Compassionate Care Giving

CNA will be responsible for provide basic care to patients and help them with daily activities they might have trouble doing on their own, such as bathing and getting dressed. Working as a CNA also requires strength for physical tasks and the desire to help sometimes frail, lonely patients and others struggling with disease and illness. Helping patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) CNAs are primarily responsible for helping patients with ADLs, such as bathing, grooming, toileting, eating, and moving. Serving meals and helping patients eat Ensuring that patients receive appropriate nutrition can include shopping for groceries, preparing meals, and, depending on the circumstances, assisting with eating. Lifting and moving patients CNAs must be able to safely move patients into beds and wheelchairs and onto exam tables when they can’t do so on their own. For bedridden patients, this may include turning or repositioning patients for comfort and prevention of bedsores. Taking vital signs CNAs often measure a patient’s blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, and then record their findings and report them to a supervisor to determine whether action is necessary. Maintaining a clean and sanitized environment Depending on daily needs, this can involve changing soiled sheets, cleaning up spills, changing bedpans, setting up equipment, and reducing the spread of germs and infection in the patient’s living area. Facilitating patient care The daily direct contact you have with a patient also gives you the opportunity to identify bruises, blood in urine, and other injuries and report them to medical staff who can initiate care. Communicating with the healthcare team and family members the CNA serves as a channel between patients and nurses, and physicians so that all patient issues are communicated. The CNA's interactions and conversations may also include family members involved in your patient’s care. Providing companionship and friendship Since you’ll spend so much time with a patient, you’ll often have to provide compassion and comfort to those who are lonely, frustrated, or scared.