Comparison Certified Nursing Assistants versus Licensed Practical Nurses

In a lot of people’s minds the Certified Nursing Assistant is the backbone of the facility. Employers that have good and hard-working certified nursing assistants tend to have happier residents. On top of that, it is common knowledge that if a Registered Nurse is qualified to pronounce someone dead, then he or she is more than qualified to take someone to the bathroom. At every facility there are nurses who will make the residents wait until the CNA comes to get them instead of just taking the residents themselves. Now more and more schools are requiring that student nurses have the proper training because in a lot of people’s minds the best nurses start off as CNAs. In the world of nursing, the nursing

I am a CNA, I am the person who helps your loved ones, children and maybe even yourself with everyday aspects. I am the person who helps your grandmother get ready in the morning or helps your uncle eat his lunch. I am slapped, bit and yelled at more times than not. I change diapers and clean up vomit daily. I wake up early and stay up late to help you when you whenever you need me. With all of this hard and tiring work comes the rewarding parts. I get to play card games like Go Fish and learn new ones from the residents like Bridge. I sit and talk with residents and hear their stories from when they are young. I get to soothe your premature baby and sit with her as she heals and grows until she goes home. I play board games and color with children who are suffering from chronic illness and cancer. I hold your mothers hand as I tell her it’s okay to go and that she is so loved. I am a CNA, and though I may not be for long I put my entire heart and soul into it and love every second. I have long desired for the chance to work in a medical setting and working in an assisted living home has made me realize that the job comes with so much more than the job description entails.

It is no secret that communication is key when providing direct patient care in a skilled nursing facility. However, there is a noticeable lapse in the communication between the care team when providing care to the individual or groups of individuals. Two main parts of any care team are the registered nurse and the certified nursing assistant, as these are the two people whom have the most direct and impactful roles with residents in a skilled facility. The Registered Nurse and the Certified Nursing Assistant play similar roles in providing patient care, but have different roles in its entirety. The role of the Registered Nurse (RN) is defined as having the competency and skill to provide direct and indirect health care to individuals, their families, and communities around them. Services are also provided designed to give out medications, to promote comfort or healing, promote healing, and to also provide the dignity of their patients and patient’s families (American College of Rheumatology, 2015).

This has allowed me to experience what each person’s role in a hospital setting truly is. Both physician assistants and nurse practitioners share a lot of the same responsibilities as a physician, although nurse practitioners are given the flexibility of choosing which specialty they are interested in pursuing. This autonomy is what drew me into this position, which includes a lot of independence within the practice. Over the years that I have worked in healthcare, I have realized that patients need a health care provider who will be an advocate for them, and they also need someone who will truly listen to them in order to help improve their quality of health. The roles and job responsibilities of a nurse practitioner have caught my attention and therefore have made me want to pursue this career

A day in the life as a CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) can have its ups and its downs. As a CNA you can work in a couple different areas of the nursing field, you have options of where you want to be and you are not finite to any certain place. Most CNA’s start out working in a nursing home then exude to other places such as hospitals. As a nurse aide you have many options of being in a certain field of nursing. That is what I love about nursing; it is versatile and you can work wherever you want in the country. You can travel and see places you haven’t seen while doing what you love to do as a career.

Employment of CRNAs is projected to grow 31% from 2014 to 2024. This is much faster than the average for all other allied health occupations. Growth will occur because of an increase in the demand for healthcare services. Several factors will contribute to this demand, including a

Medical assistants and registered nurses both work in a medical setting, and they make sure patients are comfortable and cared for. They both are relied on for the smooth operation of a medical setting. Both occupations assist physicians and nurse practitioners, and they are referred to as nurses. Although, they are both called nurses they do not share the same credentials. Medical assistants can perform several tasks under a physician’s supervision, but they are not permitted to perform procedures on a patient. Registered Nurses can perform several tasks as well and procedures without supervision.

Throughout the U.S history the use of Certified Nursing Assistants has helped the system to solve many of our worldwide patients needs. Certified Nursing Assistants are used all over the world for people who are, or who may not, have the support system they may need to take care of their selves. Many Certified Nurses are also qualified to work inside of hospitals, adult care centers, nursing homes, and many more. Certified Nursing Assistants are becoming more reliable for elderly people because of the support system they have from the government.

