A certified nursing assistant (CNA) plays an important role in patient care in various healthcare settings like hospitals and nursing homes. As a CNA, key responsibilities include communicating with patients and their families, assisting with daily activities, taking vital signs, monitoring symptoms, administering treatments, serving meals, maintaining cleanliness, and providing physical support like lifting. While CNA work is often an entry-level position, it can help prepare someone for other healthcare careers by developing skills in areas like healthcare management. CNA duties vary between facilities but generally involve direct hands-on care and tasks that ensure patient safety, comfort, and recovery.

1. Duties and Responsibilities as a CNA Professional
Certified Nursing Assistant is a very important and integral position in Healthcare Centers.
The position of CNA in any Hospital Setting will help you master healthcare management
and prepare you for other healthcare professions. Being a Certified Nursing Assistant, there
are certain duties and responsibilities that you will have to perform dedicatedly.
- Communicating with Patients, healthcare team and family members
- Helping patients with their daily activities
- Taking Vital Signs like Pulse, Blood Pressure, and Temperature
- Monitoring Patient’s physical and mental symptoms
- Administering medications or treatments
- Serving meals to ensure that patients have healthy nutrition to recover fast
- Maintaining a clean and sanitized environment
- Facilitating patient care
- Providing Physical Support for Lifting and Moving Patients
- Setting up treating and testing equipment
CNA Roles and Responsibilities
Anatomy and Physiology
Adult Patient Care
Advanced Principles of Patient Hygiene
Environmental Health and Practical Nursing
Practical Nursing
Health and Safety for Healthcare Professional
Positioning and Ambulating the Adult Patient
Active and Passive Range of Motion Exercise
Diet Therapy
The Physical Examination
Specimen Collection
Vital Signs
Measuring the Vital Signs
The Physical Assessment
Infection Control
Rest and Sleep for Nurses

2. A CNA or certified nursing assistant is an important position in any hospital setting. CNAs
have many responsibilities that make them an integral part of the patient process in
healthcare. While being a CNA is often considered an entry-level position, it is a great
stepping stone to other healthcare professions. Being a CNA can help prepare you for
nursing or healthcare management work in many ways, and is a fantastic place to start your
career.
CNA requirements will vary depending on where you live, but overall the general process
is the same. Learn about CNA duties, how you can become one, and how you can use your
nursing assistant experience to propel you into other health care professions.
What does a CNA do?
There are many duties for nursing assistants. A certified nursing assistant helps patients
with direct health care needs, often under the supervision of a nurse. Certified nursing
assistants may also be called a nursing assistant, a nurse’s aid, or a patient care assistant.
CNAs work directly with patients and nurses, helping with the many physical and complex
tasks for patient care.
Some of their responsibilities include:
Turning or moving patients
Gathering medical supplies
Bathing patients
Grooming patients by brushing their hair, teeth, shaving them, etc.
Feeding patients and documenting their food and liquid intake
Checking vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate
Answering patient calls
Documenting information
Cleaning rooms and bed linens
Stocking supplies
Assisting with some medical procedures
Safety procedures
Transporting patients
Taking care of wounds
Different hospitals and facilities will have unique requirements and responsibilities for
their CNAs. But in essence, certified nursing assistants help perform critical tasks that
ensure patients are well-cared for and safe during their hospital stay. Checking vital signs,
keeping patients clean, and other duties like this are extremely important for patient care
and satisfaction.
Each state will have specific responsibilities that CNAs are eligible to perform, so the exact
job roles may vary depending on where you live.
Where do certified nursing assistant's work?
CNAs can be found in all kinds of healthcare settings including:
Hospitals
Long-term residential facilities
Nursing homes
Rehabilitation centers
Adult daycare centers
Rarely, clinical facilities
Nursing homes and adult care facilities are often the most common places where nursing
assistants are needed. Rarely nursing assistants will work in clinical settings, but that
doesn't happen very often.
In 2018 there were roughly 1,564,200 CNAs in the United States. And nursing care
facilities employed the largest number of certified nursing assistants at 38%. Depending on
where you live there may be different facilities hiring CNAs to help take on care tasks for
patients.

3. INTRODUCTION
The patient care unit is the area of the hospital in which the patient receives medical and
nursing care and treatment as well as the place in which he/she lives during his/her hospital
stay.
It must be maintained as a safe, pleasant, clean, and orderly environment for the patient’s
physical and mental well being. Constant effort is needed to achieve and maintain the
necessary high level of order and sanitation.
Furniture for the patient basic unit includes:
Bed.
Bedside cabinet.
Overbed table.
Chair.
EQUIPMENT/ARTICLES NECESSARY FOR PROVIDING BASIC NURSING CARE
The following are provided to the patient:
Linens
Bed linens.
Towels.
Washcloths.
Blankets.
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Toilet Equipment.
Wash basin.
Soap dish.
Emesis basin.
Bedpan.
Urinal.
Toilet paper.
Other Articles.
Water pitcher.
Glass.
Call button.
Disposable facial tissues.
GUIDELINES FOR BED-MAKING
a. Gather all the required linen and accessories before making the bed.
Sheets.
Pillowcases.
Blankets.
Bedspread.
Extra pillows.
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b. Avoid shaking the linen to prevent the spread of microorganisms and dust particles.
c. Avoid placing linens, clean or dirty, on another patient’s bed.
d. Do not place dirty linen on the floor.
e. Do not hold dirty linen against your uniform.
f. Always use good body mechanics; raise the bed to its highest position to make bed-
making easier.
g. Stay on one side of the bed until it is completely made; then move to the other side and
finish the bed. This saves time and steps.
h. Observe the patient and document any nursing observations.
Check for areas of redness that may lead to decubiti formation.
Note tolerance of activity level while out of bed.
Note observations about the physical and emotional status of the patient.
Note any patient teaching or reinforced teaching given and the patient’s response.
Check for drainage, wetness, or other body fluids and record observations.
METHODS OF BED-MAKING
Unoccupied (Closed) Bed.
An unoccupied bed is one that is made when not occupied by a patient.

