cna and hospitals

Flightline, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2008

In my experience, hospitals train you to be a technician, but having a CNA certificate is a real plus. A tech in a hospital is not a CNA. They are not certified by anyone other than the hospital. If you want to work at a hospital, still get your CNA first. It will only look good on you and give you valuable experience you will need as a tech.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2008

I was a CNA in both a nursing home and a hospital. Both settings taught me ALOT. A hosp CNA helps with admissions, gets the vitals, assists with baths and am or pm care. Passes trays and helps feed. Collects UAs and completes I and O each shift. They are the eyes and ears for the nursing staff and in my opinion a very valuable asset to nursing.

They also pick up and tidy the rooms, make the beds and help ambulate pts. Basically an extension of the RN. They do what the RN wants to do but doesnt have time to do!!!

Best of luck!!

mama_d, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2008

Our techs do vitals, I&O, basic patient care, feeding, EKGs, lab draws, fingersticks, are "runners" during codes/METs. As racing-mom said, everything the nurse wishes they had time for but don't. I also count on my techs to be able to tell when to get my attention if something seems out of the ordinary and to let me know right away when vitals are out of whack.

It doesn't sound like a lot listed like that, but we manage to keep them busy! Especially nights like it's been recently where each tech had at least five total care patients on their team.

sander6 · Nov 19, 2008

I am hoping to get into a CNA program in January...just waiting for my finger print clearance to come through...the wait is making me crazy....Praying that there will still be a spot for me....

Thank you all for these comments and insight