A certified nursing assistant has an extensive role when it comes to working in the home. People may believe that RN’s (Registered Nurses) and LPN’s (Licensed Practical Nurse, ) are the only two types of nurses that should be hired for in-home care. Well, that is wrong. CNAs are highly sorted out for roles within the home health care industry. The duties of a CNA within the home are essential and fruitful. Here is the Role of a CNA in home health care.
What is in Home Health Care?
Home health care is becoming a relatively popular way to care for elder family members, rather than spending thousands of dollars for a nursing home placement. It is not only helpful for the elders to be around their known surroundings, but also easier for the family to observe and pick who is going to care for their loved one.
For nurses, this is a great alternative for anyone who is not interested in working in a nursing home or hospital. It is a learning experience of how to provide one on one care. For CNAs already in the business, they enjoy working with the family members of the elder, the companionship, and the responsibilities that already come with the job.
The different types of home care are:
- Personal care and companionship: This type of care is where a CNA will help with everyday activities; such as dressing, bathing, eating, and maintaining a clean home for the elder.
- Private duty nursing care: This is a long-term care for any elders that are suffering from a chronic illness, injury, and disabilities.
- Home health care: This is a short-term care for anyone who needs physical therapy, speech-language therapy, medical social work, etc.
A CNA’s Role and Responsibilities within the Home
The job of a CNA is to provide care and complete tasks within the home for an elderly patient who is in need of guidance to a healthy recovery or comfort. Duties provided can be from eating to taking notes for patient’s history that can be provided for their personal doctor. A CNA role needs to be handled by being compassionate, kind, hardworking, and all about the elder who needs their help.
CNA can make around $29,000 per year with a full-time client. This is a great career for anyone still continuing their education within the nursing field. Also, it looks fantastic on a resume when applying for different nursing positions. This role provides flexible schedules, and many locations for whom love to travel.
Different Responsibilities of a CNA in Home Care
There are so many responsibilities for CNA’s within the home; yes there can be some downtime, but keeping yourself busy is key. As a CNA here is a list of that responsibilities you may run into:
- Administer Treatment: CNA’s can dress wounds, change bandages, measure vital signs, etc. Also, they can administer medications that are prescribed to the patient.
- Monitor Oxygen Supply and Equipment: If the patient is in need of oxygen, then CNAs are in charge of the supply and equipment.
- Maintain Elderly Patient’s Health Record: As a CNA, you are to provide condition notes of the patients you are caring for. These are needed to be up-to-date and relative.
- Educate Elder’s Family In case of an Emergency: As a CNA you must provide a game plan for the elder’s family to follow if an emergency arises. Such as, the signs of a stroke, heart attack, performing CPR, and what to do if their loved one has fallen.
- Maintain Housekeeping: There may be some downtime when it comes to patient care, so to help their family out, keep up on cleaning the house. This isn’t just to make the day go by faster, but it also looks good to the family for going the extra mile.
- Maintain a Healthy Environment: CNAs are to ensure that their patient is clean, as well as their living area is neat and has no obstacles the elder can’t handle.
- Adhere the Elder’s Nutritional Requirements: It is important that a CNA keeps up on a patient’s diet health. If the patient is on a low sodium diet, then you must provide a low sodium diet.
- Make Patient’s Bed: If your elder is up and about, make sure to clean, and make their bed.
- Manage Equipment: If an elder has different medical equipment, it’s the CNA’s job to ensure that they work, are effective, and have what is needed to make them work; such as an oxygen tank. If the levels are low, then it is your responsibility to order another tank.
Conclusion
For anyone looking to get their foot in the door of the nursing industry, becoming a CNA is a smart way of doing it. It is a great way to increase your experience while continuing education, or if you are retiring from a hospital as a CNA, it is also a great way to make extra money. TLC Home Care is a great agency to be a part of. They have flexible hours and schedules and provide their employees with the tools to succeed.