Certified nursing assistants attend to patient’s hygiene. This includes from the cleaning and emptying the bedpans, changing of diapers, helping the patients use the bathroom, bathing the client, helping them ambulate the patients. Certified nursing assistants also help in monitoring the patient’s vital signs and outputs. They note for the consistency of stools or color of urine, condition of the skin and changes in the patients level of consciousness. These data’s is important because it helps in classifying whether the patient is doing good and when the doctor’s needed the information for the patient’s future care.
Certified nursing assistants help in bathing the patients by using towels when the patient cannot get up of bed and cleans the equipments to keep it sterile and prevent infection. Certified nursing assistants also help the patients in rushing their teeth especially those who needed assistance like the weak patients or those with tubes and other equipments. The certified nursing assistant helps the person maintain their proper oral hygiene to make them more comfortable. The certified nursing assistant also helps in feeding the patient. They sometimes encourage the patients to eat on themselves. They will also help those weak patients to lift a spoon to their mouths or their cups for drinking. The CNA is also the first person to respond to the patients call and decides whether there is a need for a nurse or doctor’s attention. Patients may call the certified nursing assistants for simple task like helping them to sit or go to the bathroom.
The certified nursing assistant attends to the classes and training programs offered by a certified nursing assistant school. Having a certified nursing assistant education is really a must since this is the first step in helping the person become a successful certified nursing assistant. Schools offer trainings and internships in health care facilities and it is important for these certified nursing assistants to complete the program. CNA schools teach their students different procedures. They are taught about ethics and the rights of every patient. Certified nursing assistant schools offer both theoretical or textbook learning and hands on trainings. After completing the program, they are required to take an exam offered by the state. This exam will prove how competent a person is in carrying their task of being a certified nursing assistant. Being a certified nursing assistant is rewarding and this career may open a lot of opportunities for a person. These certified nursing assistants must also be quick in observing any changes and knows what to do in times of emergency circumstances.
Certified nursing assistants earn $24,000 to $29,000. The factors affecting the certified nursing assistant’s salary are years of experience and where they are employed. CNA’s work in nursing homes, hospitals and other health care facilities. Certified nursing assistants who works in renowned institutions are expected to have a higher salary especially if these institutions are also located in metropolitan cities. Those who also have more number of years of experience earn more because they are more equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for this career compared to those new comers who are still under the process of learning.
