certified Nurse Assistant”. As a nurse assistant or nurse aid, you will not be certified as a nurse because you will only perform duties that would aid or assist licensed nurses. However, to be able to work as a CNA, you will still be required to get certification and to have your name listed on the state Registry.
When you enroll in CNA classes & training, you will gain theoretical knowledge as well as practical clinical skills. You will need these knowledge and skills to pass the two exams that will grant you your certification and your stepping stone to health care work.
Once you complete your classes and training, you will become familiar with the basics of CNA duties and you will know “What does a CNA do”. Though the tasks may also vary depending on your future employer, everything that may be required of you to be able to perform on a professional level will be taught to you by the facility, school or institution you will choose to enroll in.
Your list of duties as a CNA in a hospital will definitely vary from your list of duties as a CNA in a nursing home or rehabilitation center. Regardless of the duties set by your employer and everything you know about “what does a CNA do”, it is important that you do it well and that you don’t overstep legal limitations during your work activities. By doing the latter, you can lose your certification and even endanger your patient.
So what does a CNA do?
As a CNA, you will be required to perform various tasks. You need to care for your patient’s hygiene by giving him or her a bath, shaving them (if necessary) and trimming their nails. You also need to change their clothes and assist them to the bathroom. As a nursing aide, you will also be the one to feed them and give them nutritional supplements. You are also the one tasked to take their vital signs and to report any problem to the licensed nurses.
Apart from all the basic stuff and all the things you learned about “what does a CNA do”, it is also your role as a nurse aide to empathize with your patient. You should know how to talk to your patients. In training, you will be taught how you can communicate with your patients in a manner that would help them relax. This is especially if you will be assigned to the sick or elderly. They can be very sensitive and stressed out so it is your role to make them feel comfortable and relaxed as much as possible.
By understanding “what does a CNA do” before you look into potential CNA schools or facilities you can enroll in, you can determine if a landing in a nursing assistant job is really what you want. Looking closely, not everyone who wants to become a nursing aide is really qualified. Yes, you can learn the concepts and possibly excel in clinical practices but your character is also important. Do you possess the traits that would help you survive in this field? Are you patient enough, especially with the elderly? Are you compassionate enough to attend to their needs? Are you a good listener? You also need all these to be able to work effectively as a nursing aide. If you don’t have these traits then you may need to starting finding ways to develop them before you start venturing into this field of healthcare.