what do CNA's do in the NICU?

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I was just wondering what CNA's duties are in the NICU? :)

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I was just wondering what CNA's duties are in the NICU? :)

well, i guess some in different parts of the country are different, but the ones I worked in ( east coast) didnt allow cna's, or even lpn's..... they were all RN and respiratory techs. This was level 2 and 3.

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well, i guess some in different parts of the country are different, but the ones I worked in ( east coast) didnt allow cna's, or even lpn's..... they were all RN and respiratory techs. This was level 2 and 3.

oh really? The reason I asked is because I saw a job posting for a CNA in NICU.

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Our unit uses "technical associates", which are often CNAs. They do heelstick blood draws, Algos, car seat tests, and help with feedings, baths, weights, vitals, stocking, etc. We are a 50+ bed level 3 and utilize 2-4 per shift.

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Our unit uses "technical associates", which are often CNAs. They do heelstick blood draws, Algos, car seat tests, and help with feedings, baths, weights, vitals, stocking, etc. We are a 50+ bed level 3 and utilize 2-4 per shift.

cool thanks!

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oh really? The reason I asked is because I saw a job posting for a CNA in NICU.

wow, like i said, i guess every place is different..i really really wish I had an opportunity to work in the nicu, when i was a cna!!! It would have been my dream!!!! No such luck around here.............

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

We used them for non nursing duties--stocking (a neverending task) taking labs (NOT drawing them), getting equipment, answering phones, cleaning incubators and cribs. They are very imp't in a large unit, and save the RNs a lot of time.

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where did you see a job for cna in nicu? just curious for myself also :uhoh3:

I was just wondering what CNA's duties are in the NICU? :)
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Specializes in NICU.

There is a great variation in what kind of jobs nursing assistants do in the NICU. Some places do not allow very much hands-on caring of the babies, while others seem to allow too much.

Example:

When I worked as a nursing assistant in the NICU of a children's hospital while I was in nursing school, I actually did very little with the babies. I kind of helped out with whatever they needed done at the moment. If there was no secretary, I'd do that for my shift. If housekeeping was really busy, I'd take some work off their hands by helping restock the unit. I even cleaned the fridge if that's the task assigned to me. Most of the time, I'd do a mix of everything and spent most of my time stocking. I'd also be a "runner" if the tube system was down or if there was a code. Once in a great while, they'd have me hold a cranky baby or feed a full-term baby that was very stable. But I still don't regret any of it, because it still put me in the NICU and I got to see a lot of stuff. It also looked great on my resume, because when I was a new grad the NICUs I interviewed with saw that I already worked in a very busy unit and therefore knew what I was getting into.

The thing was, though, when I was hired it was for a different postion - it was still a nursing assistant job but it was specifically for nursing school seniors. Between the time I interviewed and the time I started, the position was revoked. What had happened was that the hospital got in trouble for letting the nursing assistants/students do WAY too much. Instead of "helping out" they'd actually give the assistants a full assignment of 3-4 grower-feeder babies. They were responsible for full assessments, feedings, etc. Everything but medications, basically. But these were unlicensed workers! Most didn't even have their CNA license, just transcripts from nursing school. So really they had no business being responsible for these babies like that, and sometimes things were missed and there was trouble later on. Some nurses were even letting the assisstants give medications. All it took was one or two lawsuits where this stuff came up and that was the end of that position. Good thing, in my opinion.

So now, at my unit where I'm an RN, we just hired nursing assistants who are in nursing school. They don't get assignments, they just help out. But they do weigh and bathe the babies, bottle feed, and do vital signs. A nurse has to check that baby for herself at least once every 8 hours, and has to give all the meds and NG feedings. I'm a little nervous with the feeding thing, though. Many of these babies aren't very coordinated with their feedings, and while they might do good one feed, they might really do something silly the next so you never know. We've had babies aspirate or choke during a bottle feeding and ended up CODING, so I'm not in a hurry to let a nursing assistant feed any of my patients.

Maybe I'm being a snob or selfish by not letting them feed the babies, but I really just don't feel comfortable with it.

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where did you see a job for cna in nicu? just curious for myself also :uhoh3:

I was searching the job listings in the local hospitals here!

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There is a great variation in what kind of jobs nursing assistants do in the NICU. Some places do not allow very much hands-on caring of the babies, while others seem to allow too much.

Example:

When I worked as a nursing assistant in the NICU of a children's hospital while I was in nursing school, I actually did very little with the babies. I kind of helped out with whatever they needed done at the moment. If there was no secretary, I'd do that for my shift. If housekeeping was really busy, I'd take some work off their hands by helping restock the unit. I even cleaned the fridge if that's the task assigned to me. Most of the time, I'd do a mix of everything and spent most of my time stocking. I'd also be a "runner" if the tube system was down or if there was a code. Once in a great while, they'd have me hold a cranky baby or feed a full-term baby that was very stable. But I still don't regret any of it, because it still put me in the NICU and I got to see a lot of stuff. It also looked great on my resume, because when I was a new grad the NICUs I interviewed with saw that I already worked in a very busy unit and therefore knew what I was getting into.

The thing was, though, when I was hired it was for a different postion - it was still a nursing assistant job but it was specifically for nursing school seniors. Between the time I interviewed and the time I started, the position was revoked. What had happened was that the hospital got in trouble for letting the nursing assistants/students do WAY too much. Instead of "helping out" they'd actually give the assistants a full assignment of 3-4 grower-feeder babies. They were responsible for full assessments, feedings, etc. Everything but medications, basically. But these were unlicensed workers! Most didn't even have their CNA license, just transcripts from nursing school. So really they had no business being responsible for these babies like that, and sometimes things were missed and there was trouble later on. Some nurses were even letting the assisstants give medications. All it took was one or two lawsuits where this stuff came up and that was the end of that position. Good thing, in my opinion.

So now, at my unit where I'm an RN, we just hired nursing assistants who are in nursing school. They don't get assignments, they just help out. But they do weigh and bathe the babies, bottle feed, and do vital signs. A nurse has to check that baby for herself at least once every 8 hours, and has to give all the meds and NG feedings. I'm a little nervous with the feeding thing, though. Many of these babies aren't very coordinated with their feedings, and while they might do good one feed, they might really do something silly the next so you never know. We've had babies aspirate or choke during a bottle feeding and ended up CODING, so I'm not in a hurry to let a nursing assistant feed any of my patients.

Maybe I'm being a snob or selfish by not letting them feed the babies, but I really just don't feel comfortable with it.

Thanks for replying! I agree w/you about the feeding thing! I wouldn't want to be responisble if something happened.

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Specializes in NICU.
Thanks for replying! I agree w/you about the feeding thing! I wouldn't want to be responisble if something happened.

I hope I wasn't sounding down on CNAs in the NICU - I guess what happened at the children's hospital really scared me is all. But like I said, if you're interested in NICU, it's totally worth it no matter what yoru duties might be. Just being in a unit like that, you will learn so much. Seeing all those sick babies and what the nurses do for them, it'll definitely help you decide if it's what you're looking for. And I didn't mind doing non-nursing things. There are worse jobs in life than cleaning isolettes, stocking baby blankets and diapers, running to the blood bank because a baby needs blood NOW, etc. It was a lot of fun, honestly!

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