What a Nursing Assistant Can Do For You

06/2/2009 - Medical Business When people think about hospitals, more often than not, the visualization formed by the mind is that of a doctor and nurse collaborating and combining their own specialized skills to treat patients. Many would make the assumption that these two figures are the most important members of any health care team. However, there are many other people working in hospitals that play important roles in the rehabilitation and treatment of clients. Frequently forgotten are the Nursing Assistants, and what they can do for patients.

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) basically provide bedside care, and help patients perform their activities of daily living, including bathing, eating, changing clothes, and other everyday tasks. This help is given under the supervision of a registered nurse. One reason that CNAs are not as recognized as their superiors is because of the education involved in becoming one. In the United States, only a minimum of 75 hours of schooling and 16 hours of clinical training are required to qualify as a Certified Nursing Aid , which is minimal compared to multi-year courses required to be a Medical Doctor or Registered Nurse. Another reason could be their lack of qualifications and limitations in the hospital. For example, they are not allowed to prescribe or administer any medications.

Despite the smaller amount of tasks able to be performed by CNAs, they are still just as important as the other members of a health care team. When a person is in the hospital, chances of recovery would be better and faster under a comfortable environment. Nursing assistants ensure a positive surrounding by attending to the basic needs of the sick and ill. For some disabled patients, who are not even able to feed or dress themselves, CNAs aide them in these everyday tasks to make them feel a little more normal, and a little less immobilized.

Nursing assistants are also able to provide bedside care when the Registered Nurses are too busy to do it themselves. These procedures would include providing bed baths, changing of bed sheets, and even giving massages, all of which help in maintaining a comfortable atmosphere for the patient. Most importantly, CNAs need to keep into constant account the state of the client being treated. They must always report any change in conditions to the supervising nurse and keep tabs on each of their patients.

It is very easy to overlook the importance of Nursing Assistants and their roles in the hospitals because of the limited skills and basic tasks they can perform. But from the point of view of a patient, nursing assistants are very appreciated because of these basic skills and tasks that they carry out. One should never take for granted the satisfaction that can be gained from having their bed sheets replaced with fresh linens, or being given a refreshing bath when they are unable to do so themselves. Nursing assistants provide patients with the comfort needed for peaceful relaxation and successful recoveries. Just imagine staying in a hospital without Nursing Assistants.