RNs...What are the CNA's duty in the hospital you work ?

futurecnm · Sep 23, 2008

It is a good experience. You get used to dealing with patients and being in the hospital. It is also hard work. You do much of the patient cares such as bath, hygeine, feeding, cleaning etc. It can be very demanding. However, the experience is invaluable and it will help you get a job down the line. Most of the CNA's in our class had jobs very early on.

JHansen · Sep 23, 2008

Lets see, you will chart, toilet, change linens(sometimes) get water, transport patients if need be(I did a lot of xray runs). Sometimes you will only have one patient because they have special needs(usually a very boring day), chart, get bp, O2 sat, pulse resperations, did i mention you will chart?:typing. Your days are usually long and hard. Most of the time understaffed. I only remember 2 times in 2 years where we had low census and I was sent home on PTO(paid time off-not something you want, takes away from vacation time). Sometimes you will get blood glucose levels. I helped an RN with a code once(scary). Sometimes you will have to do Post Mordem care. You might have to feed people who can not feed them selves. There is actually quite a lot you do. But I would much rather have something to do then be bored out of my mind on a 12 hour shift.

Hope that gives you some insights.

Josh

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Sep 23, 2008

We don't have CNAs, but our aids take vitals (q4h, and around blood product infusion), can double check blood products with an RN, empty foleys, hats, and commodes, assist patients with ambulating to the commode or bathroom, if necessary, pass and collect trays and record food intake and liquid intake, help with cleaning patients, make beds on day shift, answer call lights, stock isolation carts, pass out water and linen, and help patients with hygiene.

TopazLover, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2008

CNAs are the eyes and ears of the nurse when the nurse is dealing with meds, orders, admissions, etc. It is great experience for you if you are considering nursing. It is also a career job that is in demand in many settings. You will be exposed to many of the things nurses do as well as the CNA tasks.

You will do everything that has been listed and you will use communication skills all the time. Many times you get to know the patient better than the nurse who is hustling meds and dealing with MDs and families as well trying to do what they have been educated to do.

There are days when I would be crazy if it weren't for good CNAs. :yeah:

NursingAgainstdaOdds · Sep 23, 2008

Working as an aide is an excellent learning experience while in nursing school. I worked as a Nursing Assistant in LTC during nursing school (which is a little more involved d/t the difference in settings - we passed meds and so forth...). I firmly believe it was a defining factor in my development as a nurse. I already had a handle on time management, organization, working under pressure, etc. I was ready to come off my preceptorship at the 3-4 week mark (I had 6 weeks of precepting).

In the hospital, our aides are responsible for a variety of tasks. On days, they complete/assist with personal care, change linens on the beds, do VS, FS, enter I & Os, assist with eating when necessary, answer call lights, ensure patients remain clean and dry, ambulate patients, keep confused patients safe, and (kind of rarely for me) assist with nursing tasks like Foley insertion. Our jobs overlap a lot, as obviously a lot of what I listed are things I do as well.

kellyc034 · Sep 23, 2008

I'm not an RN yet, but I'm a nursing student and I work in the hospital as a PCT.

We do...........vitals q4, bathing, toileting, waters, ambulating, charting, removing catheters, removing hep locks, accucheks, placing/removing tele monitors, collecting specimens, sometimes transporting pt's (we have transporters just for that but they get swamped too), post mortem care........and probably a zillion other things I'm forgetting!

I HIGHLY recommend working as a CNA in school, even if you can only do a shift or two a week. The experience is so valuable. You learn SO much that you won't in school, and it makes you SO much more comfortable caring for patients. I remember being so terrified going into a room in clinicals for school.......because face it- one to two clinicals a week is NOT enough to make you comfortable........now seeing pt's is second nature.

Personally, I love it. I really love my job. There are gross things, but you have to deal with them as an RN too, but for me even the nasty stuff is rewarding.

Maybe I'm nuts, but I enjoy very much being a tech!

Kelly

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2008

In my hospital we have PCT's, similar to CNA's. They do direct pt care, vital signs, I&O, blood sugars, blood draws, put foleys in, EKG's, bath and linen changes, answer call lights, etc. They are a big help, and alot of them are nursing students. I worked as a PCT while in nursing school and I think it was a big help in helping me to get comfortable on the floor.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2008

Hey I am a pre-nurisng student looking into becomming a CNA to get my feet wet in the nursing field. I wanted to know what are the CNA's duties in the hospital ? would you recommend being a CNA ? Is being a CNA geat learing experience or a waste of time ? RNs please help me out with your wise suggestions,advice or comments please

Well, first off, let me say that I believe you are very smart to be thinking about some exposure to nursing before starting nursing school. I believe that CNA training and work is a good way to reinforce your knowledge, and helps you at clinicals.

We have PCTs at my hospital who are either cnas or 1st semester nursing students.

They take vitals every 4 hours, take blood sugars, ambulate patients, clean them, feed them or set up their trays, answer call lights, clean rooms, change trash, chart, whatever we ask them to do that they can.

Being a CNA really helped me out in NS. Whenever we talked about a certain disease, I usually saw at least one patient with that disease during the next time I worked. I understood the interventions, and knew what we would probably be doing.

However, being a good worker and team player is a must. CNAs are the front line, but I have no problem stepping in and doing someone's job if they aren't doing it....plus adding a lecture from me. I KNOW what the duties are...and when they should be done by, barring a rare exception.

Don't forget to communicate with the nurses. Tell them if a patient needs something that you can't do. do not practice outside your scope. Tell them that you're going into NS, and they would probably let you watch certain procedures....

You sound like a hard worker....good luck!

beachbum3 · Sep 24, 2008

I work in a telemetry unit. There CNAs are responsible for answering lights, ADLs, helping pts ambulate, changing bed linens, refilling water pitchers, taking blood sugars, vitals (except blood pressures, we do our own), and charting.

As far as whether or not you should do it, if you want to, go for it! I was not a CNA prior to becoming a nurse, and I've done really well anyway. So, I say, its not necessary, but I'm sure could be of value. You can be a great nurse with or with out having been a CNA first.