A NURSING AIDES JOB DESCRIPTION

Someone suggested putting up this article on the the Nursing Aide job description....will do with pleasure! Thanks for the suggestion! :)Job purpose of Nurse assistant are to performs any combination of following duties in care of patients in hospital, nursing home, or other medical facility, under direction of nursing and medical staff:

Key duties of Nurse assistant:

1. Turns and repositions bedfast patients, alone or with assistance, to prevent bedsores.
2. Changes bed linens, runs errands, directs visitors, and answers telephone.
3. Takes and records temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates, and food and fluid intake and output, as directed.
4. Cleans, sterilizes, stores, prepares, and issues dressing packs, treatment trays, and other supplies.
5. Answers signal lights, bells, or intercom system to determine patients’ needs.
6. Bathes, dresses, and undresses patients.
7. Serves and collects food trays and feeds patients requiring help.
8. Transports patients, using wheelchair or wheeled cart, or assists patients to walk.
9. Drapes patients for examinations and treatments, and remains with patients, performing such duties as holding instruments and adjusting lights.
10. Dusts and cleans patients’ rooms.
11. May be assigned to specific area of hospital, nursing home, or medical facility.
12. May assist nursing staff in care of geriatric patients and be designated Geriatric Nurse Assistant.

A NURSING AIDES NEW YEAR RESOLUTION!

  Well, with only hours left until we ring in the new year, Id like to suggest some new years resolutions for nursing aides everywhere!

1:  Take care of your self physically. Take meal breaks and bring snacks. Stay as hydrated as an athlete.

2: Laugh every day.

3: Go to a day spa at least twice during the year to treat yourself. You deserve it.!!!

Getting ready for Christmas!

Wishing all my fellow LNA's and CNA's a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year!!!!

The Benefits Of A Support Group For CNAs

No man is an island as the saying goes. As you will discover from completing a CNA training class, the certification exam and beginning work as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), being a CNA may be fulfilling work but it is also challenging and you will need all the support you can get to help you successfully work and thrive as a CNA. Like many other jobs, working as a nursing assistant can have days when you feel frustrated and overly stressed and ready to call it quits.
Having a support system is one of the great ways to help you deal with and manage the stress and frustration that comes with the job. While your friends and family may be supportive, only people who face what you deal with on a daily basis can truly understand what you are going through and offer the support you need.

The Challenges of Being A CNA

Some of the challenges of being a nursing aide may be covered in a CNA training class and include but are not limited to;

• Understaffed care facilities
• Too much to do, too little time
• Dealing with various patients as well as dealing with patient abuse in some cases
• Problems with other staff members
• Dealing with patient death
• Feeling that the pay is not commensurate with the duties required
• Finding time to take care of yourself while taking care of others, etc.

All these challenges can take a toll on anyone and this can lead to burnout and no longer finding any joy or sense of fulfillment from being a CNA. The challenges can drain you both mentally as well as physically.

A Support Group Can Be a Great Help

When you face these various challenges on the job, not knowing where to turn to or who to talk to about what you’re facing can be tough which is were a support group comes in to the rescue. A good support group will help you “vent” with like minded people who know what you are struggling with and can offer not only support but suggestions on how to deal with the various challenges you will encounter on the job. A support group can also be a medium to share not only your challenges on the job but also the successes you have.
If there are no support groups for nursing assistants in your area, simply create one. If you are struggling on the job, you can be certain that there are others just like you who are struggling and are looking for a solution or simply support. Simply put up a flier at your workplace for those who are interested in starting a support group for nursing assistants to come to a meeting. Although you should discuss the reasons for wanting to start this group with the HR department at your workplace before putting up this flier, most employers will support this initiative.
For the group to be a success, you need to establish ground rules so that the meetings do not simply become a venue to complain with the attendants leaving the same way that they came. While letting out the various frustrations of the job may be cathartic, being able to generate solutions to make the job more manageable will make the support group more beneficial to the nursing assistants who attend.
Determine where and how often you shall meet. If the members of the support group all work at the same facility, you can meet in a conference room or one of the rooms at the facility. If the members are from various facilities you can choose a central location or rotate the meeting place from one facility to the next. Many libraries or churches frequently allow various groups to meet. The support group can meet monthly, weekly, etc. You can create an agenda for each meeting or simply allow members to discuss what is on their minds while ensuring the control is still maintained.

Online Support Groups For Nursing Assistants

The popularity of support groups for nursing assistants keeps increasing daily. From discussing the challenges of a CNA training class, the certification exam, to the challenges on the job, these online support groups provide the support needed. One can visit the online discussion groups anytime without needing a location or time to meet and they cover a multitude of topics, more than you can ever think or imagine.
You can pick whatever topic and discussion group interests you and not waste time with topics or groups that do not interest you. You will get to discuss issues with nursing assistants from all over the country and world working at various types of facilities. This will help you to find various solutions for the struggles that you encounter on the job. You can also post questions and ask for advice.
Job related stress is especially damaging on one’s health and having a support group to help you deal with stress and other job related struggles will help you navigate the turbulent waters of being a CNA. Support groups will also help you deal with various aspects of being a CNA such as a CNA training class, the certification exam, etc, and help you with finding solutions for your problems. It is also a great, supportive environment to share your successes on the job.

