CNA/PSW to take vitals?

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if you were asked would you let cna/psw take vital signs or no its nurses to take it because cna wont know what to look for because they have not taken health assessment course. I can understand that if they know what are within normal range but what do you think yes or no?

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

I don't know what psw stands for. As far as the cna is concerned, I have no problem with CNAs taking routine vitals.

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Our CNAs take almost all of our vitals. In their training, they learn what are normal VS and report to the nurse any that are out of range immediately. They also take and report our blood sugars. If I ever felt uncomfortable with the patient's condition or with what the CNA is reporting, I would just do them myself.

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Everywhere I've ever worked, the CNAs or techs take routine vitals and no one has ever suggested that might be a problem. I'm responsible, as the RN, for reviewing the results and taking appropriate action if anything is out of line.

The CNA or tech is simply doing the physical task -- s/he is not responsible for following up on any problems with the VS. As Hootnhollern noted, I might go back and repeat the VS myself if I saw anything that concerned me, but actually, physically doing the routine VSs on all my assigned clients under ordinary circumstances is not a productive use of my time as the RN in charge.

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Specializes in Family NP, OB Nursing.
The CNA or tech is simply doing the physical task -- s/he is not responsible for following up on any problems with the VS. As Hootnhollern noted, I might go back and repeat the VS myself if I saw anything that concerned me, but actually, physically doing the routine VSs on all my assigned clients under ordinary circumstances is not a productive use of my time as the RN in charge.

Exactly :up:

As long as they are trained there is no problem with them doing the task. I don't see it much different than a patient on a Dynamap or other type of monitor that is taking the VS every so many minutes. I still have to review the VS and assess the patient. The Dynamap is just doing the task and recording it for me. Heck, I'd rather have a well trained CNA do that job if I could. Of course, on our M/S unit we used Dynamaps, so what's the difference if they place the cuff and push the button or I do?

If I see a reading that doesn't look right, or doesn't match the patient's condition, I'll find the manual cuff and check the patient myself.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab.
cna wont know what to look for because they have not taken health assessment course. I can understand that if they know what are within normal range but what do you think yes or no?

I am a cna, and learning the average adult range for blood pressure, pulse rate, oxygen level and body temperature was taught to me in my cna course. Also, while I was on orientation at my facility; I was again reminded what the normal range for adult vital signs were.

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

That is a major part of thier job duty.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I work in a hospital setting and our PSWs(Canadian version of a CNA,Personal Support Worker) are not allowed to do vitals.The reasoning being that they are not qualified to assess the patient's condition.

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I work in a hospital setting and our PSWs(Canadian version of a CNA,Personal Support Worker) are not allowed to do vitals.The reasoning being that they are not qualified to assess the patient's condition.

Thank you all for your responses. PSW means Personal Support Worker like the person mentioned sorry if that threw you guys off. this was why i asked the question because CNA are USA but here in Canada is PSW. like the poster mentioned they are not allowed to do it so i just wanted to double check.

Thanks again everyone

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