Avila-Crump, Certified Nursing Assistant, Corvallis OR

• doesn’t require a college degree
• However, you’ll need to earn a certificate or diploma in a CNA program with training in patient personal care, infection prevention, vital signs, communication, mental health, and other basic care.

A Certified Nursing Assistant, or Certified Nursing Aide, is responsible for supporting medical staff in administering care to patients with various injuries, illnesses or disabilities. Their duties include helping patients bathe and maintain proper hygiene, feeding patients or ensuring they take their medication and assessing their patients’ vital signs to notify staff of any changes.

Certified Nursing Assistants are responsible for many patient care tasks to ensure that each patient receives the comprehensive and personalized care they need. They often have the following responsibilities:

• Grooming and bathing patients with low mobility
• Preparing each patient room with necessary items like blankets, pillows, medical equipment and bathroom needs
• Helping patients eat and take medications
• Making sure they have regular meals and proper medication dosages
• Monitoring vitals and patient behavior and reporting them to the nursing and medical staff
• Assisting patients with mobility needs, transferring them from wheelchair to bed
• Turning or adjusting patients in bed to prevent bedsores or other discomfort
• Exercising patients by helping them walk