How to Become a Nursing Assistant?

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) ensures that the needs of the patient’s personal staff are met in accordance with the wishes of patients and the goals of the service plan.

What Does a Certified Nursing Assistant Do?

• Answers to signal lights, bells or intercom system to determine the needs of patients and provide bell lights within reach of the patient;
• Ensures that patients who are unable to seek help are frequently checked;
• Gives direct patient care such as bathing, dressing, etc.;
• Explains the procedures to the patients, helps them as needed in everyday life;
• Helps patients with bowel and bladder functions;
• Helps patients prepare and transport for appointments, activities and social programs;
• Helps to lift, position and transport patients on beds and chairs, baths, wheelchairs, elevators, etc. according to specific safety needs;
• Provides emergency assistance as needed;
• Dresses a patient appropriate to the current weather;
• Notifies Supervisor if a patient needs clothing;
• Changes the bed linen;
• Treats bed linen in accordance with the recommendations for the control of infections;
• Feeding patients who need help and record food intake;
• Provides and documents all snacks and supplements;
• Offers fluids to patients to ensure that they are hydrated if they are specified in the care plan;
• Reviews and implements daily feeding needs as indicated in the plan of assistance to patients or nursing managers;
• Transports patients or helps them with mobile needs;
• Includes and repositioning sleeping patients, alone or with assistance;
• Takes and records temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, height, weight as well as food and liquid;
• Monitores the activities of patients and reports any violations of the managers of nurses;
• Informs about all changes in the living conditions of patients;
• Cleans instruments and equipment and returns to the proper area after use;
• Supports clean living units, central bathing area, treatment and supply rooms, work rooms and linen
  case-compartment;
• Provides post-mortem care according to instructions;
• Accurately records all care as indicated;
• Participates in periodic conferences and staff meetings;
• Understands and adheres to the guiding principles of “patients’ rights”;
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant?

To be hired as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), you must at least have a high school diploma, or GED Practice Test result, and any training courses in patient care. They can be taken in many educational institutions, for example, in online schools, public, professional technical colleges, etc. After that, students are required to pass an exam in order to receive a certificate.

CNA Salaries

The salary of a CNA depends on the place of work and work experience in the specialty. Employees of public institutions are paid salary in accordance with the “tariff agreement for work in public organizations.” A nurse’s assistant earns only a little less than a nurse – about $12 per hour.