What Does a CNA Assistant Do?

A CNA Assistant, also known as a Patient Care Assistant, State Tested Nurse Aide or Nursing Assistant-Registered, is one who helps patients with routine daily activities and offers other care at the patient’s bedside—including regular nursing procedures—supervised by a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN).

In some countries such as the UK, a CNA Assistant is also known as a Nursing Assistant, Auxiliary Nurse, Patient Care Associate, Nursing Tech, Healthcare Assistant, Healthcare Support Worker or Clinical Support Worker.

Whatever the title, the tasks are the same. Although he or she may not be able to carry out some tasks due to issues of liability and legality, the CNA Assistant is a vital part of the healthcare team who usually possesses lots of skill and ability. Some locations have made attempts to standardize and confirm training, and in the USA Certified Nursing Assistant is an accreditation achieved by completing the statutory level of on the job training and academic instruction carried out by a state or federal body.

This credential allows any healthcare establishment to verify background and training and also prevent persons who have been removed from the register from working in the healthcare field.

Overview

Hospitals need the CNA assistant to give patients routine care to allow nurses to carry out other duties, as specified by each state's Nurse Practice Acts, such as preparing care plans, assessments, giving patients their medication, and preparing them for surgery. The CNA assistant must be very knowledgeable about the patient’s actual procedures, and must also know when to report on the condition of a patient to the RN or LPN. Nurses cannot spend much time with the patients due to their other responsibilities, so the CNA assistant must function as their "eyes and ears".

The average wage for CNA's is $11.14 per hour, and $23,160 annually. CNA's are usually expected to perform the following tasks:

• Respond to call signals from patients.
• Prevent bedridden patients from getting bedsores by turning and repositioning them, sometimes without assistance.
• Measure and record patients’ intake of food and liquids, their excretion and vital signs, observe their conditions and inform nursing and other professional staff of any changes.
• Assist patients to walk, exercise, and move into and out of bed.
• Apply dressings.
• Get patients ready for examination, treatment, or surgery.
• Use a stretcher or wheelchair to carry patients to different units of the hospital for treatment.
• Change linens and clean rooms.

A CNA assistant must also have full knowledge of emergency procedures and have the ability to remain calm in stressful conditions.

Educational preparation

CNA Assistant training must consist of at least fifty hours of theory and one hundred hours of clinical training under the direction of a nurse or other medical professional. You will be designated a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or State Tested Nurse Aid (STNA) once you complete the training, and your name will be entered in the state registry of nursing aides. All CNA assistants must complete 48 hours of continuing education every two years in order to maintain their certification.