What is a CNA?CNA or Certified Nursing Assistant is the term used for paraprofessionals who give assistance to professional healthcare practitioners in taking care patients. Each CNA works under the supervision of a registered nurse. Although certified nursing assistants have the basic skills & jobs similar to registered nurses, they are not allowed to practice without supervision or make decisions for patients in critical situations as they do not hold the license to do so. A CNA works at a hospital or a nursing home & in some cases they can also aid patients who undergo medical treatment at home.
What are the responsibilities of a CNA?A certified nursing assistant is responsible for taking care & aiding patients in hospitals & sometimes in homes under the supervision of a registered nurse. The types of patient a CNA usually has to handle among others are the elderly, patients who undergo a specific therapy or treatment, & those with chronic disease. As CNA aids patients who are unable to perform everyday tasks by themselves, a nursing assistant often have to bathe, feed, and groom the patients. Besides doing all the jobs mentioned previously, a nursing assistant is also responsible for regularly monitoring his or her patient’s condition by checking the temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, & other vital signs. They also have to make sure that the patients take their medications regularly.What is expected from a CNA?As a certified nursing assistant is responsible in taking care of patients & monitoring their condition constantly, she/he is expected to be physically fit. Some of the activities that a CNA is required to do include taking patients to bathroom, lifting them from wheelchairs, & standing for long periods of time. No wonder that physical strength is one of the basic requirements a trainee must have. In fact, each trainee must undergo a general check-up before she/he is admitted to the CNA training program.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6366214
