CNA Work
For some, it may come as a surprise that the daily work of a CNA is far different than what is often portrayed in popular books and movies. For others, the hard reality that CNAs face day in and day out is realized through the stories of friends and family that are actually part of the profession. No matter which side of the fence you’re on, one thing is certain: being a CNA is definitely a lot of work, and each day is filled with different tasks that must be executed with supreme professionalism and grace. The daily life of a CNA is something that newcomers to this profession should study carefully in order to make absolutely sure that this is the career path that’s right for them. This sharp honesty in describing the CNA profession does not take away the nobility of those that enter this profession. If anything, going into this profession being fully aware of the tasks that you will be expected to perform is the foundation upon which you will find success as a CNA professional.
So, what is actual CNA work like? While it is true that the daily tasks of a CNA can vary from place to place, there are a core set of activities that do not change much at all. It is this core that you will want to study and use as a basis to decide whether or not this career path is really right for you.
The biggest chunk of a CNAs day is within direct patient care. The average CNA does not only have one patient to look after, but often several patients. The numbers can vary a bit depending on the facility, but the average number is about ten. Depending on the shift, this can mean a lot of work for the CNA that must still be carried out as professionally as possible.
The schedule of most CNAs falls into a few key shifts: overnight, mornings, and evenings. CNAs generally have the choice of an 8 hour or a 12 hour shift. If you’re the type of person that would not be able to see yourself working 12 hours straight, you may want to look into CNA jobs that have shorter shifts. There’s plenty of variety out there, it’s just a matter of going into this profession as informed as possible so you know what your options really are.
As mentioned above, one of the greatest aspects of CNA work direct patient care. However, this goes far beyond merely sitting with the patient and asking them about their day. As a skilled health care assistant, you will be responsible for checking the patient’s vitals, monitoring changes, and assisting them in carrying out the most basic of life’s functions. If they need assistance with standing up, you would be required to help them get out of bed.
Viewed from another perspective, a CNAs job within direct patient care is to build a complete picture from which the nurses on staff can better take care of the patients. If there’s something that is outside the scope of your duties, it will need to be forwarded to the available pool of nurses on the shift with you. However, it is important to learn what is actually considered outside the scope of your abilities. For example, if your state does allow CNAs to draw blood in the process of taking care of their patients, then this is something that would not be forwarded to the nurse team. Instead, you would have to roll up your sleeves and take care of drawing the blood yourself without supervision or assistance.
All things considered, CNA work is fast paced and definitely demanding, but for those that find themselves called to this profession, it can definitely be rewarding as well. With the information in this guide, you should have a better insight into what CNAs actually do.