Health Tips for CNAs

CNAs are mainly responsible for providing complete care to the patients. This involves helping the patients with their daily activities like brushing, bathing, dressing and undressing, grooming as well as moving. The CNAs have to also measure and record the patients' vitals like blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate and so on and report the same to the doctors or senior nurses. In fulfilling all these job responsibilities, the CNAs need to be very patient as well as keep a balance of their physical and mental health state. Here are some health tips for CNAs.

CNAs constantly have to be on their toes to help and assist the patients. This can be physically very stressful as the CNAs constantly need to move around from one place to the other. CNAs may at times also have to lift the patients which can be quite difficult. As CNAs, you may also have to help the patients move with the help of a wheelchair. If the patients are weak and unable to stand, you may have to provide support to them. While helping the patients to move or lifting the patients, the CNAs need to pay careful attention that they do not injure themselves or the patients. In case of patients who are very heavy or overweight, the CNAs can take help from their colleagues to lift the patients.

For doing all these tasks, the CNAs need to keep themselves physically fit. Thus CNAs should develop their physical strength by doing exercises on a regular basis. They can do push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups to maintain the physical strength of their body. Doing these kind of exercises will help the CNAs in building muscle strength and be physically strong. Regular weight training and weight lifting exercises will also help the CNAs develop a lot of strength. CNAs can also go for morning walks to keep themselves fresh throughout the day. This will also keep them active and help them focus on their job.

Practicing the right methods or techniques to lift the patients is also very important. It is recommended that you lift the patients by putting pressure on the knees so that you can avoid any kind of injuries to the patient or to yourself. Keeping the right posture is equally important. You need to balance your weight as well as the weight of the patient while lifting them. Thus, CNAs need to be physically fit and strong enough to handle these job responsibilities in a proper manner.

Along with physical health, CNAs also need to pay good attention to maintaining proper mental health. Attending to sick patients all the time can be psychologically very taxing and CNAs need to ensure that they are calm and in the right state of mind to take good care of the ailing patients. CNAs at times also have to go to the extent of providing mental and emotional support to the patients as well as give them hope about their recovery. For this purpose, it is essential that the CNAs themselves are in the right frame of mind and are happy and cheerful at all times. The patients may at times get angry or remove their frustration on the CNAs. CNAs, however, need to control the situation in a calm and composed manner and they cannot afford to lose their temper in any condition. For this purpose, the CNAs can practice some spiritual or mind exercises like meditation to keep them calm.

CNAs at times have to let go of their holidays and work in continuous shifts. At times, they may have to stay up nights to be by the side of the patients. This can be very tiring. Hence, CNAs should allow themselves regular breaks for proper relaxation and take care that they do not drain themselves physically or mentally.

CNAs also need to be emotionally very strong. CNAs may have to face difficult situations like death of patients. This can be very disturbing. However, CNAs need to know how to handle such difficult situations in the right manner. They cannot take things too personally or else they will end up with a bad performance on the job. They have to be prepared to face all kinds of circumstances, but not get affected by them in a negative way. The CNAs also cannot be too close to the patients as this boding may hamper them in case of the death of the patient. The CNAs need to keep away from any kinds of emotional blocks and maintain a good emotional balance at all times. If the CNAs are getting emotionally disturbed, it is best to seek professional help and get back on track at the earliest.

Thus, being in good health is one of the prime responsibilities of all the CNAs. Being emotionally, physically and mentally strong is important to ensure that the patients receive the best quality nursing care. Unless the CNAs themselves are in a good health condition, they cannot handle the health problems of the patients, and hence CNAs should always keep themselves mentally and physically fit.