Role of CNA in addictions nursing? Cross Post Sorry

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Yesterday I posted this on the addicitons nursing forum and figured I would try here too!~

Hi, I'm not a nurse but am not sure where else to ask this. I have applied for a part time shift at a rehab center. I thought I was applying to a rehabilitation center like a step up from acute care, physical therapy type place. After researching the companies website I've discovered they are a drug rehabilitaion and behavioral health center! What types of things would a CNA be doing at a drug rehabilitaion center? I just want to know what to expect when I do interview.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Wow! Sounds like a cool job. I'm not really an expert on behavioral health & addictions, but my guess is that you would get vitals for the patients (detox vitals are very important b/c they could be receiving various medications like Librium and also blood pressure medications), and I bet you would have to know what certain signs & symptoms they are having so that you could report it to the nurse (shakiness, fever, elevated BP, etc) . It doesn't help to familiarize your self with withdrawal symptoms from various things such as alcohol, opiates, and others. Good luck on your interview!

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Thanks for the advice! None of the books I have for A&P, Micro or Patho have anything on drugs and alcohol... Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong spot. Oh well off to google withdrawals!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
Thanks for the advice! None of the books I have for A&P, Micro or Patho have anything on drugs and alcohol... Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong spot. Oh well off to google withdrawals!

Glad to help! I touched on it briefly when I took Med Surg II so that's why I couldn't provide too much info. But if you could go to the library & read some nursing books (more specifically, Mental Health/Psych Nursing books if they have them) that would definitely help a lot :)

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