What Does a CNA Do in a Hospital?

A CNA or Certified Nursing Assistant works closely with patients and provides them with basic, immediate care. The role of a CNA is not one to be taken lightly as they are usually the ones who spend the most time with the patients, apart from the nurses themselves. Working as a CNA in a hospital requires a certain fondness for people and a willingness to help those in need. Typically, CNAs should be compassionate, caring, and empathetic people who are capable of building true emotional connections with their patients.

Here are some roles and duties of a CNA at a hospital setting:

1. Taking vital signs. These include checking temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate. CNAs will need to document these numbers and alert the nurse or doctor if something seems amiss.
2. Physically attend to patients, which includes turning them on their sides in bed, helping them get up and walk to the lavatory, bathing and dressing them, and generally helping them to move around. The CNA will also help patients shave, trim their nails, and brush their teeth if they are physically incapable to do so themselves.
3. Keeping patients’ rooms clean and orderly. CNAs will regularly be in charge of changing linens and keeping their surroundings tidy. Unlike hotel staff, CNAs provide more than your regular turndown service. Cleaning patients’ rooms also allow them to ask patients about how they are doing and observe them for any unusual behaviors. Some people may be hesitant to complain to their doctor, hence having a friendly face to chat with might help them voice out their concerns more easily.
4. Bringing patients their meals. Some patients might need to have their food and drink intakes monitored. It is usually the CNA’s job to take note of how much or how little their patient takes in. Consequently, it’s also the CNA’s duty to monitor the patient’s urine or fecal output, if needed.
5. Answering patients’ calls. Sometimes, a patient will just need help sitting up or opening their pack of pudding. A CNA will provide these small conveniences for them. Technical expertise and skills are critical to being a CNA, but a warm human touch is sometimes all that a patient needs.
6. Assist with certain medical procedures. CNAs can also be trained to help doctors and nurses with physical tasks that are tricky to perform alone. These tasks can include setting up medical equipment or preparing the patient for a diagnostic exam.
7. Dressing patients’ wounds. As part of their grooming, CNAs also change patients’ dressings and make sure that their wounds are clean every day.

Due to the nature of their work, CNAs usually end up forming a bond with their patients. They will come to know their usual behaviors and moods. Thus, they might be the first ones to notice any deviations before the patient even complains about any symptoms. Having competent, professional CNAs within the healthcare team helps all team members do their duties more efficiently. But most importantly, a compassionate CNA will help to boost the patients’ trust in the system.

 

For further information about becoming a CNA, reach us at:

CNA TRAINING INSTITUTE,INC
140 Eldridge Road # G, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (346) 812 - 0147
Phone: (281) 201 - 2678
https://cnatraininginstitute.org/

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Is CNA A Good Career Choice?

A career as a certified nursing assistant or CNA can be a stepping stone to pursue any job in the healthcare industry. The job can lead to various opportunities and be demanding, especially when you are only starting.

Here are some of the advantages of choosing this career option:

1. It takes a short time to complete the training, which you can also do online. You can check this step-by-step guide to get an idea about what to expect once you have signed up. The website offers information regarding the requirements and duration of the program. Usually, programs to finish CNA takes a month or up to 12 weeks.

2. Since it only takes a short time to finish training, you can start working sooner. This will give you the advantage of gaining hands-on experience in various medical positions.
3. This is best suited to people who want to work in the medical field but lack the finances to finish a longer course. Being a CNA can open your eyes to the industry and the different positions you can later pursue once you have saved up to enroll in a medical course.
4. You will never run out of job opportunities you can pursue since the healthcare industry is always seeking healthcare professionals. Finishing a CNA program will give you the advantage of applying to related jobs and later on explore other opportunities after you have gained experience in the field.
5. It is a flexible career, which you can use to pursue other professional and educational opportunities. You may, later on, want to become a healthcare administrator or a registered nurse.
6. This kind of career will give you valuable skills in the healthcare field. You will learn the basic skills, including safely transferring patients from their wheelchair to bed and vice versa, how to help your patients eat, take people’s pulses properly or give them their needed comfort and health care. It also enhances your empathy to your patients and develops good communication skills to help them cope with their sicknesses.

Online Training Options

While there are online courses you can take to pursue CNA, you must first check with your state the accepted training programs for this kind of career. Some states allow complete online training, but some require on-the-job training or training at nursing homes, hospitals, community colleges, or high schools. Online courses to become a CNA is affordable and flexible. Signing up is easy and once done, you can proceed with the training and venture the many opportunities that will open up for you in the healthcare industry.