Skin Care for the Elderly

Bathing

• In many long term care nursing facilities, elderly patients are assigned one or two days a week for a bath or shower, and are washed up in their rooms twice a day on the days in between. The skin of an elderly patient does not contain as much oil as it once did, though, and therefore the temperature of the water should be warm rather than hot; if it's too warm, any oil left in their skin can be washed away, leaving their skin more susceptible to breaking open, which can lead to infection.
  You should also use a mild soap when washing them; this is not as harsh on their skin and helps prevent it from becoming dry. Some patients require the use of special soaps and shampoo  such as Nizoral; this is made especially for those who suffer from specific skin conditions such as eczema.

• Moisturize

  • Due to the loss of natural oils in the skin, it is necessary to apply lotion after a bath and multiple times through the day. When an elder's skin becomes dry, it begins to itch. The more he scratches, the more likely his skin is to break open, leaving room for bacteria to move in and infection to take place. Using a moisturizer regularly helps reduce the itchiness, thus reducing the likelihood of infection.

  
  
  

  Observe and Report

  • As you are providing skin care, you need to be observant of any changes in your patient's skin. From moles that have changed shape to a new area that has broken down and torn apart, it all needs to be reported immediately. The sooner she receives treatment for her condition, the better her chances are for a complete recovery.

  
  
  Read more: Skin Care for the Elderly | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5484310_skin-care-elderly.html#ixzz1ewIgcxhM

The 90-Plus Population Is on the Rise in the U.S.

The U.S. population aged 90 years and older (90-plus) is increasing and has distinct characteristics, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau, commissioned by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health.

Wan He, and Mark N. Muenchrath, from the U.S. Census Bureau in Washington D.C., describe the demographics, health, and economic status of the 90-plus population in the United States using data from the 2006 to 2008 and the 2008 American Community Surveys.

The authors report that 720,000 and 1.9 million individuals were in the 90-plus group in 1980 and 2010, respectively. Of the 90-plus population, 84.7 percent have at least one physical limitation, including difficulties doing errands alone (affecting 67.7 percent) and difficulty performing mobility-related activities (66.3 percent). The likelihood of living in nursing homes increased with age, from 11.2 percent of those aged 84 to 89 years to 19.8 percent of those aged 90 to 94. Women outnumbered men in the 90-plus group and constituted 74.1 percent of that population. Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians constituted 88.1, 7.6, 4, and 2.2 percent of the 90-plus population, respectively. The 90-plus were almost universally covered by insurance, and had an annual median income of $14,760, which is higher for men than women ($20,133 versus $13,580). Social security represented 47.9 percent of total personal income.

Recognizing Suicidal Behavior

Well, with the holidays and winter right around the corner, I know I will soon see a lot more than usual of depressed people coming as patients. So I thought I would post some of the warning signs of suicidal behavior to look out for.

Who is most likely to commit suicide?

Suicide rates are highest in teens, young adults, and the elderly. People over the age of 65 have the highest rate of suicide. Although women are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to be successful. Suicide risk also is higher in the following groups:

• Older people who have lost a spouse through death or divorce
• People who have attempted suicide in the past
• People with a family history of suicide
• People with a friend or co-worker who committed suicide
• People with a history of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
• People who are unmarried, unskilled, or unemployed
• People with long-term pain, or a disabling or terminal illness
• People who are prone to violent or impulsive behavior
• People who have recently been released from a psychiatric hospitalization (This often is a very frightening period of transition.)
• People in certain professions, such as police officers and health care providers who work with terminally ill patients
• People with substance abuse problems

What are the warning signs for suicide?

Following are some of the possible warning signs that a person may be at risk for suicide:

• Excessive sadness or moodiness — Long-lasting sadness and mood swings can be symptoms of depression, a major risk factor for suicide.
• Sudden calmness — Suddenly becoming calm after a period of depression or moodiness can be a sign that the person has made a decision to end his or her life.
• Withdrawal — Choosing to be alone and avoiding friends or social activities also are possible symptoms of depression. This includes the loss of interest or pleasure in activities the person previously enjoyed.
• Changes in personality and/or appearance — A person who is considering suicide might exhibit a change in attitude or behavior, such as speaking or moving with unusual speed or slowness. In addition, the person might suddenly become less concerned about his or her personal appearance.
• Dangerous or self-harmful behavior — Potentially dangerous behavior, such as reckless driving, engaging in unsafe sex, and increased use of drugs and/or alcohol might indicate that the person no longer values his or her life.
• Recent trauma or life crisis — A major life crises might trigger a suicide attempt. Crises include the death of a loved one or pet, divorce or break-up of a relationship, diagnosis of a major illness, loss of a job, or serious financial problems.
• Making preparations — Often, a person considering suicide will begin to put his or her personal business in order. This might include visiting friends and family members, giving away personal possessions, making a will, and cleaning up his or her room or home. Some people will write a note before committing suicide.
• Threatening suicide — Not everyone who is considering suicide will say so, and not everyone who threatens suicide will follow through with it. However, every threat of suicide should be taken serious.