Information on CNA Job Description

After completing the CNA program and acquiring the CNA license, the next step is to begin your CNA career. So, you need to be aware of different types of job you will require to do in the future. Remember job of a CNA is not so simple. Most of the certified nursing assistants perform their duties in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. CNAs are the professionals who offer primary treatments to the aging, recovering or terminal patients. Thus, it is necessary that a CNA needs to be ready for the job. CNA training schools can prepare the students for this specific job.

CNAs can work in different settings including hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, psychiatric care center, adult homes, rehabilitation center, long term care unit and other healthcare facilities. Similarly, then can even work as private nursing assistants in home, travel, military and schools. However, the CNA job description differs as per the health settings. The job description of a CNA in one facility can be different from another.

General CNA Job Description

Typically, the CNA job description involves personal care including dressing, feeding and bathing of patients. They may also need to help the patients in brushing teeth and combing hair. They help to transfer the patients from location to another as required. When the patients are recovering certified nursing assistants need to help them with wide range of group and motion activities including daily exercises.

Mental Health Care

The duties of CNAs employed in hospitals differ from that of CNAs in mental health care unit. In this unit, nursing assistants will have to deal with people who have anxiety, trauma conditions, behavioral disturbances, mood disorders, suicidal tendencies, along with other signs of mental sickness. CNAs work under the direct supervision of registered nurses in this setting. Normally the job description includes gathering and documenting the data, giving emotional support, respecting the rights and independence of the patients, maintaining privacy and confidentiality of patients, and other duties as per the necessity.

Nursing professionals who work in mental health care unit should have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They should be able to work closely with the members of emergency department. In order to report the condition of patients to the superiors good communication skill is essential.

Private Nursing Assistant

A CNA is hired privately in this setting, which means the nursing assistant perform the duties inside the home of patient. The duties of CNAs in this setting include helping the patient in grooming, feeding, bathing, administering glucose injection, counting and measuring the vital signs, and measuring the consumption of liquid.

The nursing assistants also assist the patients in moving around either by wheel chair or through walking. They may even require performing some other duties such as cleaning the rooms, changing bed linens and emptying bed pans. Sometimes they also need to do cooking of food, housekeeping and several other duties.

There is no doubt the job description of a CNA is quite tiresome. Because of this the nursing assistants need to have strength to perform their duties during their shifts. It may be difficult but it is surely a rewarding job.

Author Bio: Scott Garcia is a career counselor with many years of blogging experience. Know how to become an ultrasound tech right from him.