What exactly is involved in being a Nurses Aid? What do they do?

Answer 1

I'm a RN and everything so far has been true...except...one comment another made. Then nurse aid (or tech) does do a lot of the "grunt work", but it isn't anything a good nurse wouldn't do or doesn't do. I've done all those "dirty/grunt" jobs with my patients, they are good assessment times, but those nurses who think it's above them to do these jobs shouldn't be nurses anymore. They should find another profession if that's the case. To be a good nurse is to take care of the whole person, to care for the whole person,...and sometimes caring for the whole person is doing these kind of things in a loving and caring way. (without the attitude some give). A lot of times it's the aide/tech who is the first to notice a problem and informs the nurse, who checks it out and decides if something needs to be done, or inform the MD. Hope this answers your question.

Answer 2

I agree with everything Albert has said. Nurses can and will do everything CNAs do. We don't leave the grunt work to them. But we're licensed and educated to do things that they cannot. CNAs (sometimes called PCAs - Patient Care Assistants) are a nurses right arm and we depend on them to be our eyes and ears. It is an important job. Not many hospitals, sub-acute care centers, TCUs, step-down units or long-term facilities allow CNAs to draw blood, give enemas or insert Foley catheters. That is generally outside of the scope of practice for a CNA and not part of facility policy no matter how many certifications they have. So don't count on that.

This is a program that is taught at regional occupational centers, the Red Cross and at community colleges. Take it upon yourself to contact these places and get a description of the course. Talk to a vocational counselor and find out for yourself what the job entails. Or stop by a hospital and pick up a job description. Once you have complete information, you'll be in a much better position to decide if this is what you really want to do.

Answer 3

i'm from the uk here we have health care assistants (don't know if it's the same as nurses aid,) they take blood pressures, general hygiene of patients and report any changes to the registered nurse

Answer 4

Nurse aids do all the grunt work the nurses won't do. They make beds, give bed baths, change adult diapers, put people on bed pans, clean up when bed pans spill... all the nasty gross stuff you can think of.

Answer 5

Hi, I teach a certified nursing assistant college course, and they do a LOT. Personal care, vitals statistics, bladder scans, linen changes, bathing, shampoos, oral care, transferring patients, taking temperatures, using lifts, enemas, shampoos, feeding, some get certified to do EKG's and taking blood, catheterizations, etc...LOTS of STUFF!

:)