In some states these opportunities vary. They would work in Hospitals, physician offices, health agencies, nursing homes, and even in private homes (MSHealthCareer.org). Private homes are working in former patients houses and working for them. Physician offices are like doctors’ offices and you would have to call patients back, and do basic checks on them before the doctor comes in to see them. CNA’s also work with a lot of sick people and elderly patients which can increase the chances of getting sick lot and higher risks of getting bacterial diseases (BLS.gov). Working with a lot of sickly people the way CNA’s do gives you high risks or getting infections and sicknesses and diseases. This is why you are required to wear gloves and face masks to reduce your chances of getting certain infections. There are a lot of people in hospitals and a lot of doctors and nurses so you have to be able to handle working with a large number of people (CNACertificationSchools.com). CNA’s are constantly around people with the patients in and out of hospitals and doctors’ offices and all the nurses and doctors that are work associates. You need to be able to work with people and be compassionate towards all people. You would also need to learn how to handle certain situations that would happen in the workplace. CNA’s have the opportunity to work with a lot of people in many different environments, and have many experiences being

LPN’s carry out the orders of the physician, by administering medications and treatments to the patients assigned to them. LPN’s are often the voice of the doctor when it comes to patients care. LPN’s want to make sure to safe and effective care is rendered to all their patients. LPN’s often participate in readjusting a patient plan of care to benefit the patient’s outcome and their safety. LPN’s can delegate procedures to personal qualified to carry out those tasks. Some of these tasks may include items such as vital signs, glucose checks, back massages, bathing and ADL’s, activities and feeding of patients. CNA’s, play a very important role, in helping the nursing staff carry out their orders and duties every day the come to work.

Often working directly under a nurse, the Certified Nursing Assistant or CNA, is a versatile job that varies from state to state. However, one thing that always stays true is that CNA’s play an important role to the patient as they often spend the most time with them.

The author, Peter Fitzpatrick, a department head and associate professor of healthcare management, attempts to illuminate and suggest proposals on issues in the healthcare system. His study presents with estimated statistical data on the ever-growing elderly population and the need for affordable long-term care. Fitzpatrick discusses how a shortage of Certified Nursing Assistants present a crucial problem and how given a number of factors affect the patient-to-caregiver ratio. With his unbiased, well-researched pursuit he compels readers to take a look into these issues and implications. While he states that “Retention of CNAs is not singularly going to achieve these outcomes, but it will go a long way to assist their realization”, he presents

Nikki Morgan of Stamps, AR, a Certified Nursing Assistant, was asked do being a Cna get boring. She responded with “no”. When asked do she enjoy helping people she replied “yes I love helping others”. Ms. Morgan was asked how often she has breaks, she replied “every four hours for ten minutes”. I then asked Ms. Nikki what is the worst cold a patient could receive she replied “Chest cold”. I followed this question up with when did you realize you wanted to be in the nursing field her response was “when I was in high school just the thought of helping someone was awesome”. She was asked would you rather be a nurse in the nursing home or the hospital she replied “the nursing home”. Nikki was asked what inspired you to become a cna she responded “the fact that I love helping the elderly inspired

The growing number of the elderly patient has a direct impact on nursing practice. The issue of” baby boomers” having an increased life expectancy may have jobs security for the nurses in future as evidenced by multiple improvements in cardiac surgery in older population. The aging of the baby boomers is expected to produce a plethora of new nursing jobs, which could lead to higher wages, greater job security, and greater variety in types of work (Page, 2015).

The physical demands require that a person be physically capable of standing for long periods of time. Nurses often assist in lifting and moving patients and can work up to 12 hour days. They must also have technical abilities because of some of the computerized equipment. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the primary hazard in patient care is blood borne pathogens, such as hepatitis B and HIV. Nurses are exposed to a variety of infectious diseases so they must be very careful and follow the safety guidelines. A typical day includes accessing patient needs, creating treatment plans and evaluating their progress. They must also educate the patient and the families involved.