The Certified Nurse Assistant can be defined as a trained caregiver, certified and trained in direct care to patients under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse. It is also the duty of a nurse aide to maintain the safety, privacy and needs of the patients by respecting the rights and independence of the residents and report the everyday condition of the patient to the Registered Nurse.
CNA Qualification
A nurse aide must complete the state and OBRA-87 approved CNA training program of minimum 75 hours that instructs, theoretical knowledge and practical clinical skills on patient care. The completion of the training programs allows the nurse assistant to sit for the Nurse Aide Certification Test, and the success in the exam lists the candidate with the state Nurse Aide Registry. The successful candidate is also awarded a CNA Certification and a License No., along with the legal permission to work in a health care center.
CNA Duties
In the course of their employments, the certified nurse assistants are required to perform varied personal care services and duties, as described by the specific job title including:
• Personal hygiene care to patients: provide washing, bathing, grooming, mouth care, bed baths, skin care and other direct personal care to the patients.
• Clean the room of the patients and change the bed linen.
• Reposition patients by following the safety procedures.
• Dresses and undresses patient by following the privacy and modesty while changing the dress of the patient.
• Look after the feeding and liquid intake of the patient.
• Provide nutritional assistance.
• Assist the movements of the patients through walking, stretcher and wheel chairs.
• Collects the specimens for test.
• Count and measure vital signs, measure and record fluid intake and output, measure height and weight.
• Clean the wounds of the patient and keep the dressing clean.
In addition, the nurse aide also performs range of motion exercises, cooking and housekeeping, meets the spiritual and cultural needs of the patient.
The duties of the nurse aides are not limited to direct patient cares, but it is also essential that the CNAs must update their knowledge of the care field through professional development including reading articles, materials, books and reviews. They must attend seminars, conferences, webinars and CNA meetings, and join forums and professionals organizations to supplement their knowledge on the latest happenings in the patient care field.
The prime quality of the humble behavior and compassionate nature is must for all CNAs and they must follow these qualities while executing their duties and responsibilities.
