Certified Nursing Assistant: Everything You Need to Know

In the healthcare sector, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are important in providing direct patient care and supporting the medical team.  

Have you ever wondered what a CNA is? What does a CNA do? How do you become a CNA? Why are they so essential? In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about this vital profession. Let’s get started. 

What is a CNA? 

CNA stands for Certified Nursing Assistant. A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a trained healthcare professional who supports patients and assists nurses with their duties. CNAs work in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and private homes. Their primary responsibilities include helping patients with daily activities, monitoring their health, and ensuring comfort.

What does a CNA do? 

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) supports patients and healthcare teams in various medical settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and home care.

Here is the list of CNA responsibilities. 

1. Assisting with Daily Activities 

2. Monitoring with Vital Signs 

3. Providing Basic Care and Maintaining Cleaning 

4. Assisting in Meal 

5. Observing 

Let’s look at them in detail. 

1. Assisting with Daily Activities

• Helping patients with bathing, either providing assistance or performing the entire task if the patient is unable to do so independently. 

• Assisting with brushing teeth, cleaning dentures, or other oral hygiene tasks. Combing hair and trimming nails. 

• Applying lotion or helping with skin-related hygiene to prevent dryness or sores. 

2. Monitoring with Vital Signs

• Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are important in monitoring vital signs, which helps track a patient’s health status. 

• The vital signs typically measured by CNAs include temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and sometimes oxygen saturation. 

3. Providing Basic Care and Maintaining Cleanings: 

• CNAs assist with mobility, which may involve helping patients move around, transfer from bed to wheelchair, or reposition in bed. 

• They often provide companionship and emotional support, engaging in conversation and offering a comforting presence. 

• They help with maintaining a clean and safe environment for patients, including tidying up patient rooms and ensuring hygiene standards are met. 

4. Assisting in Meal

• They help patients by preparing the meal environment. 

• They assist patients with sipping from a cup or straw or provide thickened liquids as needed. 

• They support and encourage patients to eat and drink, promoting independence when possible. 

5. Observing 

• CNAs observe patient’s physical and emotional conditions and report any changes or concerns to nurses or doctors. 

• They can assess patient’s pain levels and report any changes or concerns. 

• They can note the patient’s sleep quality, duration, and rest period. 

Why CNAs are Essential? 

CNAs are often considered the backbone of the healthcare system for several reasons. Here is the list of reasons. 

1. Direct Patient Care 

2. Support for Medical Staff 

3. Patient Advocacy 

Let’s look at them in detail.

1. Direct Patient Care 

They provide the majority of direct, hands-on care for patients. Their interactions are often the most personal and frequent, making them crucial in ensuring patient comfort and satisfaction. 

2. Support for Medical Staff 

By taking on routine and essential tasks, CNAs allow nurses and doctors to focus on more complex medical procedures and decision-making. 

3. Patient Advocacy 

CNAs are in a unique position to observe and report on patient conditions, helping to ensure that issues are addressed promptly and that patient’s needs are met. 

How do you become a CNA? 

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) typically involves the following steps: 

1. Meet Basic Requirements 

2. Complete a State-Approved CNA Training Program 

3. Pass the CNA Certification Exam 

4. Get Listed on the State CNA Registry 

5. Apply for CNA Jobs 

Let’s look at them in detail. 

1. Meet Basic Requirements 

• Age: You must be at least 18 years old. 

• Education: A high school diploma or GED is usually required, although some programs accept individuals without it. 

• Background Check: Most states and employers require a clean criminal background check and drug screening. 

2. Complete a State-Approved CNA Training Program

Duration: CNA training programs usually take 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the schedule (full-time, part-time, or accelerated). 

Curriculum: These programs are offered by community colleges, vocational schools, healthcare facilities, or the Red Cross. They cover topics like: 

• Basic nursing skills (taking vital signs, assisting with activities of daily living) 

• Infection control 

• Patient care ethics and communication 

• Anatomy and physiology 

• Basic medical terminology 

• Nutrition and hydration

Clinical Training: Programs include clinical (hands-on) training in a healthcare setting under supervision, allowing students to practice skills on real patients. 

3. Pass the CNA Certification Exam

• After completing the training program, you must pass your state’s CNA certification exam, which consists of two parts: 

• Written Test: Multiple-choice questions covering the topics learned in training. 

• Skills Test: A practical, hands-on test where you demonstrate core CNA skills, such as taking vital signs, assisting with bathing, or repositioning a patient. 

• The exam is usually administered by a state-approved testing organization.  

4. Get Listed on the State CNA Registry 

• Once you pass the certification exam, you will be listed on your state’s Nurse Aide Registry. Being on this registry is essential for working as a CNA, as employers will check it to ensure you are certified. 

• Some states require periodic renewal of certification, which often involves completing continuing education and maintaining a clean background check. 

5. Apply for CNA Jobs 

With your certification, you can begin applying for CNA positions in various healthcare settings, such as: 

• Hospitals 

• Nursing homes 

• Assisted living facilities 

• Home healthcare agencies 

• Hospices 

Conclusion

In this article, we have reviewed What is a CNA in detail. We have also examined the abbreviation, importance, how you can become a CNA, and the working of CNAs in detail.  

We learned from this article how to become a CNA and what are the values and importance of a CNA.  

We hope that this discussion has provided much information. If you have any questions about CNA, then share them in the comment below. 

FAQs: 

Here are some FAQs about CNA: