Certified Nursing Assistant
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) play a key role in many facilities by providing personal care and keeping their supervising nurses up to date on vital information about their patients’ conditions. A CNA is an entry-level member of a patient’s healthcare team, performing important patient- centered tasks under the supervision of licensed nursing staff. Although a CNA is not a nurse, they work very closely with nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers.
About Certified Nursing Assistants
CNAs ensure the well-being of their patients by performing a variety of tasks that help with daily living activities. Because CNAs typically spend more time with patients than nurses or doctors, they understand their behaviors and health statuses.
They get to know each patient, their typical behaviors, and their general state of health and are often the first to notice physical or emotional changes. Whether identifying decreased mobility, increased pain, or memory issues, CNAs play important roles in the early detection of symptoms and may identify issues that other healthcare personnel do not.
Key Tasks
- Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising
- Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination
- Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers
- Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities
Key Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- Attention to Detail
Education & Certifications
- High school diploma or GED
- Pass the CNA state exam
Local College/ University Programs
- Lackawanna College
- Allied Services
Industry Sector Employers
- Regional Hospital of Scranton
- Moses Taylor Hospital
- Geisinger
- Allied Services
- Mountain View Care and Rehabilitation Center
- Elan Skilled Nursing and Rehab