Give me the down and dirty of being a CNA

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 9, 2005

Hello and welcome to the family. Hope the link answers some of your qustions. Good luck to you. :)

http://www.nursinghomemonitors.org/Daily%20Duties%20of%20the%20Certified%20Nursing%20Assistant.htm

onesmallspark · Aug 9, 2005

Hello and welcome to the family. Hope the link answers some of your qustions. Good luck to you. :)
http://www.nursinghomemonitors.org/Daily%20Duties%20of%20the%20Certified%20Nursing%20Assistant.htm

Geez... that makes it sound pretty grim.

wannabenursetx · Aug 9, 2005

The above link was very informative, but seems to be geared for LTC. I'm curious to know what specific duties a CNA would perform in the hospital setting? I plan to work as a CNA while going to school, but would prefer to work in the hospital setting versus LTC.

onesmallspark · Aug 9, 2005

Here's a link I thought might have some good info. I found it while doing a google search.

http://nursingassistantcentral.homestead.com/

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 9, 2005

Geez... that makes it sound pretty grim.

You did ask for the 411

Keep in mind that while the duties may vary from place to place it is all pretty much the same thing. You might find a "less grim" website but I am not sure as to how much it can be different. Good luck. :)

chadash · Aug 9, 2005

Geez... that makes it sound pretty grim.

Yeah, it does, but it seemed pretty accurate in LTC. I have never worked in a hospital.

This is the reason I believe we need some real reform in nursing homes. It is impossible to give the care that is required in the time allotted.

But you asked if we like the work. I love it. I am in home health now though because of the inability to work in a nursing home with a reasonable pt CNA ratio. I would have killed to just have nine patients! But, if I were super women, LTC is my dream job.

Cute_CNA, CNA · Aug 9, 2005

I'm a secretary right now and am thinking of becoming a CNA to get some hands-on experience in the healthcare field while I go to school to be a nuclear medicine technologist (if I can get accepted). I really love helping people (especially pediatrics) and I had a psychic tell me once that I have "healing hands" (whatever that means).
Anyway I need to know the down and dirty of being a CNA. I want your best and your worst stories. I want to know what all being a CNA means - do I just clean up vomit, change diapers/flush Foleys or is there more? I want to know if you love it - I want to know if you hate it. Nurses - what do you love about your CNA's - and what's your biggest peeve?
I have soooo many questions... Am I only assigned to one specific nurse all the time or do I get rotated? What if my nurse hates me? Am I assigned to only one area of the hospital or will I get to know my patients? Do scrubs come in tall sizes (I'm 5'8)? Do I have to do anything "needle-related"? Do I have to insert catheters? Are CNA's respected or do they just get dumped on? I noticed that most hospitals in the Dallas area want CNA's with 3 months experience or more - where am I supposed to get that if no one will hire me without experience??
HEEEEEEELP!!! Flood me with your knowledge and wisdom....

It depends on what kind of hospital you work in, regarding what and how much different kinds of things you will do.

I am only familiar with being a CNA in a psychiatric hospital.

I am not constantly cleaning up poop, urine, vomit, etc, but I have done it from time to time. You may have to change briefs (don't call them diapers; some people find it demeaning) and clean up a patient that cannot help themselves.

Flushing foleys? I don't think CNAs are allowed to do that.

At my hospital, I'm supervised by LPNs and RNs, but mostly RNs. There is one charge nurse who you always report to, and they take turns doing charge (RNs only). There is a head nurse that is assigned to the RNs and LPNs on each unit. A nurse manager supervises the RNs and LPNs as well. I am not sure if the nurse managers are above the head nurse for each unit, but I suspect they are. The nurse manager is not on the unit, but the head nurse is. The RNs supervise the LPNs. I am assigned to a specific unit at the hospital, but if they are low on staff on another unit and they have extra staff on my unit, I may be pulled there.

We get to know all the patients on our unit, and if we're pulled, sometimes we get to know patients on other units.

I don't wear scrubs. I think it's kind of discouraged in a psych hospital, because it gives an Us-Them feeling for the patients.

You do not deal with needles at all. You do not deal with medications at all. If you are asked to do either of these things by an RN or LPN, refuse it, because you are not licensed and thereby not qualified to do it. You do not insert catheters, but you may be asked to drain them out.

Everything is done by policy. The RNs are most familiar with this. There are certain ways to do this, certain ways to do that. This mostly has to do with documentation. You do not do assessments; RNs do this. RNs do most of the paperwork.

Respect your higher-ups, and they will respect you. If you are not good with teamwork, don't be a CNA. You are expected to work as a team with others.

There was a period of time in which the hospital I'm at was hiring people. They trained me for one month, full time.

I enjoy my job... sometimes. But I'm not happy, because I *sometimes* feel like I'm doing idiot work (like giving out snacks, playing games, and stuff like that). I have a bachelor's degree in psychology, and I'm only using it marginally. Fortunately, I will be moving on to different responsibilies that involve working more with patients in structured therapeutic ways. But it seems like it's taking forever to happen, and it's frustrating. I know my role is important, but I didn't go to school to do this, you know? That's my opinion, take it or leave it. I'm not trying to insult anyone. But I would strongly encourage people to use being a CNA as a stepping stone, not as a lifelong occupation.

