CNA Skills Needed for the Job

Certified nurse's assistants or aides (CNAs) work under the direction of an LPN, a registered nurse or a medical doctor. The CNA gives patients personal care, especially if they are mentally or physically ill or injured. Salary.com estimates the average CNA income in the US at around $26,630 per annum.

CNA Skills - Assistance

As a CNA you will need to develop assistance skills so you can help special patients, including those with memory loss, confusion or trouble accepting certain features of their care. You’ll need to learn how to get the patient sit up and how to transfer the patient from the bed to a chair. He must also be able to assist the patient with walking.

Assisting patients with showering or bathing requires special skill, as patients must be positioned in a certain way to avoid strain or injury. The CNA must also acquire the skill of helping incontinent patients who may or may not use a catheter. This includes assisting patients who use a bedpan. CNAs must also skilled at using disposable or electric razors with patients who cannot do it on their own.

CNA Skills – Procedure

CNAs must have thorough knowledge of basic medical procedures. This includes patient care and charting. It also includes oral care, and taking and recording patients’ temperatures. You may have to weigh the patient and take his or her blood pressure. You’ll need to understand how to do range-of-motion exercise with the patient. Another CNA procedure involves measuring and recording eating, drinking and elimination. You’ll also need to understand the procedure to follow when recording and reporting patient changes.

CNA Skills – Safety
 
You will be required to use universal precautions for patient (and personal) safety and protection. You must become skilled at hand washing and the use of gloves when handling your patients. You’ll need to know the correct mechanics of the body, particularly when transferring a patient. General safety is also about keeping the patient's room or living quarters tidy. You must be able to follow all fire, disaster, accident prevention and safety procedures. You must also report any accidents or incidents the patient experiences.