CNA, new hospital job, any advice?

[merricat]

i am a CNA. i have only worked in LTC (and only for nine or ten mos) and i just got a major new job! will be working at a hospital, am very excited and happy (ive only been trying to get hired at this place for, oh, 10 years). at my former job CNAs did not do vitals and at my second job i had to fight to do them because the Senior CNAs hogged them all to themselves. (so i got stuck stocking linen all the time). at my new job there will be lots of vitals--i am still getting the BP thing down (pretty good but have to sometimes try a couple times)-- i am anticipating will have to work hard and improve but am OK with that. i have good people skills and a strong work ethic so that should help. still, in anticipation of this change, does anybody have some advice as to what makes a good hospital CNA? i know efficiency is important too.

[RainbowzLPN, LPN]

I was a CNA @ a hospital for 2.5 years (left because they weren't hiring PN's). When I worked, they'd just assign me to either the front or the back of the hallway (med-surg, gyne floor). I kept myself busy, being there to help the nurses when they needed an extra set of hands, but just answering bells, handing out meals. Our floor was well staffed , so it wasn't hard to find something to do. Good luck!! :)