What is a CNA?

What To Know About Becoming a CNA in New Jersey

A CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) assists patients in their healthcare needs, supervised by a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse.

The nursing assistants may work in the following facilities:

• Hospitals
• Adult day care centers
• Nursing homes
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Assisted Living facilities
• Group Homes

The nursing assistants have to be unbiased in their care regardless of age, gender and ethnicity of the patient. Vital information of the patients has to be reported to their supervisor as they take care and assist the patients at regular intervals. The job of a CNA is intense, but must be carried out with deep compassion towards the patients.

Becoming a New Jersey Certified Nursing Assistant

The assistant nurse needs to be alert at all times while caring for the patient. He or she should possess good interpersonal skills and must be a good team player. There are complete training programs as well as on job training options for people interested in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. The New Jersey state Board of Nursing requires all applicants to attend a state approved training consisting of 90 total hours between classroom and clinical practice hours.

The nursing industry and CNAs
The shortage of nursing professionals in the healthcare industry led to the development of CNA as a profession. In institutions that provide quality care for elderly, the need for certified nursing assistants is on a rise.

Duties and Responsibilities
Certified Nursing Assistants have a number of duties and responsibilities while working with patients.

Some of the major responsibilities of a CNA are:

• Taking note of factors including the temperature, blood pressure, pulse, amounts of breaths per minute and the likes
• Ensuring that the patient as well as the immediate surroundings are hygienic
• The CNA should help the patient in bathing and showering
• The CNA should remember to wear gloves at all times to ensure complete sanitation
• For patients who are bedridden, it is the duty of the nursing assistants to help them and reposition them every two hours to avoid bed sores and skin breakdown
• They should also help the patient in various motion exercises to help move the joints and limbs, facilitating proper circulation
• Cleaning and sanitation of patient rooms, patient areas, bathrooms and examination rooms
• Reporting observations of patient complaints, behavior or any physical symptoms
• Taking care of dressings, bandages, slings as per the direction of the physician or registered nurse

The nursing assistants work hard to make the patients and their families comfortable. Being a CNA is not a glamorous job, but people who are empathetic, and interested in helping patients recover and who genuinely care about the patients' well being are suitable for this profession.