With the current health pandemic that the whole world is facing, it is the best time to enter the healthcare profession. This will not only allow you to earn but also help and lend a hand in this time of need.

 

For further information about becoming a CNA, reach us at:

CNA TRAINING INSTITUTE,INC
140 Eldridge Road # G, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (346) 908-0942
https://cnatraininginstitute.org/

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How Do I Study for CNA Skills Test?

When you aim to be a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), you will have to pass the CNA exam. It’s divided into 2 parts, which are written examination and skills test. With the written test, you’ll be tasked to answer a question paper within a given time. It’s usually 60 questions for 90 minutes. As for the skills test, an evaluator will ask you to show five duties or procedures within 30 minutes. There’s no knowing in advance as to what they will assign to you so this part of the test is what most examinees are nervous about. Preparation is everything. It’s the best way to get rid of your doubts and conquer the day. So, how do you ace the CNA exam?

 

Be familiar with the skills

As mentioned above, there will be 30 skills that you will need to get familiar with. Understanding their importance and practical use is of great help with memorizing them. We’ve listed some of it below to give you an insight:

 

 

• Handwashing
• Blood Pressure Measuring
• Body Temperature Monitoring
• Pulse Measuring and Recording
• Respiration Measuring and Recording
• Urinary Bag Output Measuring
• Assisting to Ambulate using Transfer Belt
• Feeding Assistance
• Mouth Care
• Mouth Care with Dentures
• Foot Care
• Perineal Care for Male and Female
• Hand and Nail Care
• Providing of Catheter Care
• Bedpan Use Assistance
• PPE Handling
• Transferring to a Wheel Chair
• PROM for knee and ankle
• PROM for one shoulder
• Side positioning
• Applying elastic support stockings
• Indirect Care
• Changing of Occupied Bed

These are just the skills and each one has its step-by-step procedures that you need to demonstrate to your evaluator. Consolidated Nurse Aide Training center provides an in-depth explanation and discussion about these skills. They also have practice tests that will help you absorb the CNA skills by heart.

Gather all your resources and review

CNA training courses provide organized resources. It’s educational and it’s constructed in a way that it’s easy to study and absorb. They provide all the things you need to know and do to pass your CNA exam. Some courses even offer video tutorials to show you how the skills are best performed. You can also opt to make your creative way of learning and memorizing the steps.

Know your area

During a job interview, it’s always best to know your interviewer as part of your preparation. It’s the same for the CNA skills test. You have to know your state and its testing methods. Online courses or training centers in your state will inform you about scenarios and possibilities that you’ll face when the big day comes.

Final Thoughts

One part of the requirements is to complete training in a state-approved nursing school and if you were to enroll in a state-accredited nurse aide exam center, this will bolster your preparation and there will be nothing to worry about when you take your CNA skills test.

All the information mentioned above is provided by the Consolidated Nurse Aide Training. You’re one step away from achieving your goal of becoming a CNA. Contact us to start your journey to a medical path:

 

CNA TRAINING INSTITUTE,INC
140 Eldridge Road # G, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (346) 908-0942
https://cnatraininginstitute.org/

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Where’s the Best Place to Work as a CNA?

There are many places in which a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can work. At first, experience anywhere is important to a new CNA, but other job opportunities may arrive eventually.

The usual workplaces for CNAs include local hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health aide agencies. The patients here can range from young to old, and the work hours can vary depending on the workload shared by the CNAs and nurses.

 

Here are the 3 most common job settings for a CNA.

 

Hospital

Because a hospital job is challenging, the many benefits that come with it plus the choice of work hours are perks that make this a coveted career option for CNAs. This means fiercer competition to get hired.

There’s also the potential for growth due to well-trained nurses being your mentors in the field. Compared to other workplaces, the salary in hospitals is higher, entailing job security.

It’s no wonder it’s difficult to find a hospital job in the first place. Aspiring CNAs have to regularly check the job pages on hospital websites and send a resume to human resources. It’s usually hard to get hired, though.

 

Nursing Home

A CNA often begins their career at a nursing facility. These are always in demand because of the large number of aging and disabled patients.

Of course, this place can be the first step to becoming a CNA at a hospital later on, but many learn to love working at a nursing home. It’s difficult work, requiring interaction with many patients with various health issues.

The good thing is, a nursing home job is just as secure as a hospital job, with full-time employment yielding benefits. The only downside is the stress of dealing with as many as 8 to 12 patients.

The experience, however, is unique and incomparable to any other field.

 

Home Health Aide Agency

Another popular workplace for CNAs is the home health aide agency.