4. Raise the bed to a comfortable working height, if adjustable.
Lower siderails, if present.
Remove pillows and pillowcases. Set the pillows aside in a clean area.
Fold and set the blankets and spreads aside (to be reused).
Loosen the linen along the edges of the bed, and move toward the end of the bed.
Wash the mattress if necessary, turn the mattress to the opposite side if necessary, and
replace the mattress pad as needed. Observe the mattress for protruding springs.
Place the bottom sheet.
TERMINAL CLEANING OF THE PATIENT CARE UNIT
Definition.
The sanitation of the bed, bedside cabinet, and general area of the patient care unit with a
detergent/germicidal agent after the patient is discharged or transferred from the nursing
care unit.
Performed at every patient care unit before the area is prepared for the next patient.
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Reasons for Terminal Cleaning of the Patient Care Unit.
Prevention of the spread of microorganisms.
Removal of encrusted secretions from framework or bedside rails.
Removal of residue of body wastes from the mattress.
Deodorizing of the bed frame, mattress, and pillow.
Guidelines for Terminal Cleaning.
Review ward SOP for specific procedures.
Use only authorized disinfectant/detergent or germicidal solution for cleaning.
Check to ensure the bedside cabinet is cleared of any valuables belonging to the patient.
Check bed linens for personal items (dentures, contact lenses, money, jewelry, etc.)
belonging to the patient.
Prevent spread of microorganisms by carefully removing linen from the bed.
Use caution when cleaning the underframe and bedsprings.
Replace any torn mattress or pillow covers.
Allow the mattress and pillow to air-dry thoroughly before remaking the bed.
RULES FOR USE OF DISPOSABLE OR NON-REUSABLE ITEMS
Do not attempt to reuse (for another patient) or resterilize disposables.
Sterile disposables are considered sterile providing the wrapper is not broken or torn or the
expiration date has not passed.
Sterile disposables with torn or broken wrappers must be discarded.
Use disposables for the specific purpose(s) for which they were designed.
Follow manufacturer’s directions when using disposables.

5. LESSON 2: SELF-TEST
INSTRUCTIONS. The following exercises are to be answered by completing the
incomplete statement or by writing the answer in the space provided at the end of the
question. After you have completed all the exercises, scroll to the bottom of this page and
check your answers.
1. Name the four items of furniture comprising the patient basic unit.
a. ____________________________.
b. ____________________________.
c. ____________________________.
d. ____________________________.
2. Name three items, other than linens and toilet equipment, which the patient is given.
a. ____________________________.
b. ____________________________.
c. ____________________________.
3. When making a bed, avoid shaking the linen to prevent spread of
________________________ and dust particles.
4. When making a bed, always raise the bed to its ________________ position.
5. When making a bed, check the patient for areas of redness that may lead to
____________________ formation.
6. When making an unoccupied bed, be sure to check the mattress for protruding
__________________.
7. Before removing the top bedding from an occupied bed, place the
________________________ over the patient and the top cover.
8. When making a surgical bed, do you tuck the top sheet and blanket under the mattress at
the foot of the bed? ______
9. To protect the sheets, place a towel or disposable pad (Chux ®) at the ________ of a
surgical bed.
10. After making a surgical bed, be sure to lock the ________________.
11. When a patient is discharged or transferred out of the patient care unit, the bed, bedside
cabinet, and general area must be sanitized with a detergent/germicidal agent. What is this
procedure called? ____________________________.
12. Name three reasons for terminal cleaning of the patient care unit.
a. __________________________________________________________.
b. __________________________________________________________.
c. __________________________________________________________.
13. During terminal cleaning, use only __________________ disinfectant/detergent or
germicidal solution.
14. How should you prevent the spread of microorganisms during terminal cleaning?
__________________________________________________________.
15. Sterile disposables are considered sterile if the wrapper is not broken or torn or if the
__________________________ has not passed.

6. Lesson 2: Self-Test Answers
1. Bed
Bedside cabinet
Overbed table
Chair
2. A correct answer consists of any three of the following:
Water pitcher
Glass
Call button
Disposable facial tissues
3. Microorganisms
4. Highest
5. Decubiti
6. Springs
7. Bath blanket
8. No
9. Head
10. Brakes
11. Terminal cleaning
12. A correct answer consists of any three of the following:
Prevention of the spread of microorganisms
Removal of encrusted secretions from framework or bedside rails
Removal of residue of body wastes from the mattress
Deodorizing of the bedframe, mattress, and pillow
13. Authorized
14. By carefully removing linen from the bed
15. Expiration date