Who are Certified Nursing Assistants, and What do They Do?

A certified nursing assistant is a highly in-demand clinical care service provider in the healthcare industry. They work under the supervision of a licensed nurse, deal with important patient-centered duties, and help deliver better patient care. CNAs are not nurses, but they work closely with doctors, surgeons, nurses, or other healthcare professionals.

If you have decided to become a CNA, you have chosen a great career path. You can enroll yourself in a certified nursing assistant program in Long Island and learn the required skills before starting your career in this field.

Some people go into more advanced levels of nursing, while others are still happy with the many rewards of working as certified nursing assistants. Whatever the case, you will need to spend only less than a year to complete formal training to enter this profession.

This post will cover the general responsibilities of nursing assistants, where they work, the benefits of the profession, and other things.

Responsibilities of CNA-

These professionals are responsible for the well-being of their patients. They perform tasks that are associated with daily routine activities. They will likely spend more time with patients than other healthcare professionals, such as nurses or doctors. Hence, they can understand their patients' behaviors better.

As they deal with patients, they are often the first ones who can observe any change in the physical or emotional health of patients. They play significant roles in identifying early symptoms of any disease in patients. They can even detect decreased mobility, memory issues, severe pain, etc.

Duties of CNA-

The exact duties of a CNA vary from place to place and the type of patients they deal with. Those interested in starting a career in this field can gain the necessary knowledge through a certified nursing assistant program in Long Island.

Generally speaking, the typical responsibilities of a nursing assistant are listed below-

• Attending calls and alerting the team during emergencies.

• Monitoring patient requirements.

• Reporting changes in patients to healthcare providers.

• Assisting patients with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, and dressing.

• Changing patients’ bedding, filling water jugs, and other related tasks to ensure patients are comfortable.

• Repositioning patients in their beds whenever required.

• Helping patients move to a bed or sitting in a wheelchair.

In addition to these roles, CNAs may also need to perform the following advanced duties:

• Recording patients’ food and liquid consumption.

• Assisting patients with doctors' visits.

• Storage of medical supplies.

• Taking vital signs such as blood pressure, oxygen level, and temperature of patients.

• Explaining medical procedures to patients.

• Dispensing medication as recommended by the physician.

• Changing bandages/dressings of patients.

• Assisting healthcare professionals in performing medical procedures.

Do people consider CNAs to be nurses?

Generally speaking, they don't work as nurses. As their titles suggest, they "help" nurses and other doctors. But still, they are a significant part of the nursing team. They usually work under the guidance of registered nurses. As they are not legally liable for the patient's medical care, they are advised to work under the supervision of those who can legally offer patient care.

Working Areas Of CNAs-

CNAs can be employed in various healthcare facilities. They can work in general and specialized hospitals, centers for assisted living, nursing homes, or rehabilitation facilities. Their non-routine responsibilities sometimes depend on the workplace they choose to work.

In hospitals, they need to work in some wards with particular age groups. For example- their job role often includes working with infants or small children. They might work with patients who have cancer or other severe medical disorders.

However, those who work in rehabilitation centers are required to interact with patients of all age groups. They work with patients with a wide range of illnesses or disorders.

If you wish to enter this profession, you can enroll in the related training program at Joyful Career Center. This institute also offers hands-on training. So, consider getting a certified nursing assistant program in Long Island by enrolling with this institute. This training can help you learn the necessary skills from experienced and skilled industry experts.

Is it a good career option?

Yes, CNA is a great career field. You can enjoy plenty of benefits by working as a certified nursing assistant. If you love helping others and want to choose a career path that requires you to help others, consider this career. This profession requires you to work with people of all age groups. But make sure you possess the basic educational requirements, formal training, and the right skill sets. Earning a certification can enhance your chance of being hired by employers at a better salary package.