What do your CNAs do ?

[poppy101]

Hi everyone. First time poster. I just wanted to ask what do your CNAs do?

I work on a floor where they do the the norm, such as beds, baths, cleaning patients,ice,drinks,etc. But they also do all the vitals, blood sugars, I/O's and they chart all in the computer. The reason I ask is that when we have PRN CNAs on the floor they all say each floor is different on what they let there CNAs do. So, what does your floors CNAs do?

Poppy

[Pat_Pat RN]

Nothing, we don't have CNA's....

[catshowlady]

On the floor where I am an RN, our CNA's hold the title of "nurse tech". They do all that you mentioned, plus they can place & D/C foleys, D/C IV's, D/C NG's, do ET & trach suctioning (with an in-line Ballard setup), and colostomy care. Some will clear IV pumps for the RN, too. I believe they also can do dressing changes, but I usually do my own (being the anal ICU nurse I am - plus these gals have enough on their plate). One night-shift NT I used to work with would also look up my labs for me. :)

On the floor where I used to tech, PCA's did basic care - vitals, baths, accucheck's, I/O's. PCT's used to be allowed to place & d/c foleys, d/c IV's, d/c NG's, and do sterile dressings such as chest tubes & wet-to-dry drsgs. We were also telemetry-trained, and we traveled with pt's to other departments for testing to watch the monitor. At one time, we did the am blood draws. We weren't supposed to suction (but I would, if the pt needed it & I couldn't find a nurse or RT, again, with an in-line ballard setup). Could also prime an IV line (which was basically useless as the RN had to pull the tubing & fluid from the pyxis, and connect it). That particular hospital no longer allows PCT's to pull IV's or NG's, and I believe since I left there are other things they are no longer allowed to do anymore.

It does depend on your floor. Where I used to tech, we were pretty much the most well-rounded techs in the hospital. We had a lot of responsibility, but it was a good group. Almost every one of us was in NS while we worked. When we got floated, nurses on other floors would be surprised that we had done a routine (for us) dressing change or some such.

[graceofone]

Our techs do vitals, FSBS, and if we are really lucky... a few baths. They can discontinue IVs and Foleys and start IVs. They do not do I&Os (I would probably die of a heart attack if I saw a full Foley bag emptied by a tech) or touch IV pumps. I work on an oncology/med-surg unit.

[SweetRevelation]

Currently, I work in LTC and our CNAs do personal care, baths, ostomy care, general help with ADL's, I&O, and feeding. They're not permitted to do finger sticks or any other care that's considered 'invasive'. They can do minor dressing changes, if supervised by a nurse, though.

[rockytopRN2b]

It really depends. When I worked float pool, each floor was different, and even some of the nurses on the same floor would vary in what they would allow to be delegated. For instance, most RN's would ask for I&O's to be charted during the last round of vitals, and for IV pumps to be cleared at the time. Others preferred to do I&O's themselves and some did not want a CNA touching their IV for any reason.

Typically, our CNA's do ADL's, baths, pass trays, feed pts, make beds, help with toileting, perineal care, wound care, grooming, ambulation, vitals, and I&O's. CNA's in the ED and Rehab have additional duties like drawing blood, etc.

In general terms, all our CNA's are called nurse techs, but the uncertified nursing student techs tend to have more leeway with what is allowed. These can perform any nursing duty that has been checked off during clinicals as long as it is under the supervision of an RN.

[NrsheartTS]

I work on a vent/trach unit and our CNAs do baths, weights, vital signs, feeding, and I & Os. We also have a hospitality aide that helps with feedings, passes ice, and makes beds. When we do not have a hospitality aide for the day then the CNAs pick up her duties.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I work in ICU.

Our CNA's assist with turning and cleaning patients, but only with the nurse to assist. CNA's assist with pushing the stretcher or IV pole on patient transports. They stay very busy stocking our bedside carts and keeping us supplied.

ICU patients in my unit generally don't need feeding or trays passed as they are npo or are tube fed.

CNA's never take care of a patient alone. They work to truly assist the nurse.

Where I work, there is a nursing school nearby and all of our aides have been nursing students interested in ICU nursing.

[Nurse Salt]

Who is this CNA person you speak of...? :wink2:

Never had one that did anything... Wouldn't even know what to do with one if I had one!!!

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Our CNAs assist with routine vitals, assist patients with toileting, transfers, ADLs, etc.

[loriangel14, RN]

Who is this CNA person you speak of...? :wink2:

Never had one that did anything... Wouldn't even know what to do with one if I had one!!!

I wouldn't know what to do with one either. If I had one that did all the things listed above I would not have much to do myself.:)

[CathyLew]

Our MSP CNA's do not do VS. They don't do Accuchecks, and they only chart in the CNA book. Not in the regular patient chart. The CNA book tells the % of diet (which is redundant, since the Dietary staff put that on the I&O sheet in the room) how they transer, etc. And one of the RN's has to sign the book each shift.

The CNA's do baths, toileting. They don't usually do colostomy care or even empty foleys. They feed patients, unless the pt is a choking risk. They will apply non medicated lotions and powders with the patients bath. But even things like calamine lotion or any medicated lotion, has to be applied by a nurse.

I really don't think we utilize our CNA's at all! They could do so much more.