Whether or not you'll be happy with it depends on the person. Since you're only going to be doing it for a little while, you'll probably be okay with it. It's very good experience, and looks good on a resume, I think. But I personally find myself getting frustrated because I know I can do more than this, and it gets very boring sometimes. Mind-numbingly boring. But remember, this is me talking, and I can't speak for others.

By the way, and I think this goes with anything nursing-related, but you need to have a sense of humor.

In psychiatric hospitals, the patients can be very annoying. Their short-term memory can be terrible. You may have to remind them to do things repeatedly. They can be very demanding, and sometimes spontaneous. However, most of the time, you can tell when they're starting to get upset, and they may decide to get loud and hostile. In other words, most of the time, you can anticipate what they're going to do. You need to be very observant.

On the flip side, they can be very funny. I'm not saying that it's right to laugh at them, but sometimes they can be funny without meaning to. It might be a part of their illness. But I try not to laugh AT them. They can be pretty bizarre. And it is rewarding to know that I've helped keep someone from "blowing up," or helped them keep from losing composure. I am always happy to help make someone feel better, or improve their day in some small way. That is largely what I am there for. These people need help and someone to be supportive of them. I am a "patient advocate."

Feel free to ask any more questions.

And yes, I am a cute CNA.

pink2blue1 · Aug 9, 2005

I am a CNA in a hospital, not LTC. I do lots of things and anything I do, I don't consider it "just" anything. I take vitals, help people to the bathroom, give them baths (Or set them up for a shower or bath) Get them water, or snacks, help them eat if they can't, position them, get them pillows, extra blankets and anything they need to make them comfortable and make their hospital stay nicer. Yes I do clean up vomit, wipe butts, clean out nasty bed pans and bedside commodes and sometimes even the beds they have soiled. I collect specimen samples to be sent to the lab too. I talk to people, hold their hands, give them tissues to wipe their eyes because they are scared or in pain. I assist the RN in doing things I can even if it's just holding the flashlight while she tries to start a foley on a female patient. In my facility CNA's cannot do accu checks or anything invasive.

Do I love the job? If I didn't I would be at it for 3 years and I wouldn't be moving on to get my LVN and then RN. I love it, but I don't think it's for everyone.

Good luck to you!

Shannon

L&Dnurse2Be · Aug 9, 2005

All I can say is be prepared to work. There are no shortcuts in health care, you are dealing with peoples lives! Be prepared for vomit, poop, blood, and anything else sick people can dish out. As was said in a previous response, you must be a team player. Do not try to be a hero. You must respect everyone that works with you, and then you will earn respect from them.

I am lucky to work on a great floor with great nurses who praise me constantly for doing my job. The nurses are willing to step up and help out when I have a large patient load. Ratio is 15 to 1.

My day consists of vitals, passing ice water, bed baths, changing linens, cleaning patients who are incontinent, accuchecks for blood sugar, keeping rooms clean by taking out trash and linens as needed, death care, and being the eyes and ears for the nurses. Sometimes CNA's can see things that might be missed because CNA's are helping with showers, toileting etc. Numerous times I have been the one to report that a patient seemed to have a stroke etc just by observing them.

During a 12 hour shift, I am lucky to be able to sit down to eat lunch, most of the time if I do eat, it is on the run because someone needs help.

It is great experience for nursing. It looks great on your resume. It can be the determining factor whether or not someone decides they really want to be a nurse. Just because you are an LVN or RN does not mean you don't do any of the things I listed above because CNA's can't be everywhere at once. Some of the best nurses I work with were CNA's while in school.

Like I said, it is hard and sometimes dirty work, but to me it is worth it. I love to care for people. Now I know that I am choosing the best career for me.

Good luck in your decision! :)

BabyRN2Be · Aug 9, 2005

Here's a link I thought might have some good info. I found it while doing a google search.
http://nursingassistantcentral.homestead.com/

This one does have a lot of good information about the work of a CNA. Check this one out too!

chadash · Aug 9, 2005

I am a CNA in a hospital, not LTC. I do lots of things and anything I do, I don't consider it "just" anything. I take vitals, help people to the bathroom, give them baths (Or set them up for a shower or bath) Get them water, or snacks, help them eat if they can't, position them, get them pillows, extra blankets and anything they need to make them comfortable and make their hospital stay nicer. Yes I do clean up vomit, wipe butts, clean out nasty bed pans and bedside commodes and sometimes even the beds they have soiled. I collect specimen samples to be sent to the lab too. I talk to people, hold their hands, give them tissues to wipe their eyes because they are scared or in pain. I assist the RN in doing things I can even if it's just holding the flashlight while she tries to start a foley on a female patient. In my facility CNA's cannot do accu checks or anything invasive.
Do I love the job? If I didn't I would be at it for 3 years and I wouldn't be moving on to get my LVN and then RN. I love it, but I don't think it's for everyone.
Good luck to you!
Shannon

From your description, I think hospitals sound like a great environment to work in.... I have always done geriatrics, love older folks, but as I grow older myself, hospital work just sounds more sane. Is that true?