What does a nursing assistant do in the hospital?

[heyhomie]

I will be starting a nursing assistant job in the hospital and wanted some feedback from current NA's on what to expect in relation to job duties??? I originally was going for PCT but i've noticed for the most part they can perform phlebotomy and ekg but this isn't something we are taught in nursing school and I've found it challenging in finding a PCT job.

[duskyjewel]

I worked as a CNA on a telemetry for for 7 months before moving to my current employer. I did Q4 vital signs, I&O, blood sugars, brief changes/toileting assistance, and bathing. I charted everything I did in the EMR, and that needed to be done in timely fashion because the nurses needed the vitals before giving most meds. I also stocked supplies, got snacks for patients from the unit fridge or ran down to the kitchen get something more substantial (night shift) if they needed it, and was generally responsible for keeping the unit environment tidy. I took trash and soiled linens the dirty utility at the end of each shift as well.

The hospital system I worked for offered free 12 lead ekg classes to any staff that wanted to attend, so maybe once you're hired you could look into that. But phlebotomy was a whole course that would have taken longer and cost more than my CNA training. I'm currently waiting to get into a LPN program, where I'll learn all that and a whole lot more fairly inexpensively.

Honestly, I only lasted 7 months for a reason. My floor was constantly understaffed which made the work load impossible for one person. Most of the nurses I worked with ranged from unhelpful to downright awful, and the other aide was just as overwhelmed as I was and so unavailable for help as well. I hope your experience is better.