What can a RN delegate to a CNA?

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So, what can a RN delegate to a CNA?;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

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Specializes in CCU/ Tele.

Well check your agencies policies and procedures. But generally.......vital signs, accuchecks, bed baths, changing linens, etc. Nothing that involves assessing or teaching.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Things within their job description and that which they have proven competency in.

If you're looking for actual duties it varies from place to place, state to state.

Here, I delegate inserting and d/cing foleys, d/cing IVs, accu checks, vs, baths, etc. etc.

It is up to the RN to know what the CNA is competent in.

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Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
Things within their job description and that which they have proven competency in.

If you're looking for actual duties it varies from place to place, state to state.

Here, I delegate inserting and d/cing foleys, d/cing IVs, accu checks, vs, baths, etc. etc.

It is up to the RN to know what the CNA is competent in.

Wow tweety! I want to work where you are. The CNA's here can't even do fingersticks!

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From a CNA stand point I would say that you need to make sure that you know what a CNA's skills are. Whatever the skills are in your state for CNA's is what you need to delegate. Please remember to be a team player. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Almost everywhere.

As others have said, check your facility's policy on their scope of practice because it is your responsibility to be aware. At ours CNAs can:

Do vitals, baths, ambulate pts, feed pts, do accuchecks, order supplies, answer call lights, help with admits like getting the wt, v/s, settling the pt in bed, help with dismissals and escort pt out, there are lots of things they can do. Two biggies they can't do in our place is give meds of any kind or do anything with IVs that includes dc'ing them. But, I have worked places where CNAs did dc IVs like if the pt was going home and only if it was a peripheral line.

It varies. Good luck!

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The NA scope varies between states and facilities. In many cases the state may allow certain tasks that a facility policy requires a licensed personnel to do. As a general rule, basic patient care such as hygeine activities, transferring, lifting, toileting are in their scope. Medication administration and other skilled nursing procedures (wound care, IVs, etc.) generally are not. However, this varies depending on where you work. For example, we train some of our NAs to become Health Technicians. HTs can perform urinary caths, blood draws, EKGs and a few other tasks in addition to the basic NA tasks. I would say check your facility's policy and/or clarify with your supervisor.;)

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As a graduating nursing student in one more week, i think it is hard to delegate things to the CNA..First of all, some have an attitude and dont want to do any type of work..Maybe, I always ended up with bad CNAs but that is from my experience.

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As a graduating nursing student in one more week, i think it is hard to delegate things to the CNA..First of all, some have an attitude and dont want to do any type of work..Maybe, I always ended up with bad CNAs but that is from my experience.

I think you have ended up with CNA's with bad attitudes. I'm a CNA and I jump at the chance to do things other than bed baths.

In my state, we do vs, accu checks, d/c foley's and IV's, do SSE and fleets enemas (so much fun). Definitely check with your state and hospital policy concerning what CNA's can and cannot do.

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Here, I delegate inserting and d/cing foleys

You allow a CNA to insert a Foley ???

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Specializes in Too many to list.

Wow, Tweety, I'm moving to your state!!! I've just started working in Connecticut in LTC, and one of my biggest surprises was to find out how little nurses can delegate to CNA's. Since I work agency, I am in many different facilities all of which have different policies. There are no med techs in this state (bummer). CNA's can't change colostomy bags, and certainly not the wafers (in my former state, they could). Some places, they only take temps, but no vital signs, other places TPR, but no BP's, Some places they can't collect voided urines for specimens. No enemas or suppositories (since no med techs). Nothing worse, than having a CNA tell you in the middle of a med pass, that a colostomy is leaking all over!!! They can do foley care, but not insertion or removals. I don't know what they are allowed to do in hospitals. I have great respect for the CNA's I'm working with, but, it sure is frustrating knowing how limited their scope of practice is, and this is not intended to denigrate the great care that they give. Just sign me as OVERWORKED AND TRYING TO CLONE MYSELF ON THE JOB.

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I find it very hard to believe a CNA anywhere is allowed to insert a foley. sterile procedure.... no way!

Ours cant even d/c a foley.

Having said this, I did work in a ER that allowed techs to do lots of things. Start IV's, straight cath, EKGs and more. But to be a tech you had to be attending nursing school. The idea was you would know more when you started working there?!?

I guess it depends on the facility

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