| Most of us are familiar with Nursing Assistants, but | | | | quantities of each on the patient's chart. Some |
| we don't really know all that is required for them to | | | | patients will need to take vitamins and other |
| complete their work efficiently and of the best | | | | nutritional supplements, also the duty of the Nursing |
| quality. Time restraints can often make it difficult to | | | | Assistant to administer. |
| decide to do a job better or to get more done. | | | | It is also the duty of the Nursing Assistant in many |
| Thus, having an outstanding work ethic is of the | | | | medical facilities to be responsible for getting those |
| utmost importance. | | | | who can feed themselves ready to be taken to the |
| Nursing Assistants must also have excellent | | | | dining area. This may just be having their grooming |
| communication skills. They are required to have | | | | done or helping to lift them into a wheelchair and |
| interactions with patients, family members, Nurses, | | | | take them to the dining area. |
| and a variety of other medical professionals. It is | | | | Nursing assistants will need to change any bedding or |
| imperative that they are able to effectively reply and | | | | other soiled materials if found on the patient. This is a |
| communication that needs to take place with these | | | | case by case basis and will vary each day. While |
| various types of individuals. | | | | interacting with the patient, you will need to |
| It is widely known that Nursing Assistants provide | | | | document their behaviors. It is important that you |
| basic are for patients including feeding, bathing, and | | | | notify the Nurse on duty if you see any changes |
| dressing. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg | | | | that are unexpected or not generally seen. You will |
| when you take a look at all the various duties | | | | be trained in what to look for. |
| involved in being an effective Nurse Assistant. While | | | | Keeping a sharp eye for details will assist any Nursing |
| the specific duties will vary according to the medical | | | | Assistant with successfully performing all duties. |
| facility you work for, there are some that are found | | | | Caring for people changes because their needs |
| in most every one. | | | | change as well as those you are caring for changes. |
| Bathing is generally either a shower or a bed bath | | | | How quickly you are caring for new patients depends |
| depending on the level of care the patient requires. | | | | on the type of medical facility you work for. |
| Personal hygiene including combing hair, brushing | | | | In addition to performing all of these essential duties, |
| teeth, applying makeup, cleaning dentures all needs to | | | | Nursing Assistants are responsible for providing |
| be done for each individual patient. Shaving is also to | | | | emotional support to patients and their families. This |
| be taken into consideration, and completed as | | | | can be helping patients feel comfortable with their |
| needed. | | | | surroundings, hanging a photo on the wall for them, |
| Taking patients vital signs are a daily requirement of | | | | or helping them compose a letter. Family members |
| Nursing Assistants. Taking vital signs includes | | | | may want you to certain things for a patient such as |
| temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. | | | | braid their hair daily or keep their fingernails short. |
| This information that is recorded on the patients | | | | Performing all the duties of a Nursing Assistant takes |
| chart, and reviewed by the Nursing staff and other | | | | practice, dedication, organization, and a sincere desire |
| medical professionals. | | | | to help others. It can be an exhausting effort on |
| For patients requiring assistance with eating, the | | | | some days, and often a job no one thanks them for |
| routine can take 20-60 minutes depending on the | | | | doing. However, for those who enjoy what they do |
| abilities of the patient and how much food they | | | | and take pride in it, we need to stop and see all that |
| consume. The Nursing Assistant needs to document | | | | they do in a days work. They provide valuable |
| the type of food and drink consumed and the | | | | services to patients and the medical profession. |