CNAs working in hospitals are usually allotted a specific unit to work where they will tend to spend most of their time. CNAs may also be requested to replace their coworker in conditions where the CNA is well aware of the job duties and responsibilities on that specific floor of the hospital. CNAs may be assigned duties to be performed in emergency rooms or in intensive care units. They may also be required to work in medical-surgical hospital units. The tasks that are to be performed may get hectic at times but the CNAs need to deal with the situation in a proper manner. The CNAs may also work on a rotation basis on different floors so as to get familiarized with the different types of settings.
There are various hospital departments assigned to CNAs. Emergency units and intensive care units are examples of hospital departments where the CNAs may work. CNAs can also work in other hospital departments where the patients' conditions are not very critical. The patients in these hospital departments may only be admitted in the hospital due to a fracture or some kind of bacterial infection or other minor diseases. In such cases, the duties of the CNAs will be restricted to providing basic care to these patients.
CNAs work under the guidance and supervision of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN). A proper customized health care plan is made for individual patients and the CNAs need to follow that. The individualized plan provides all the details about the patient such as the cause for admission to the hospital, frequency of measuring and recording the patient's vitals, and any other care and assistance that the patient may require. All this information regarding the care that is provided to the patient needs to be carefully documented and presented to the senior nurse or the doctor. Based on this important information, the doctor can decide on the further course of action as regards the patient's treatment so that they can get well soon.
CNAs may also work in labor units or postpartum floors. They need to provide support to the female patients and take good care of them after they deliver the baby. In case the CNAs are working in intensive care units, they need to help the Registered Nurses (RNs) with the necessary medical procedures for treating the patients who are in a critical condition. The patients may be of different age groups ranging from small children to elderly persons. In the intensive care units, the patients are on ventilators as well as heart and oxygen monitors. The CNAs need to ensure that they provide all the necessary care to these patients who are acutely ill.
CNAs are given details about the room number of the patients they have to take care of. They are also told about the senior Registered Nurse (RN) whom they have to report to. The CNAs are usually on rounds in a hospital setting and they need to submit the patient's report at the end of their round to the next nurse aide on duty. This gives direction to the nursing aide for better care of the patients. The CNAs also need to check if there are any special needs of the patients.
In case of a hospital setting, the patients are immediately discharged once their health condition becomes stable. This is not true for long term care centers. CNAs in hospital settings are usually responsible for duties like measuring and recording the patients' vitals, answering call bells, helping the patients do their daily tasks like feeding, bathing, dressing, moving the patients and so on. CNAs also need to maintain hygiene while on duty to avoid spreading of infection. The patients are highly dependent on the CNAs for their day-to-day tasks. CNAs in hospitals also need to give emotional support to the patients to help them recover at a faster rate.
CNAs also need to help and assist the patients while they are getting discharged. CNAs help the patients gather all their belongings. The patient is provided a wheelchair during discharge, if needed. CNAs also help the patients with the necessary paperwork during their discharge. CNAs in hospitals should take care of the patients, right from the time they are admitted till they successfully recover and are discharged.
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