A CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) is a guardian angel to those he/she cares for. CNAs work in health care facilities and in the community, caring for individuals who, for one reason or another, are unable to care for themselves.

CNAs must have a knowlege of the changing medical needs of those they care for. Most, if not all, states require CNAs to be licensed, so they need to go through an approved course of study, and pass both a written and practical examination. The length of study varies from state to state. In my state, we have a three week (8 hrs per day) classroom experience, followed by five weeks of "orientation" working with residents. After the orientation, we return to the classroom for a four-day review, after which we will take the written and practical exams. The course of study covers patient care, medical terminology, nutritional needs, and strategies for dealing with various types of patients.

Duties of a CNA?

The duties of a CNA vary from one facility to another. In my facility, a CNA is assigned to a 'group' of residents he/she will be responsible for during the shift. The CNA is respsonsible for getting his/her residents out of bed, toileting, washing, dressing, and ambulating them, and transporting them to the various activities during the day. The CNAs in my facility are also responsible for administering enemas, getting vitals, applying various creams, and treatments, and assisting the treatment nurse in changing dressings on his/her residents. Some facilities have bath aides who do all the bathing of the residents, but bath aides don't exist in my facility, so, as part of the AM care of the residents, one or more baths will need to be given each day. Time is at a premium.

A CNA is the front line of defense in most long-term care facilities. They spend more time with the residents than any member of the staff, so are more apt to notice changes in the physical condition or mental status. It is important that a CNA be observant while performing his/her duties.