Learning the Basic Skills to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant
A CNA or a Certified Nursing Assistant works directly under supervision of a nurse or a licensed practical nurse. In order to become a certified nursing assistant, you should undergo comprehensive training.
Basically, there are two major methods a student can learn CNA elementary skills. First, the student can finish CNA training through a technical or a vocational school. Upon completion, you should take and successfully pass the exam before you become a CNA.
A student can also learn CNA skills as part of the elementary class in nursing programs. Upon completion of these elementary classes, you can contact the state department of health and ask about any options to become a CNA.
Some of the elementary skills a CNA should learn prior to patient care include hygiene, hospital services and basic medical services. When these skills are fully understood, you can start learning patient care. This would include bathing a patient, providing basic care, feeding and first aid skills.
As you escalate your level of proficiency, advanced CNA skills should be learned such as taking pulse rate, temperature etc. This is not limited to taking the data but you should also use further judgment when taking a certain vital sign. For instance, you should wait for at least half an hour after a patient drink any kind of liquid before you take his body temperature to get a precise data.
Safety is a must when learning CNA skills. This would include safety for patients such as the safest way to move a patient from the bed to the wheelchair. Aside from safety, a CNA should also learn how to help the patients do some morning exercises according to their health situation.
Communication is also important as a certified nursing assistant. Effective communication should be employed for you to understand the patient. Respect for the patient's wishes and right to privacy is also important.
While CNA training programs vary from state to state, and the task of CNAs can also differ significantly from one health care facility to another, there are numerous basic skills that form the core of every CNA required knowledge base. Certified Nursing Assistants or CNAs are also responsible for the emotional support of patients who are in need of health care since they spend a bigger amount of time with patients than top medical professionals.
The training also involves instruction in significant aspects of patient care such as proper way to move patients. First aid training as well as clinical services such as sample collection should also be learned. CNAs could also benefit from basic physical therapy and help patients in performing simple exercises to enhance range of motion.
There are also numerous alternatives for those who are interested in learning to become a CNA, varying from college training to online forums. Every training program has their certain benefits and downsides. College instruction at a technical or a vocational school is rewarding due to the manual nature of the training. Those who take CNA courses in the college setting have the benefits of working closely with the instructors and peers, and have greater access to clinical settings.
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