Archive for the ‘Basic job description of a CNA’ Category

A certified nursing assistant may have to do various duties which may vary from feeding patients, checking their physical recovery and signs, as well as maintaining their hygiene. This depends on which section the nursing assistant is working. Some of the basic job descriptions of a certified nursing assistant are listed below.

1)      As the name suggests, nursing assistant basically help the nursing staff in admitting, transferring and discharging the patients. Their duties may also include maintaining required documentations and paper works of patients.

2)      Certified nursing assistant take care of the hygiene of the patients. It is their duty to take care of their feedings schedules, bathing, looking after their beddings and similar responsibilities. They should help the patients in getting dressed and helping them shift their positions in beds.

3)      Certified nursing assistant is also required to check vital signs of the patient and report them to the physician.

4)      A certified nursing assistant is also expected to provide emotional support to the patient. Because they are in more contact with the patients, they are expected to provide physical, emotional and social support and comfort to the patients.

5)      Certified nursing assistants are required to have a valid CNA license to work. Moreover, they are also required to have good communication skills and a good command of English.

6)      Certified nursing assistants may be required to lift patients or even move them from one ward to another. Similarly, nursing assistants may be exposed to several chemicals and are even susceptible to various diseases during the work period.

7)      Certified nursing assistants must be ready to work in any time of day. Most medical facilities do not have fixed time for any kind of medical officers, so nursing assistants must be ready to work in any shift rather than a particular 9-5 job. They should always be ready to work for extended sessions and during emergency.

A CNA may have to do various kinds of duties during the course of work. Mentioned below are the basic CNA job descriptions:

CNA's job

1. CNA basically help the nursing staff in admitting, transferring and discharging the patients. They may also be required to assist the nursing staff in required documentations.
2. A CNA takes care of all hygiene needs of the patient as soon as he or she is admitted to a medical facility. In this regard, the duties may include feeding the patient in schedule, checking vital signs and symptoms, reporting a nurse or physician, and also ambulating. Along with the patient’s hygiene, the nursing assistant is also required to look after the beddings and bathing of the patients and also maintain the surrounding area of the patient clean.
3. Along with physical care to the patient, a CNA is also required to provide emotional support to the patient. Since CNA come into more contact with the patient than any other medical officer, they can provide social and emotional support and care to the patient.
4. Apart from the tasks mentioned above, a nursing assistant also requires having a number of skills    and qualification to perform his/her task properly. A valid CNA certificate is required before being allowed to work. They must also have good communication skills to interact well with the patients. Along with these, they are also expected to have a good command of English.
5. The CNA must be ready to work in any kind of conditions. A nursing assistant may be required to move or lift patients. They also have higher susceptibility to communicable diseases and harmful chemicals during the course of work. Besides that, the work schedule may be abnormal. As a nursing assistant, they do not have a fixed working schedule each day like a 9 to 5 job. Instead their shifts may include any time of day and at most medical facilities, their shifts keep on changing every week.

Thus, a CNA has a wide range of tasks in a medical facility. However, above are the basic job description of a CNA .