What types of things do a nursing assistant do?

im going to be working on a medsurge telemetry cardic floor. i don't really know what that means but i am starting tomorrow with now previous experiance as a nursing assistant. they plan to train me on the floor.

You will do all the basic roles of a nursing assistant- helping patients with all their ADLs and vital signs, if anyone is on I & O record it, possibly charting depending on the facility. I have worked on a cardiac stepdown unit myself, and one thing that aides do is help patients with their stepdown program. Depending on what step the patient was on in the program, you would take their vital signs and then they would walk a certain distance in the hallway. Then you would take their vital signs afterwards. Over time the distance would be increased. As far as telemetry is concerned, you have to make sure the telemetry unit is unclipped from the wiring, while you are bathing someone so the unit does not get wet. Make sure you also tell the nurse who is also taking care of the patient that you are doing this.
They will orient you to where everything is, what they expect. The most important thing is don't be nervous, and if you have any questions ask the charge nurse, or if it's about a certain patient, the nurse that is overseeing their care.
I started off being an EMT and CNA myself and learned a lot floating around a hospital, and also on the type of unit you will be working in.

I'm not sure what that floor entails. Generally, I know that CNA's do a lot of the dirty work such as bathing, feeding, dressing, colostomy bags, diapers, etc. It may sound horrible to some but it can be rewarding. Good luck

Train you? I am cna, you MUST be state certified to do that job

Doesn't really matter where you work in the hospital it will be scut work, stuff the RNs and LPNs don't want to do. You couldn't pay me enough to do it and the lifting will be a killer.

Didn't they give you a job description when you were hired? You most likely do things like change beds, empty catheter bags & bedpans, bathe patients, take vitals, chart, take them their meals, take them to labs, x-ray, etc. You'll find out tomorrow! Good Luck!

Good luck.You will be trained to take vital signs, weigh patients, deliver food trays and feed patients that require it. You will bathe patients both in the bathroom facilities and in the bed. Depending on the hospital, you could be required to do a specific gravity on a patient';s urine. You will be recording fluid intake and outputs on patients and emptying Foley bags. (urine bags) You may be required to apply and empty colostomy bags, depending on the hospital. You will be responsible to see that your patent's living area is kept picked up and you will change the bedding for them. Sometimes , you will be required to change the bed with the patient still in it, depending on the patent's status. You will empty bedpans and urinals.

All this seems frightening to contemplate but remember, you will only do a little at a time and you will have someone to help you learn.

Good Luck!

Na`s do all the stuff nurse`s don`t do. Vital signs, bedpans, answer the call lights,etc... but it is very rewarding. When you clock out every day you really feel as if you`ve done good. you`ve helped other people!

as a State Tested Nurses Aide, I can tell you your work is very rewarding. It is directly helping people with things that they can not do for thier self. Alot of hygene type working on thier behalf. sometimes, it is providing safety measures for them to prevent falls or harm. providing meals to residents, sometimes feeding. Sometimes, I have just sat in a room with a dying patient to listen, care, and provide all the comfort I am able. Lifting is hard on my extremities sometimes. And it can get quite demanding between nurses giving orders and large numbers of patients needs in one moment. But knowing you have been there to be a compassionate help to someone in need, that is what makes it worthwhile. I can be depressed and go to work. And by the end of the shift, I am much better for it because I was helping someone today.
i cant solve all the needs represented. But I feel like I am there to do the best I can -- for the most that I can. And to try and do the job with excellence, whether any of the other workers do it right or not.
hope this helps