Being The Best CNA While On The Road To Becoming An RN

You are the Certified Nursing Assistant. You want to become a nurse your self one day. So what can you do to “assist” the nurse? As well as improve your own skills. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Being The Best CNA While On The Road To Becoming An RN

CNA on the road to Nurse.

Let's begin with you are the nurse's eyes and ears, you are probably spending more time with your patients than the nurse assigned is.

Listen to a good report; if all possible listen to report along with your assigned nurse. Make sure you read the Kardex, know your patient's diets and upcoming procedures. If a patient is going down for x-rays at 0730-then this patient needs to be assessed first.

As soon as the report is finished, make your rounds. Introduce yourself to all your patients. SMILE. Take their vital signs and ask if they need anything: blankets, ice water, and another pillow. If able get the patient up in a chair in preparation for breakfast. Make the bed. Ask if they are in pain, have them rate their pain and write it down with the vital signs.

If you get an unusual vital sign, check it again.

Maybe reposition the B/P cuff. If you notice they are mouth breathing take an axillary temp in addition to an oral temp. Report any unusual vital signs as well as pain to your nurse right away.

Odds are when you are gathering vitals she is gathering medicines, so if something is unusual she needs to know. At the end of vital signs make a copy for yourself for reference for your next vital sign rounds and give a copy to your nurse to enter.

Make sure all lights are getting answered quickly, even if they are not your assigned rooms. Make sure the rooms are tidy and the patients look comfortable.

Make sure the patients and their families know your name, tell them you are here to help them today along with the name of their nurse and if they need anything to use their light to get you. Make sure they know how to use their light, make sure their call light is in reach.

When it is time to pass trays, make sure the patient is able to open all their containers and silverware. Ask them if they need anything else. If you have a patient that needs fed, present them with their tray last so you will be able to feed them while their food is still covered and warm. Don't just leave their tray in their room with a promise to come back to them.

Take the time to talk to your patients, use this as part of your education. Ask them what symptoms they had prior to admittance. Ask them about their treatments, they may not even know exactly what is happening to them, take this time to practice your assessment skills.

Have a good report with your nurse. You may encounter and evil nurse. She may be an old school nurse or she may be a new grad who may even be younger than you. She is still the nurse. She went to school, she passed her boards. She does deserve respect. You don't have to be her friend but you do have to work with her side by side. Ask if she needs anything. If you have a patient who is unstable, take frequent vital signs and keep the nurse updated. Make sure they know you are a student and want to learn. Ask if you can assist with any treatments. Look at the patient's med list and if you have time, look up some of their meds and their side effects and interactions.

You know the flow of the floor make sure you are staying on top of what needs to be done. When time allows make sure the linen cart is stocked and supplies are full.

When it comes time to help the patient with their bath, do a good job. Use lots of lotion; report any unusual skin conditions to the nurse.

Make sure mouth care is done and done well. Keep them in clean gowns and sheets. Brush their hair. Simple things like that make people feel better. Use this time to talk to your patients, ask them questions and listen to them.

You have heard the expression what comes around goes around. Someday you will be the nurse and you will appreciate a good CNA. Be the CNA that someday you hope to have.

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racing-mom4

About racing-mom4, BSN, RN

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Specializes in cardiac, diabetes, OB/GYN.

Thank you for being the kind of cna (and eventually, nurse) that I would want to work with and be a patient of, if needed......Great advice.......

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Hi!

I teach high school CNA students and this caught my heart. I am honored to be able to share it with my kids. Your post will help them learn to be better caregivers regardless of their level of educational prep.

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Specializes in Stepdown.

I too am a CNA. I take pride in taking care of my patients. You are the eyes and ears. The nurses rely on you for help to assest their patients. Please be considerate and respectful to the elderly. Because one day you to may become them.

Good luck to all and God bless!

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Specializes in Home Health, Family Medicine.

:bowingpurI am an LPN and believe me I always appreciate a CNA like you!! Wonderful article keep up the great work and never forget you need those CNA's!!!:yeah:

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Thank you for this article, I am a pre-nursing student and will take my CNA class in January. Your advice is super!!!

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Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
CNA on the road to Nurse.

