What's it like as a CNA?

Can someone explain what a CNA does? I'm considering a career in healthcare and want to understand the job duties and responsibilities of a Certified Nursing Assistant.

As a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), your job primarily revolves around providing direct assistance and support to patients under the supervision of a licensed nurse. Your primary duties would often include, but are not limited to:

1) Basic Patient Care: This involves bathing or dressing patients, assisting with light exercises, and helping with patients' mobilization (for example, repositioning bedridden patients to prevent bedsores).

2) Monitoring Vital Signs: Another crucial role of a CNA is to keep track of patients' vital signs, including checking blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, etc.

3) Feeding and Hydration: You might be tasked with feeding patients who cannot feed themselves and ensuring that all patients are adequately hydrated.

4) Observation and Documentation: Observing patients' physical, mental, and emotional conditions is also a major responsibility. You'll need to document and report any changes or abnormalities to the nursing team promptly.

5) Assisting with Medical Procedures: Depending on your training and jurisdiction, you might also assist with certain medical procedures.

Being a CNA requires good communication skills because you're often the frontline of patient care. You need to communicate with patients and their families, as well as other healthcare professionals. It's physically demanding as well, as it can involve a lot of standing, bending, lifting, and moving.

Remember, depending on your state, you might need to complete a state-approved training program and pass your state's competency exam to become a certified CNA. The profession is an excellent introduction to healthcare, providing practical experience and a better understanding of a career in nursing or medicine.