How Do CNAs Benefit the Nursing Profession? Certified Nursing Assistants are individuals that have an interest in the health care profession, however have not earned their nursing degree. Many CNAs are in the process of attending school and earning their degree, however some simply prefer the job of assisting nurses and working with the patients. CNA’s Duties - CNAs can take the temperature of a patient and record the information. They will also take blood pressure readings and record the patients pulse. - CNAs often tend to the hospitalized patient’s hygiene needs. Helping them to and from the shower, or providing bed baths to patients that are unable to shower. - They will check on the patient, and report back to the nurse any needs or concerns the patient may have. When a patient calls for assistance, it is most often the CNA that responds, and calls for the attending nurse if necessary. CNAs also perform the less that desirable jobs, such as changing bed pans and cleaning up after patients, there has to be a certain amount of desire to help others and to look beyond the conditions that can sometimes accompany them. Related: Latest Medical Breakthroughs Nurses Opinion(s) To sum it up, 8 out of 10 nurses believe certified nursing assistants are an asset to the patients, and nurses that care for them. Most nurses say that they always want to respond to a patient’s call; however 80% of the time, the call does not require the assistance of a registered nurse. With a CNA paired to a nurse during a shift, they can assist and respond to the patients’ needs until it requires the nurse. This permits nurses to make better use of their time, thus benefiting the patient and the hospital itself. The nurses that did not think certified nurses were of particular benefit, sited that it takes time to explain what they should do, and it seemed easier to do it yourself. Another concern was they may make a mistake that would ultimately come back to the registered nurse. My personal opinion on this matter is that some people, such as me, prefer to be in control, and may worry about handing responsibilities off to someone else, regardless of their capabilities. Certified nurses have adequate training, and once acclimated to
working with a particular nurse, the routine becomes familiar, and the trust prevails so duties can be turned over without hesitation. Most nurses value the certified nursing assistants that work with them, and trust their opinion and judgement where the patients are concerned. Statistics The statistics are more factual, and several studies have been done to determine the effectiveness of certified nursing assistants within a hospital setting. -
In a hospital with more than 800 beds indicate CNAs benefit the registered nurses, and add to productivity increasing it by 28%. A hospital with more than 400 beds indicates similar, as the study showed productivity up 25%. It differs with smaller facilities, hospitals with fewer than 100 beds showed no difference with CNAs assisting nurses. Related:
Room - International Nurses Association
Most hospitals would agree that certified nursing assistants are a valuable part of the medical profession and very much needed in hospital settings. Since most registered nurses agree, this is most likely a position that will continue to be filled. Nursing students often fill the role of certified nursing assistants, as they have adequate training, and it offers them valuable experience by hands on training. The odds are if you ask most nurses, patients, and doctors their opinion on certified nursing assistants working in medical facilities, you would hear that they are a valuable asset and they would not want to be without them. The assistants often work more hands on with the patients, and can be an asset simply by responding quickly and offering comfort. CNAs are a very valuable part of the medical community, to which surely most nurses would agree. Related:
List of nursing organizations
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