Among the vast array of health care careers lies the area of direct care giving. These professionals are often classified as Certified Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides, Personal Care Assistants, Nurse's Aides, Patient Care Technicians and several other titles, depending on the work environment and the region.
They can be found in nursing homes, hospitals, adult day health centers, assisted living facilities, even personal homes. Wherever there is a need for personal care, Certified Nursing Assistants are the ones who, for the most part, perform the most basic needs for patients, young and old alike. They work under the supervision of a nurse. Since aides have extensive daily contact with each patient, they are key to providing vital information on the patients' conditions to the nurse.
Training programs to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can be found through the Red Cross, community college or through medical facilities themselves. Classes are generally taught by a registered nurse and the length of training depends on the program. Through a facility, classes may run for two weeks, with a month or more of hands on training to follow. The classes offer the basics of what to expect with this job, however, this is a career in which skill levels and confidence dramatically improve once the nursing assistant becomes involved in the daily routine of actual caregiving.
Due to the staffing shortage in recent years, a vast majority of nursing assistants find themselves in the challenging position of attempting to provide quality care to far to many patients at once, due to short staffing problems being experienced around the world in this field. The turnover rate for nursing assistants is phenomenal and this is due largely to the fact that this is not an easy job to begin with, however, singlehandedly doing the work of two or more people proves overwhelming to many, and they leave the field.
Nursing assistants work closely with patients and provide assistance with daily living tasks, such as:
* Dressing (according to patients' needs, ranging from minimal assistance to totally dependent)
* Bathing (bed baths, tub baths, showers)
* Feeding (serving meals, physically feeding patients who are unable to do so themselves)
* Toileting (assisting with bedpans & urinals, help to the bathroom, provide incontinent care for patients who need it)
* Vital signs (Blood pressure, pulse, etc)
* Catheter care (emptying, upkeep of Intake & Output sheets when neccessary)
* Answering call lights in a timely fashion
* Assist patients with ambulation, when needed
* Range of Motion Exercises, as prescribed by physical therapy
* Assist patients in wheelchairs (a lot of heavy lifting at times)
* Making beds and keeping the patients' rooms and belongings neat and organized
* Ensuring that bedridden patients are turned at least every two hours, to ensure comfort and to prevent bedsores
* Report all changes, physical and mental, of the patients to the nurse
* Post Mortem Care
* Safety awareness--keeping an eye on wanderers and watching for potentially dangerous situations
* Documentation--Accurate & timely daily documentation on the care provided to each patient.
* Anything else that needs to be done!
A nursing assistant's job does not end with the physical needs of the patients. This is a job which requires compassion and a desire to make people comfortable and happy. I have worked in nursing homes for many years and I can testify; although this job can be physically challenging at times, it can be just as difficult, mentally. Residents of nursing homes often suffer from depression and/or dementia, and the nursing assistant is often the closest human contact afforded to many of these people. A sense of humor helps in this field! (At work, we half jokingly say, "If we didn't laugh, we'd cry!")
As a nursing assistant, I have encountered countless situations that have stretched me to my limit. I am called upon daily to draw from my experience in order to deal with each situation that arises. I have been the target of countless (almost daily) verbal and physical attacks by confused patients. I have been punched, slapped, kicked, spit on, tripped, pushed, cornered, pinched and had my hair pulled. I have been called names I had never even heard before.
I have met many interesting people and heard many interesting stories. I have laughed with my patients and I have cried. I have been there when a person took their last breath, and fought back the tears as I remembered them in happier, healthier days. I have seen souls make peace with God and past hurts, while others left this world determined to hold on to their anger and bitterness. This job has taught me a lot about myself and the world around me. However, I will be honest, although I love my job...at times it is not easy. For a realistic look at the reality of being a nursing assistant, read "The Work Experiences of Certified Nursing Assistants In New Hampshire". You will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this article.
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