You are the Certified Nursing Assistant. You want to become a nurse your self one day. So what can you do to “assist” the nurse? As well as improve your own skills

Lets begin with you are the nurses eyes and ears, you are probably spending more time with your patients than the nurse assigned is.

Listen to a good report; if all possible listen to report along with your assigned nurse. Make sure you read the Kardex, know your patients diets and up coming procedures. If a patient is going down for x-rays at 0730-then this patient needs assessed first.

As soon as report is finished, make your rounds. Introduce yourself to all your patients. SMILE. Take their vital signs and ask if they need anything: blankets, ice water, and another pillow. If able get the patient up in a chair in preparation for breakfast. Make the bed. Ask if they are in pain, have them rate their pain and right it down with the vital signs. If you get an unusual vital sign, check it again. Maybe reposition the B/P cuff. If you notice they are mouth breathing take an axillary temp in addition to an oral temp. Report any unusual vital signs as well as pain to your nurse right away. Odds are when you are gathering vitals she is gathering medicines, so if something is unusual she needs to know. At end of vital signs make a copy for yourself for reference for your next vital sign rounds and give a copy to your nurse to enter.

Make sure call lights are getting answered quickly, even if they are not your assigned rooms. Make sure the rooms are tidy and the patients look comfortable.

Make sure the patients and their families know your name, tell them you are here to help them today along with the name of their nurse and if they need anything to use their light to get you. Make sure they know how to use their light, make sure their call light is in reach.

When it is time to pass trays, make sure the patient is able to open all their containers and silverware. Ask them if they need anything else. If you have a patient that needs fed, present them with their tray last so you will be able to feed them while their food is still covered and warm. Don’t just leave their tray in their room with a promise to come back to them.

Take the time to talk to your patients, use this as part of your education. Ask them what symptoms they had prior to admittance. Ask them about their treatments, they may not even know exactly what is happening to them, take this time to practice your assessment skills.

Have a good report with your nurse. You may encounter and evil nurse. She may be an old school nurse or she may be a new grad who may even be younger than you. She is still the nurse. She went to school, she passed her boards. She does deserve respect. You don’t have to be her friend but you do have to work with her side by side. Ask if she needs anything. If you have a patient who is unstable, take frequent vital signs and keep the nurse updated. Make sure they know you are a student and want to learn. Ask if you can assist with any treatments. Look at the patient’s med list and if you have time, look up some of their meds and their side effects and interactions.

You know the flow of the floor make sure you are staying on top of what needs done. When time allows make sure the linen cart is stocked and supplies are full.

When it comes time to help the patient with their bath, do a good job. Use lots of lotion; report any unusual skin conditions to the nurse.

Make sure mouth care is done and done well. Keep them in clean gowns and sheets. Brush their hair. Simple things like that make people feel better. Use this time to talk to your patients, ask them questions and listen to them.

You have heard the expression what comes around goes around. Someday you will be the nurse and you will appreciate a good CNA. Be the CNA that someday you hope to have.

After reading this, I now realize I wasn't just a nurse, but a CNA as well. No wonder I couldn't get the vitals signs as quickly as the super wanted them, I was busy taking pts to the BR with IVs, getting blankets, etc etc etc. She even had the nerve to ask, "what is taking you so long to get the vitals?" "are you busy fluffing pillows?"

That is alright, she dropped dead later. Don't get me wrong. I didn't wish anything bad on her, but "what goes around, comes around".

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Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.

I have never known a CNA like you. I can tell that you actually want to be where you are, helping people. Most CNAs I know could care less if the vitals are different, much less know even know they are different. All the CNAs I have ever worked with are just a "warm body" taking up space so the place is legal. Sad, but true.

P.S. You could take a writting class.

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Specializes in nearly all.

I can tell you are a great CNA and are well on your way to being a great nurse. You already have the basics of assessment and critical thinking, things that some nurses never get right! I plan to share this with my nurses and CNAs in orientation and annual training so they can see it's not just my goal!

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I can only hope that I can always be a CNA like the one that is described here. The work is a lot more difficult than I think some people understand, it's nice to see that someone understands! I know I'll have a some times difficult time working as a CNA and going to nursing school but I am ready and willing to take on that adventure.

Thank you!

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