Though the pay is similar to that in nursing homes, the patient ratio is less demanding, with a need to look after just one person. There’s less risk of the notorious burnout that a CNA at a hospital or nursing home must deal with.

One con with this career path is that it takes time to be allocated to the patient. While waiting, most must work at other places to keep earning.

A more taxing and emotional experience, however, is dealing with the loss of the patient. It’s unavoidable to form a connection or grow close to the person in one’s care, so losing them can be sad and even traumatic.

Each CNA workplace has pros and cons. Whether it’s working hours, stress level, salary, or emotional load, many factors play into each environment.

One will eventually be able to gauge where they’re needed and what they can offer, but ultimately, CNAs choose depending on availability. Still, it’s good to know the various career options and try to pursue a path where providing care won’t be just a job.

 

Want to become a CNA? contact us at:

CNA TRAINING INSTITUTE,INC
140 Eldridge Road # G, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (346) 908-0942
https://cnatraininginstitute.org/

 

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What Are the Qualities of a Good CNA?

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) works to provide care for patients. It’s a job that involves a lot of responsibilities, from bedside assistance to basic nursing procedures.

Though it entails supervision from a Registered Nurse (RN), much of a CNA’s work requires a mix of skills to be able to properly care for a patient. A good CNA must exhibit the following:

Passion

It’s not easy to attend to the needs of other people round the clock. Whether it’s assisting bedridden patients, serving meals, sanitizing areas, or updating patient records, the work can be tedious.

But one can stay dedicated to any task or juggle various responsibilities. It’s the passion to provide care that will build resolve in a CNA’s heart.

In turn, this will affect their work and be felt by the patients.

Patience

No pun intended, but attending to a patient requires patience. There’s a sense of compassion that a CNA must have to address the needs of those with lower levels of mobility. Eating, bathing, dressing, and undressing are relatively simple tasks that require regular assistance.

This is in addition to the complaints and uncooperative behaviors that some patients may exhibit. In such scenarios, it’s a no-no to lose patience. Instead of causing more stress, CNAs have to stay calm, level-headed, and caring.

Knowledge

A CNA must have the ability to address health-related issues. Though not at the level of an RN, becoming a CNA still requires a short course or semester of study. This includes familiarization with health charts and patient records.

CNAs are counted on to spot any health concerns. This means they should have a body of knowledge to draw from when the need arises.

From taking vital signs to preparing medical equipment and analyzing medical history — these can be useful in many situations. The knowledge can only stem from curiosity and an interest to learn as much as possible.

Communication

Since CNAs work hand-in-hand with RNs, there must be clear communication between the two for the betterment of the patients. This comes in the form of regular reports that summarize all the necessary info.

Good communication skills will help make sure that patient needs are understood and cared for. Even in interactions with patients, a good CNA can detect when there’s discomfort or when someone is going through pain. Most importantly, talking to them to know what’s going on is a vital skill.

Attention to detail

This brings us to the final quality that a CNA should have. Attending to and caring for other people requires attention to detail. This entails a combination of instinct and knowledge to determine when something is off or if action must be taken to help a patient immediately.

If a caregiver doesn’t notice when things go wrong, then patients will be in trouble. This is why a CNA must have a good eye when it comes to all patient concerns.

In short, CNAs should be passionate about providing care. They must have the patience to help others without losing their cool, and the knowledge that comes from a will to learn about patient care. They must communicate well with both patients and nurses, and have a good eye to keep things in order.

There’s no perfect CNA, but those who want to put in honest work can try their best and do a great job of it.

 

For more information about becoming a CNA, contact us at:

CNA TRAINING INSTITUTE,INC
140 Eldridge Road # G, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (346) 908-0942
https://cnatraininginstitute.org/

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Is the CNA Exam Hard?

The journey to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is fulfilling, but not without challenges. Nevertheless, it is a mission that calls others to persevere and help heal those who are in need. If you would like to understand how you can properly prepare for a CNA exam, then read on.

What is the CNA Exam?

The Certified Nursing Assistant Exam is one of the requirements to get a certification. This aims to measure one’s skill and knowledge in successfully fulfilling the role of a CNA. Passing the exam equipsan aspiring CNA in landing a job and building a career.

 

The exam is composed of two parts. The first part is a written or oral examination and the other is a practical or hands-on examination. The written exam evaluates the knowledge learned from the courses during training, while the hands-on portion aims to assess the skills through practical application.

 

To become a CNA, one must pass both portions of the exam. If a nursing assistant is only able to pass one portion, a re-take is allowed for the part of the exam that needs to be passed.

