What Does a Certified Nursing Assistant Do?
Before you commit to a career as a certified nursing assistant, you may be interested in learning more about the CNA job description. Although the job duties of a CNA may vary depending on the state in which they are working, as well as their place of employment, you can generally expect to be responsible for a specific range of tasks.
Day-to-day duties
A CNA is a valued member of any medical team, helping to ensure that all patients are cared for on a daily basis. When you’re working as a CNA, you’ll contribute to your team’s ability to keep the day running smoothly.
Some of the common responsibilities of a certified nursing assistant may include:
- Assisting doctors and nurses with medical procedures
- Answering patient calls
- Repositioning patients for both comfort and health
- Collecting supplies for the nurse or doctor
- Taking vital signs and documenting according to the protocol
- Assisting patients with personal care routines, including bathing, combing hair, shaving, and brushing teeth
- Feeding patients, including carefully measuring and documenting intake
- Cleaning and preparing rooms for new and current patients
Potential places of employment
Because CNAs are such a vital part of the healthcare industry, they can often find jobs in a wide variety of settings. The most common places for certified nursing assistants to work are hospitals, rehabilitation centers and long-term care facilities.
Is a Career as a CNA Right for You?
As a certified nursing assistant, you will have many different people – patients and colleagues alike – relying on you on an everyday basis. There are certain characteristics and qualities that can serve you well as a CNA, and people with these traits may find that a career in healthcare is an ideal fit.
Here are a few of the traits that can help you make a positive difference as a certified nursing assistant:
- Compassion
- Excellent listening skills
- Patience
- Attention to detail
- Great communication skills
- The ability to problem-solve
- Strong decision-making abilities
- A positive attitude
- A willingness to go above and beyond for patients
- A strong dedication to high ethical standards
Even if you aren’t sure if you currently possess all of the characteristics above, many of them (such as communication skills) can be learned and practiced over time. Most nursing assistant training programs include components that help you develop the necessary skills, so you’ll be well-prepared to begin your new profession. If you feel drawn to the healthcare industry because of your desire to help people and make a positive difference in the lives of others, a career as a certified nursing assistant may be an excellent match.
Graduates of the Nursing Assistant program are eligible to apply to take the Nevada State Board of Nursing Nursing Assistant Exam.