What do CNA's really Do???

I was actually wondering the same thing, I did see on my hospitals website a posting for a CNA so maybe that's a no on just working in Assisted Living. I was wondering if you can also work in a Dr's office. I was told by one person Medical Asst and CNA are close to the same, but I dunno about that.

CNA's can work in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, at home health agency's, etc.

I work at an assisted living facility on day shift (7-3) and here's a rundown of a typical day:

7:00-8:00- Run around like crazy trying to get everyone ready for breakfast. Help residents get washed up and dressed, or just remind them to get up for breakfast, depending on the level of care they need (We have independent, assisted, and complete care residents.) Help transport resident's down to main dining room (We have more than one dining room)
8:00-9:00- Help serve breakfast to resident's in dining room
9:00-11:00- This is when we normally do showers, vital signs, answer call lights, change beds, do laundry (ughh- we have to do laundry at my facility)
11:00-11:30- Generally downtime, besides answering call lights.
11:30-12:00- Transporting residents to dining room
12:00-1:00- Help out in dining room, take break.
1:00-2:00- Pass out linen, resident rounds, answer call lights
2:00-3:00- Downtime!! There's usually nothing to do besides answer call lights. This last hour goes by sooo slow.

And there's a lot more that I'm missing, this is just a brief overview and this is in assisted living. I tried working in a nursing home, but I didn't like it- it was way too depressing for me and stressful. If you can't get a job in a hospital after completing CNA training, try assisted living! There are some dependent residents that need a lot of care, but for the most part it's a lot more laid back.

Hi! I am a CNA (PCA, Patient Care Assistant) at a hospital. I work 3-11pm. My schedule is pretty much like this:
2:30 recieve report from day shift about patients
3:00-4:00 do vitals and accu-checks
4:00-4:45 change any briefs, reposition, assist to commode, etc., until dinner arrives at 4:45.
5:30-6:00 record input and trays
After that it's pretty much as needed care, except that in between all of this "scheduling" there are admits and discharges, helping other aides and nurses with care, running specimens to lab, and of course answering all call lites throughout the evening!
Dinner comes whenever I can, usually around 7pm, and I am entitled to 2 15 minute breaks which I never take because I am too busy, but that's my decision.
I usually start off a shift with 8-10 patients, but end up with more because of admits during the evening. In any "down" time there is restocking the rounds carts, and nurses stations in each room.
I also like to spend time with the patients who require complete care, who cannot feed themselves and may have dementia along with whatever brought them to the hospital in the first place, because to me that's an important part of my job.
Hope I helped!
I know CNA's that work in Nusring Homes usually have a bigger load than hospitals, depending I suppose on the facility.
Take care!!

I’ve worked in both an Assisted Living and a Hospital on night shift.

Assisted Living
10-10:30: Get report
11-12: check residents, make sure dry, safe, and in bed toilet those that needed it.
12-4:30 do every one-two hour checks, toilet, change, reposition, set table for breakfast, do laundry
4:30-6:00: Get up residents, shower, do final toiletings
6-6:30: Give report and chart

Hospital
Answer Call lights, toilet, change, reposition, help the nurses where needed. File a little paperwork.

WOW, thanks that does help a lot! you all are awesome!

Thanks from me too! I came on here today to ask this same question. I just finished my nurse aide training today and already have an interview for a night shift (6:30p-7a) med-surge position next week and was wondering what a "day in the life" looked like for a nurse aide.

Karen

You are welcome!! Keep posting!!

Congrats Karen!