 

The Consolidated Nurse Aide Training Institute provides quality lessons and training to ensure that a nursing assistant will be able to pass both portions of the CNA exam and exhibit professional CNA skills.

Is the CNA exam hard?

With the proper training and lessons provided by the Consolidated Nurse Aid Training Institute, the CNA examination may just be an opportunity to showcase the skills and knowledge acquired during the training. The number of items for the written exam may vary from state to state. In general, it has around 70 items in total.

 

A CNA is required to demonstrate 25 skills. During the hands-on portion of the exam, an aspiring CNA will be tested in 5 randomly selected skills out of the 25. With proper training from the  Consolidated Nurse Aid Training Institute, nursing assistants will be able to learn and demonstrate all 25 skills needed to become a CNA.

What materials does the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam cover?

The CNA Exam may cover various concepts and lessons such as roles of a CNA, reporting and abbreviations, personal care skills, infection control, caring for all ages, and safety and managing behavior. The skills exam on the other hand may require a demonstration of handwashing, modified baths, providing mouth care, and positioning clients to name a few.

Tips on how to study for the exam

• Schedule your study sessions to avoid cramming – with all the information and skills a nursing assistant needs to take-in before the exam, cramming may not be the best option. Having a good study schedule that allows space both to rest and to study helps relieve the pressure from preparing for the exam.
• Have a study guide and explore other course materials – reading through different notes and having a study guide help organize your learning. The Consolidated Nurse Aid Training Institute has designed courses to better help students in learning and understanding the skills and concepts needed to become a CNA.
• Take practice exams – there are available practice exams for CNA found online to help prepare for the actual exam. After studying, a nursing assistant can take the practice exam to see what other topics and skills need to be covered further.

 

For more information about becoming a CNA, contact us at:

CNA TRAINING INSTITUTE,INC
140 Eldridge Road # G, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (346) 908-0942
https://cnatraininginstitute.org/

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Is CNA Training Difficult?

Working as a CNA is a usual stepping stone for those who’d wish to pursue nursing and practical nursing programs. Like registered nurses and licenses practical nurses, they work in hospitals, retirement homes, rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, and private homes. They sometimes even work in government institutions. But what does it take to get certified as a nursing assistant? What qualities would you need if you wanted to be a good nursing aide?

How Can I Become a CNA?

CNA jobs are entry-level jobs in the medical field, and it’s one of the fastest to achieve if you’re looking to jumpstart your medical career. Here are the steps you need to take in order to get your certification as a nursing assistant:

1. Get your GED or high school diploma – You don’t need a bachelor’s degree or anything higher than your high school education to start your medical career. You can enter the medical field as a CNA with a GED or high school diploma.
2. Complete your state-approved CNA training – You can get your CNA training from the state you’re looking to work in. Community colleges, The Red Cross, some high schools, and hospitals may offer CNA courses. Online classes are the norm for CNA courses, though some practical knowledge and assessments may be tested in person. All in all, courses take just about 1 to 4 months to complete.
3. Complete your clinical studies –After some theoretical coursework and practical assessments, you’ll need to complete some clinical work under the supervision of a medical professional. This experience mimics the actual job, and is one of the most important parts of training.
4. Get certified and listed – After your training, you’ll take a certification exam. If you pass the exam, you’d need to get listed on your state’s registry. Moving states? No worries! You can request for a transfer of certification. If you’re fortunate, your state will allow for a complete transfer without you needing to retake any further training or assessment.

What Qualities Would Make a Good CNA?

CNAs form the foundation of nursing care. While you may not be tasked with making major medical decisions, you’re going to be a front liner when it comes to caring for the wellbeing of the patients you’re assigned to. You’re always first to the scene whenever a patient needs help. Your supervising nurse trusts you to be their right-hand guy.

The following skills and qualities are important for CNAs to have:

• Communication skills– You’re going to close the gap between patients and their nurses, and being a good communicator can help you with this.
• Empathy and compassion –You’re going to take care of patients as most of them aren’t able to take care of themselves. With empathy and compassion, seemingly rude requests can easily seem justified and reasonable.
• Time management – You’re doing patient care, office work, stocking, and documentation most days, so your time management skill is going to be a great asset.
• Reliability – Patients rely on you most to make their daily living pleasant or at least bearable.
• Physical strength – Job duties as physically demanding as that of a CNA requires some physical strength. It’s not uncommon for CNAs to lift patients, carry hospital equipment, and even move beds.

 

For more information about becoming a CNA, contact our Houston office at:

CNA TRAINING INSTITUTE,INC
140 Eldridge Road # G, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (346) 908-0942
https://cnatraininginstitute.org/

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