Do CNAS HAVE TO DRAW BLOOD?

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Hello, I'm a PCA, and I'm ready to start classes to become a CNA, but I don't want to draw blood I don't want nothing to do with needles.

Do I have to use needles?

I'll be working in a doctors office after I get certified, but as I mentioned I don't want to use needles. I live in Las Vegas Nevada. I like this profession but the only thing that I don't like is using needles.

Thank you in advance.

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I've only seen CNAs take blood for diabetes, but I hadn't seen them using needles .

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That's one of our PCAs main responsibilities.

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As a PCA or Caregiver we have the responsibility to help on house shores, cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, feeding, bathing.

But nothing to do with needles, and on Tuesday I'll be having a interview to start CNA classes, and would not like to touch needles.

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You'll have to find out from the office where you'll be working. Every place is different. Our PCA's are more like techs so they do blood draws.

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Specializes in Certified Vampire and Part-time Nursing Student.

It depends where you work and how "conservative" your state is with those types of procedures. CNA's usual job tasks include incontinence care, dressing, feeding, sometimes taking blood glucose or drawing blood but only if they've been formally trained by staff and usually that involves working in a hospital/acute care setting.

Saying you're going to work in a doctors office, that sounds like you will be drawing blood. Mostly because that's basically the only thing you CAN do that's somewhat in your scope of practice besides take vital signs. It's not like patients who made it to the doctors office are going to need help to the toilet.

To be brutally honest if you don't want to be working with blood you should not take this job, and probably thinking again about being CNA. And IMO blood is probably the least gross bodily fluid CNA's have to deal with so... :oldman:

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Specializes in Varied.

Most places can teach you a skill if they want that responsibility. Hospitals often require CNA's in ER/ED settings to draw blood. Most doctor's offices are going to want to hire Medical Assistants or LPNs as they can perform those tasks.

What tasks do you intend on performing at a Doctor's office?

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Specializes in ICU.

In California there's no way you'd ever draw blood as a CNA. I'm surprised other states let CNA's draw blood.

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i was thinking the same thing, blood draws is way out of the scope of practice for a cna

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In California there's no way you'd ever draw blood as a CNA. I'm surprised other states let CNA's draw blood.

Same thing here in Oklahoma. I really am surprised that it happens in other states too.

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In NY CNA's can draw blood if certified. This varies of course, by each job.

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I know some courses in CA also include phlebotomy training with credentialing at the end of course. Perhaps this is why. Aside that you likely won't do any draws in CA, but you should be able to manage at least being around when they are doing them and it sounds like that may be an issue for you.

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