National Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) week is June 14-20, 2023. This week is a way to honor those who work in this demanding profession, which requires meeting the basic care needs of patients in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, and patients’ homes.
“At Sheridan Memorial Hospital (SMH), we have 64 CNAs who are at the center of our patient care areas. They provide bedside, hands-on care to our patients – assisting the nurses with multiple responsibilities. CNAs play a critical and valuable role in the patient care team – answering the patient’s questions and responding to their care needs 24 hours a day,” according to Cathy Bealer, Chief Nursing Officer at SMH.
The most common duties that CNAs provide to patients under the direction of Registered Nurses (RN) include:
- Assisting patients with daily needs such as cleaning, bathing, helping with dressing, and toileting needs
- Turning, repositioning, and ambulating patients to keep skin healthy and prevent skin breakdown
- Serving meals and assisting with eating as needed
- Completing and documenting Vital Signs (Blood pressure, Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate, and Oxygen Saturation readings)
These duties are clearly very important to patients, as are the CNA’s behavioral skills, including having a high level of patience, compassion, empathy, attention to detail, communication skills, a sense of humor, and physical strength. All of these characteristics of CNAs ensure that patients receive outstanding care while in hospitals, long-term care facilities, or in their own homes.
The CNA career is a rewarding and fulfilling one, and these skills are in high demand with the expanding healthcare needs of our aging population. A CNA can make this a life-long career, or they can build on the learning and experience and expand their schooling into another healthcare field.
According to Bealer, “Our CNAs are excellent in the quality care they provide and are focused on a positive patient experience.”
Bealer adds, “Please take time this week to thank a CNA for all of the care that they provide to our patients. We are proud of all our nursing assistants and wish them a happy CNA week!”
Are you looking for a rewarding career? We have positions available!
Check out the hospital’s job opportunities at SheridanHospital.org/Careers/
