Certified Nursing Assistant

CNAs are essential care providers for hospital, nursing home, and residential care patients, assisting patients with basic activities, such as moving, eating, dressing, and staying sanitary. They also support nurses and other care providers by taking vital signs, including temperature and blood pressure. While CNAs do not provide medical care, they must have enough healthcare knowledge to recognize when to call for a nurse or other clinician to assess a situation where the patient's health might be at risk.  While the CNA's job duties include a wide range of tasks, primary responsibilities include obtaining vital signs and recognizing and reporting abnormal values, answering call lights, setting up and removing medical equipment, and assisting the patient with activities of daily living. As the name implies, activities of daily living include basic activities that an individual engages in to maintain their daily health and wellbeing. The program focuses on critical thinking, decision-making and team concepts while incorporating elements of care and communication/interpersonal skills. 

The role of the CNA is to support the licensed practical nurse and the registered nurse by providing patients with basic care. They are employed primarily by hospitals, long-term care facilities, acute care facilities, and home health agencies. The pay rate ranges greatly by state and type of facility as well as by shift preference. But in whichever facility the CNA chooses to work the primary job duties remain somewhat consistent. CNA's must be compassionate, caring, empathetic, kind, and have patience with others. They are sometimes the only person a patient will see in a day, such as with home health care, and they can bring tremendous joy and happiness to this person through companionship. In some situations, the CNA may know the patient and family better than any other member of the healthcare team, and often their expertise is appreciated when discussing and determining the plan of care. The duties a Certified Nursing Assistant may perform include but not necessarily be limited to: 

· Assist the patient in ambulating to the bathroom for the elimination of bowels and/or bladder

· Provide or assist with hygiene, including showers and baths 

· Assist with ambulation

· Assist the nurse with repositioning the patient in bed and/or range of motion for the immobile patient

· Groom the patient 

· Maintain a clean patient environment

· Take vitals and recognize possible warning signs, like changes in blood pressure or indications of an infected wound

SALARY

The average Certified Nursing Assistant salary in the United States is $32,891 as of June 28, 2021, but the range typically falls between $29,976 and $36,318. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.