3 answers
Sandi
Student
Gulfport, Mississippi
2
Questions
Updated
952 views
CNA Informational Interview
Hello, my name Sandi. I'm in the process of obtaining my CNA certification, and I was wondering if someone would take time to contact me to answer a few of my questions for my informational interview?
Sincerely,
Sandi
3 answers
Robyn Weilbaker
Nurse, Nurse practitioner
4
Answers
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Updated
Robyn’s Answer
1.) What's it like being a CNA?
It is a rewarding and fulfilling job taking care of folks who need your help! It’s fast paced at times, there’s a lot to do to get people ready for dinner or bed if you’re in a nursing home, or answering call lights on demand between normal duties. But here’s the trick - you need a good team so you can work together and help each other out. You can get dirty helping empty bed pans or cleaning someone up after an accident. You also can help feed people who need assistance while having a chat over their meal. It’s such a range. You will never be bored. You will hear the best stories from all walks of life! You will learn. Everyday.
2.) What are your job duties as a CNA?
Taking vital signs, making beds, shower assistance, turning people who are bed ridden on a schedule, feeding or helping feed those who require assistance, serving meals, helping your team mates or nurses for various duties, getting people up and dressed for the day or down for the night to sleep. Talking to people to keep them company or calm them if anxious. Reorienting a confused patient. This is by no means exhaustive and certainly depends on what setting you work in.
3.) Are there any tips you can give me before I move on to becoming a CNA?
Be a good team player! Help each other out. If you plan to go on the nursing, ask your nurses questions and learn as you go. Sometime, no matter how busy you are, you need to stop and listen to your patients because they have a lot of wisdom to share. Above all be kind and patient. After all, this is someone’s sister/brother, mother/father, aunt/uncle, grandma/pa. Think how you love and would want your family treated. I see a lot of task oriented people who forget the human element.
Otherwise, just go and be awesome and make someone’s day with your help!!!
It is a rewarding and fulfilling job taking care of folks who need your help! It’s fast paced at times, there’s a lot to do to get people ready for dinner or bed if you’re in a nursing home, or answering call lights on demand between normal duties. But here’s the trick - you need a good team so you can work together and help each other out. You can get dirty helping empty bed pans or cleaning someone up after an accident. You also can help feed people who need assistance while having a chat over their meal. It’s such a range. You will never be bored. You will hear the best stories from all walks of life! You will learn. Everyday.
2.) What are your job duties as a CNA?
Taking vital signs, making beds, shower assistance, turning people who are bed ridden on a schedule, feeding or helping feed those who require assistance, serving meals, helping your team mates or nurses for various duties, getting people up and dressed for the day or down for the night to sleep. Talking to people to keep them company or calm them if anxious. Reorienting a confused patient. This is by no means exhaustive and certainly depends on what setting you work in.
3.) Are there any tips you can give me before I move on to becoming a CNA?
Be a good team player! Help each other out. If you plan to go on the nursing, ask your nurses questions and learn as you go. Sometime, no matter how busy you are, you need to stop and listen to your patients because they have a lot of wisdom to share. Above all be kind and patient. After all, this is someone’s sister/brother, mother/father, aunt/uncle, grandma/pa. Think how you love and would want your family treated. I see a lot of task oriented people who forget the human element.
Otherwise, just go and be awesome and make someone’s day with your help!!!
Thank you so much for answering me again, and answering those questions. I'll use your advice for the future.
Sandi
Robyn Weilbaker
Nurse, Nurse practitioner
4
Answers
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Updated
Robyn’s Answer
Sandi, congratulations on your goal to become a CNA. Please let me know what your questions are and we can try to answer them!
Hi, thank you for responding to me. I only have three questions if you want to answer them.
1.) What's it like being a CNA?
2.) What are your job duties as a CNA?
3.) Are there any tips you can give me before I move on to becoming a CNA?
Sandi
Hi Sandi! Please edit your question and include the questions you mentioned above ^. That way, other Professionals can also see what you would like to know! Thanks in advance.
Alexandra Carpenter, Admin
Anna Silva
Nursing assistant & Nursing Student
2
Answers
San Leandro, California
Updated
Anna’s Answer
Hi Sandi!
Congrats on becoming a CNA!
