Certified Home Health Aide
Certified Nursing Aides (CNA) were previously referred to as nursing aides (females) or orderlies (males). CNAs provide basic patient care under the direct supervision of the nurses responsible for providing direct patient care. CNAs may spend more time with patients than anyone else on the home health or hospice care teams. For this reason, they can easily form lasting connections with patients.
CNAs are most often employed by extended-care facilities, hospitals, hospice, home health, and by individuals who want extra help when they are in the health care facility or in their own home. When working in an individual's home, as is common in hospice and home health care settings, there are often additional duties, such as cooking, shopping, or light house cleaning.
Duties & Responsibilities of CNA's
Take vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate).
- Provide direct patient care such as assisting with bathing, eating, dressing, and walking patients.
- Turn and reposition bedridden patients to prevent breakdown of their skin.
- Change bed linens.
- Record amount of oral intake and measure urinary output.
- Collect specimens for tests.
- Supply and empty bed pans.
- Interact with patients and family.
- Transport patients and equipment as needed.
- Keep a record of care given.
- Monitor patients and report any variances to normal to the nurse for further assessment.
- Follow infectious disease precautions to prevent the spread of organisms.
Personal Qualities
CNAs spend much of their time with patients who are ill or injured, sometimes doing unpleasant work. They must be compassionate and truly interested in helping others. Other important qualities are patience, honesty, good health, and the willingness and ability to follow directions. The CNAs at Zion's Way Home Health and Hospice fit this role perfectly. For additional information regarding CNAs at Zion's Way please contact Jim, CNA Supervisor, at 435-688-0648.
