The training that nursing assistants must undergo in order to be certified involves a set of different state-approved training programs. Aside from the required 50 hours of theory and 100 hours of supervised clinical training, CNA training also involves a mastery of different nursing assistant skills These skills involve helping patients with their daily activities and as well as providing bedside medical care. The ability to make quick observations about the patient’s condition and provide a detailed report to the nurse is required aside from performing basic medical procedures. It is the part of a registered nurse’s duty to do rounds and take care of different patients. It is up to the nursing assistant to tend to the needs of patients since nurses have very minimal time with them.
Since nursing assistants are the ones who stay with patients for most of the time, they are required to have proper expertise in emergency procedures. CPR and resuscitating a patient suffering from cardiac arrest are two emergency procedures included in CNA training.Nursing assistants must be knowledgeable about the basic rights of patients, especially since they are sometimes hired to stay with a patient even after he has been taken home from the hospital. Patient rights include; the right to privacy while care is being given, the right to information about medical procedures and the right to accept or refuse medical procedures.
Ambulation, a set of techniques used to help patients in walking, is included in CNA training as well. Nursing assistants are required to know how to apply antiembolic stockings. This is a device used to observe a patient with circulatory problems. Pressure is applied to the legs to prevent blood clotting.
A nursing assistant is also responsible for the patient’s oral health care, dressing, feeding, hair care, nail care, bathing, positioning and bed making, aside from being responsible for conducting basic medical procedures. It is the duty of the nursing assistant to ensure that the patient practices proper hygiene. Feeding is an important aspect that needs to be given a lot of attention. An important part of CNA training involves helping patients with range-of-motion exercises to help them exercise their joints and ensure proper circulation. Nursing assistants are required to take and record vital signs at least once a day. This will allow the doctors and nurses to keep track of the patient’s vital signs for reference and to ensure that the patient is stable.
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