1) I have been a CNA for three years; I am currently a PCA (patient care assistant, another term used for CNA) while in nursing school. Being a CNA can be challenging; however, it is so rewarding. It's a great experience, especially if you are looking into becoming a nurse. Depending on what setting you want to work in, it will most likely be fast pace. I have worked in a skilled nursing facility, hospital, and home care. SNFs and hospitals are pretty fast-paced, while home care is more on the slower end, depending on the clients. Being a CNA definitely takes patience; sometimes, you will be put into difficult situations where some patients and some co-workers aren't nice. My advice is if things get tough, take a step back and take a time-out for yourself and the patient. Don't ever hesitate to ask for help! Teamwork and communication are essential in the healthcare field. If your coworkers are not willing to help or give you attitude when being asked for help, my advice would be to either find a different shift with different co-workers or to move to a different job.
2) Each facility is different when it comes to CNA duties. Sometimes working in a hospital setting, you might have more duties due to them having more resources.
SNF: Assist residents with their ADLs, bathe, transfers (using mechanical devices, or regular transfers), vital signs, feeding, cleaning/changing soiled briefs and linens, ambulating, reorienting residents, filing nails, dressing residents, being the nurse's eyes in regards of any orientation and skin changes , documentation, I/Os, peri care, foley catheter care, getting residents ready before they leave if they have outside appointments.
Hospital: the same duties that I listed as working in a SNF, sometimes depending on the patient you might be taking vital signs more often such as every 4 hrs, some hospitals allow you to do bladder scanning and EKGs (which you would be trained on how to do), you help with admitting and discharging patients, you do lab runs (where you take down specimens the nurse has collected to the lab), some patients might be required to be turned every 2 hours.
3) This advice is more for after you become CNA and while searching for jobs or while working. Look for a workplace where your coworkers treat you respectfully and are willing to help. Teamwork is everything when working in healthcare and as a CNA. Find a place where you will be happy to work. Some days you might dread going to work but working in a place where you know your coworkers have your back and are amazing makes all the difference in the world. I have worked in a setting where some of the CNAs would hide so they wouldn't get asked to help out, give attitude when asked for help, or weren't willing to help at all. If you ever come upon facilities with these types of workers do not be afraid to leave and find another job. I currently work in a setting where the nurses and other PCAs are so nice and willing to help each other out, and this makes me love my job so much more!
I hope this helps! And again congrats on becoming a CNA!
Congrats on becoming a CNA!
1) I have been a CNA for three years; I am currently a PCA (patient care assistant, another term used for CNA) while in nursing school. Being a CNA can be challenging; however, it is so rewarding. It's a great experience, especially if you are looking into becoming a nurse. Depending on what setting you want to work in, it will most likely be fast pace. I have worked in a skilled nursing facility, hospital, and home care. SNFs and hospitals are pretty fast-paced, while home care is more on the slower end, depending on the clients. Being a CNA definitely takes patience; sometimes, you will be put into difficult situations where some patients and some co-workers aren't nice. My advice is if things get tough, take a step back and take a time-out for yourself and the patient. Don't ever hesitate to ask for help! Teamwork and communication are essential in the healthcare field. If your coworkers are not willing to help or give you attitude when being asked for help, my advice would be to either find a different shift with different co-workers or to move to a different job.
2) Each facility is different when it comes to CNA duties. Sometimes working in a hospital setting, you might have more duties due to them having more resources.
SNF: Assist residents with their ADLs, bathe, transfers (using mechanical devices, or regular transfers), vital signs, feeding, cleaning/changing soiled briefs and linens, ambulating, reorienting residents, filing nails, dressing residents, being the nurse's eyes in regards of any orientation and skin changes , documentation, I/Os, peri care, foley catheter care, getting residents ready before they leave if they have outside appointments.
Hospital: the same duties that I listed as working in a SNF, sometimes depending on the patient you might be taking vital signs more often such as every 4 hrs, some hospitals allow you to do bladder scanning and EKGs (which you would be trained on how to do), you help with admitting and discharging patients, you do lab runs (where you take down specimens the nurse has collected to the lab), some patients might be required to be turned every 2 hours.
3) This advice is more for after you become CNA and while searching for jobs or while working. Look for a workplace where your coworkers treat you respectfully and are willing to help. Teamwork is everything when working in healthcare and as a CNA. Find a place where you will be happy to work. Some days you might dread going to work but working in a place where you know your coworkers have your back and are amazing makes all the difference in the world. I have worked in a setting where some of the CNAs would hide so they wouldn't get asked to help out, give attitude when asked for help, or weren't willing to help at all. If you ever come upon facilities with these types of workers do not be afraid to leave and find another job. I currently work in a setting where the nurses and other PCAs are so nice and willing to help each other out, and this makes me love my job so much more!
I hope this helps! And again congrats on becoming a CNA!
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