Range of Motion Not just for the Immobile
November 28, 2010
As a certified nursing assistant one of your primary duties is to address the day-to-day needs of your clients. This includes their ability to be as independent as possible with much of that depending on their level of mobility. Range of Motion (ROM) exercises are designed to increase a client’s level of comfort, prevent bed sores and to keep them as flexible as possible. The two types of ROMs that can be used are active or passive. Which is the most appropriate to use will depend on the extent to which a patient is able to physically move.
Passive ROMs are for patients that are completely immobile and are not able to perform the exercises on their own. While making the client more comfortable, it also helps to prevent bed sores which can lead to serious infection and complications. Passive ROMs are still required for patients that use a bariatric mattress even when they are being repositioned on a regular basis. Even patients that have some or a lot of mobility will require an exercise routine and many will still need assistance in performing a number of their active ROM exercises.
For caregivers that have attended accredited CNA programs you will have been taught how to perform both types of ROMs and should have had ample opportunity to practice them on classmates or others before performing them on actual patients. All exercise routines should be should first be discussed with all those who may be doing them with or for the client, the health care professional as well as the patient.
Regular and appropriately designed ROM routines are a vital component of every patient’s daily routine and must always be performed while maintaining the client’s privacy and dignity. Many health care facilities and agencies do provide new and innovative exercises that can be incorporated into a patient’s program through continuing education courses. Updating one’s CNA training can also be accomplished via online CNA certification courses. This is an extremely important aspect for anyone who is a certified nursing assistant in order to keep up with new developments in patient care.
CNA Training and Client Injuries
November 25, 2010
CNA training is becoming more and more important today. As our population ages and both elderly and younger patients generally weigh considerably more than in the past, certified nursing aids are facing several new and serious challenges. Many nurse aids (or nursing assistants) are still performing manual lifting procedures of most clients in order to save time. This has resulted in a substantial number of health care workers suffering from MSDs (musculoskeletal disorders) and more than half working every day with chronic pain. This has had a profound negative impact on the industry with more than 10% of health care aids having to leave their profession, often experiencing injuries that are disabling and in most cases permanent.
In view of these serious concerns, it has never been more important to ensure the proper training of today’s certified nursing assistants. Accredited CNA schools emphasize the use of appropriate patient handling equipment along with proven patient lifting and transfer methods that greatly reduce the risk of injury. This is a crucial area of study as there are serious repercussions to both works and patients from improper handling techniques. Patients are often subjected to falls during manual transfers; they can acquire bruising or other damage to the skin, greater discomfort and pain and can also suffer emotionally due to loss of privacy and dignity. In many cases workers have shortened careers and often lose their livelihood as a result of permanent injury.
In light of the fact that the country is experiencing a critical shortage of health care workers, it is even more vital that those entering the field receive the most comprehensive and up-to-date CNA training. Maintaining one’s CNA certification through ongoing workshops and classes that teach the latest safe handling procedures and equipment are crucial to the well being of both the certified nursing assistant as well as their patients. Studies show that facilities that routinely practice safe handling procedures and make use of appropriate lifting and transfer equipment see a significant reduction in injuries to both patients and workers. Client safety must be a priority in all health care facilities but can not be adequately addressed without emphasis on the safety of their employees.
What is in a CNA Certification Test?
November 22, 2010
Before you CNA apply for your CNA certification you must successfully complete a CNA training program that has been approved by your state. Each state has their own test but they will all include both a written and clinical test. All accredited CNA programs will cover the material that you will need to pass both parts of the test.
To prepare for the written portion of your Certified Nursing Assistant test, it is highly recommended that you download a sample CNA exam booklet. This will give you the chance to write the test and review any areas that you are not sure of. Also speak with the instructors of your CNA classes to see if they provide practice tests that will help your prepare for your written test. When researching CNA schools, it is important to make sure that they provide ample hands-on training that covers all aspects of the clinical portion of your CNA exam.
The topics included in the written test will include basic physical care procedures, the role of the CNA and psychosocial care skills. Some of the specific questions on most exams will include:
- What are exercises that utilize all the muscles and joints called?
- From what position should you assist a stroke patient in walking?
- Why would padding be placed on the side rails of a patient’s bed?
- What is the procedure for dealing with a client who is agitated?
- Which part of a sweater or other top needs to be put on first for a patient with weakness on the left side?
- How would you respond to a confused client who asks you what day it is?
- When would you use the Heimlich maneuver?
- How can a nurse aid help a client with his/her spiritual needs?
The typical written exam will take approximately two hours to complete and are generally multiple choice questions although some may require one or two comprehension questions as well as essay type responses. Make sure you time yourself when taking your practice exam and use the results to help in reviewing areas that you are not certain of.
How to Get Your CNA Certification
November 19, 2010
The first step to achieving CNA certification is by successfully completing an accredited nursing assistant (or aid) program that has been approved by the state you wish to work in. Students must then take their CNA certification exam after which one must register with their state nursing board to receive a CNA license. In order to practice as a licensed CNA all nursing assistants must be registered on both the state level as well as the national or federal level. Each state will have their own certified nursing agencies that graduates who have passed their exam need to register with. On the national level one must register with agencies like the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN).
It is important to know that a certified nursing assistant license is only valid in the state that they received their CNA certification from. If one wishes to work in another state they must apply to have their license approved by that particular state. The term for this request is known as reciprocity which simply means that you are asking one state to approve your licensing from another state. Although specific requirements will differ from state to state, maintaining your license in more than one state generally demands that you work a minimum of 1 to 2 shifts in each state per licensing period and have documented proof of your work.
When looking for the best CNA schools, it is important to ensure that your CNA classes will adequately prepare you for your CNA certification exams. Each state has their own exam standards but all will require that you pass both a written test and a clinical knowledge test. The written portion generally includes questions on nutrition, hygiene, proper therapeutic procedures, infection control and acceptable workplace conduct. The clinical portion of the test will consist of hands-on procedures such as, feeding, taking and recording blood pressure, bathing, dressing, use of bedpans, range of motion exercises and more. Accredited CNA programs must cover all topics that will be on your certification exam and give students ample practice time in working directly with patients.
What Courses Do I Need for CNA Certification?
November 16, 2010
Certified Nurse Aid programs are designed to teach students both the practical and theoretical skills needed to earn their CNA certification. Since Nurse Aids, who can also be referred to as Nurse Assistants, are the ones who provide most of the direct care a patient will require, CNA certification courses must cover a wide range of skills including:
- Ensuring patient safety
- Infection prevention and control
- Taking and recording vital signs
- Moving and ambulating clients
- Long-term health care issues
- Feeding techniques for a variety of conditions
- Body mechanics and mobility techniques for injury prevention
- Basic hygiene skills
- Effective communication techniques
- Client documentation and reporting
- Assisting patients with daily living activities
There are many specific skills that CNA classes will prepare you for such as:
- What to do when a client is confused
- Procedures to follow when a conscious client is found lying on the floor
- When and how to use waist restraints
- How to remove soiled isolation gowns
Many people who work full time may find it difficult to leave their jobs to attend on-campus CNA programs. In such cases, it is possible to take online CNA certification classes providing you make provisions to receive hands-on training in an approved medical facility or nursing home. The practical portion of your CNA training must include real patients and be performed under the supervision of a registered nurse instructor. Together with your online classes in theory and the hands-on work in an approved medical facility students will be well prepared to receive their official CNA certification.
When trying to decide which of the many CNA schools are best suited to your particular needs, it is important to ensure that both the school and the CNA programs are accredited. If you choose to enroll in an online CNA certification course, it is recommended that they either provide an approved practicum module or that you secure a facility where you can get the required hands-on experience you will need for certification.
CNA Certification & Training
November 14, 2010
With the tremendous advances in health care and a greater interest in living a healthy lifestyle, today’s aging population is living longer resulting in a growing need for professionally trained nurses with CNA certification. Studying to become a certified nursing assistant is an excellent means of opening the door to exciting and challenging opportunities in the health care field. The first step in achieving your goal is to successfully complete a certified nursing assistant program followed and then applying for and taking the CNA certification test.
What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?
A certified nursing assistant or aide is an integral part of the healthcare team as they are the ones who provide direct care to patients in a variety of health care settings. Nurses with CNA certification training work under the supervision of a Registered or Practical Nurse helping patients with daily activities such as feeding, dressing, bathing as well as taking vital signs. Listening to patients’ needs and concerns and comforting them in times of need is also a vital part of their daily routine.
What does a certified nursing assistant training program include?
CNA certification training consists of both practical and theoretical concepts necessary to perform ones duties efficiently and with confidence. The classroom portion of training concentrates on theory with the clinical and laboratory units giving the student vital hands-on experience. Some of the courses covered in a typical CNA training program will include:
- Basic hygiene procedures
- Patient safety
- Injury prevention
- Body mechanics and mobility
- Infection control and prevention
- Daily living assistance techniques
- Long term care health issues
- CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
- Ambulating and patient moving procedures
- Reporting and documentation procedures
- Feeding and personal hygiene
- Professional and effective communication skills
- Taking of vital signs
Where can I work as a Certified Nursing Aide?
CNA’s can expect to find work in a variety of health care settings such as:
- Rehabilitation centers
- Private homes
- Day care facilities for adults
- Hospitals
- Hospice and long-term health care facilities
- Community health care clinics
Once a student has successfully completed both the classroom and clinical portions of the program, CNA certification testing is required in order to work in the field. CNA certification requirements vary from state to state but all include both clinical and a written or theoretical component. It is important to ensure that whatever CNA certification program one enrolls in is state approved and adequately prepares the student for their certification exam. Although some states do not require a high school diploma to take CNA training, all students must be able to have a strong command of English including speaking, reading and writing as well as the ability to carry out basic math calculations.
Every state maintains its own Nurse Aide Registry, listing all individuals who are qualified and allowed to work as a certified nurse aide or assistant in that particular state. As well as listing certified nurse aides, the registry also includes those who may have any occurrences of neglect, abuse or property misappropriation.
Online vs. campus CNA training
Online certified nurse aide training programs are an excellent option for those who do not have time to attend regular on-campus training to obtain the theoretical portion of the program. It is imperative however to ensure that the laboratory and clinical portions of any CNA training program be taken in approved laboratory and health care facilities. It is also important that any hands-on training include actual patients in a nursing home, hospital or other healthcare facility and under the supervision of a qualified registered nurse instructor.
Whether students enroll in on-campus or online CNA training it is imperative that both the theoretical and practical components prepare one to pass their certified nursing assistant certification in the state that they plan to work in.