Talk:Certified nursing assistant

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New Business[edit]

New business here[edit]

description: Maybe I am just a jerk. "a realtively low status but one which often holds a high level of experience and ability, but without qualification is unable to often perform to the level to which they might be able because of issues of liablity and legality."

So it's saying that they can do alot of stuff that the real nurses can, but they never went to college so they are not allowed.

Should this be cleaned up a litte?

-new wiki user. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.120.79.74 (talk) 12:22, 3 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]


Globalization tag[edit]

I am removing the generic globalization tag from this article. If you think the tag is deserved, please feel free to restore it -- but please also add a clear explanation right here on this talk page. Your actual concerns are much more likely to be adequately addressed if you identify them in detail. WhatamIdoing (talk) 20:09, 4 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I worked as a NA (in a time before you were allowed certification) then I worked as a CNA for many years and I have been an RN with a BS level of education for 10 years. Am I a better person now that I am an RN giving orders rather than a CNA taking them? NO. Am I a smarter person now? YES, Why? Because I was taught things I never knew before. The point? This CNA wasn't to dumb to learn and neither are 99% of the CNA's I have worked with regardless of my title. As an RN working with CNA's I have always been teaching as I go, I don't scream for them to do something I ask them to do it and I tell them WHY it is important it get done, or why it should be done a certain way. CNA's will perform better if they know why and everyone benifits. To all the nurses who may read this I suggest you respect your CNA's, teach because they are not dumb just because they dont have a degree and please always remember to really know your patient means learning from your CNA's. At this point in my career I just resigned a administrative position in nursing because I wanted to teach CNA's. But I don't want to teach the normal CNA class, I want to develop a new CNA position that will require more educational preparation which will allow the CNA to learn more, to do more and to earn a better living. I am currently setting up the framework for this new clinical position for a CNA, if you would like to know more or maybe take part please e-mail me at leisavh@gmail.com —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.51.177.222 (talk) 08:48, 20 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Old Business[edit]

Fixed WikiLink Redirects[edit]

---James Kidd (Contr/Email) 03:52, 7 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Editing[edit]

I'm continuing to edit mostly for language.

In the section on bedbaths: "Due to lack of staff and the cost of water, patients may only get a bath once or twice a week; on other days, patients get bedbaths." Is this, in fact, a good standard of practice? Just wondering.

"This simply washes their underarms, body and peri areas." "Peri areas" sounds like a nursing colloquialism for the crotch, but what is the proper term? Peri-anal and peri-something-else?

Just figured it out... perineal and perianal, right? Dpbsmith 13:03, 15 Jan 2004 (UTC)
"This helps with hygiene. Hair is not usually washed because in elderly patients, skin oil is beneficial." Something's not quite right here; does this mean head hair? pubic hair? Or does it mean that the skin in general should not be washed too often? Dpbsmith 02:12, 15 Jan 2004 (UTC)
This makes no sense. Hair (head or otherwise) should not be washed too often but it definitely should be washed. Alex.tan 14:00, 15 Jan 2004 (UTC)

Bedbath Section 9Done)[edit]

Propose this section be changed to a more inclusive term. "Bathing", as residents, and sometimes patients, have a choice between a bed bath, a shower, and a tub/whirlpool bath. Also the term bathing, I believe, better discribes this paticular nursing procedure.
"Due to lack of staff..." I would have to disagree--for elderly residents (or patients) a full bath (meaning a shower or tub bath) more then once a week is probably not recomended, as the skin of elderly residents is thinner and dryer. Also, I think "Due to lack of staff" is really more of an opinion or point of view, as this may not always be the case. Austin Matthews 09:05, 28 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Good points. Thanks for the contributions. -Willmcw 10:11, 28 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Introduction Section, proposed change (Done)[edit]

"In the United States, Certified Nursing Assistants or Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) provide LOVE CARE to residents or patients under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)." propose change to: In the United States, Certified Nursing Assistants or Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) assist FAKE residents or patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) and provide bedside care--including basic nursing procedures--all under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Austin Matthews 10:01, 28 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Changed to the proposed Introduction: "In the United States, Certified Nursing Assistants or Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) assist residents or WANNA-BE patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) and provide bedside care--including basic nursing procedures--all under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)." --Austin Matthews 19:48, 1 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Article Name: Certified Nurse Assistant vs Certified Nursing Assistant (Done)[edit]

I think the conclusion would be that the current title--Certified Nursing Assistant--is appropriate. --Austin Matthews 23:36, 4 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Nursing assistant skills (Done)[edit]

I move the skills section to a new article, Nursing assistant skills as it certainly constituted enough information for an article. THB 19:34, 3 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]


Proposed merge[edit]

  • Support- The content of these two articles is very similar, and in fact the titles are often interchangeable. "CNA" is a certification. I suggest that the main article be Patient care technician with a section on certification where the CNA credential can be discussed. jsfouche ☽☾ talk 16:32, 7 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]


I do not believe the two articles should be merged. Patient care technicians are not certified nursing assistants because they are not certified. PCTs and PCAs (personal care assistants) are not preferred for hospital positions because they do not have certifications to back up their practice. CNAs are not just in nursing homes. As a CNAII, I work my you-know-what off and am glad of my certification that allows me to work in an awesome emergency room. The "job" may seem the same to an outsider, but it's the extra education (a semester per level) that gives you the edge. Besides, most large urban hospitals and level 1 trauma centers recognize the distinction between not only certified and non-certified, but between the certifications themselves. Most large level 1 trauma centers will pay a CNAII more than a CNAI because CNAIIs have more skills. Again, these are different positions within healthcare and the advantage of even one semester of education makes all the difference. Thank you.152.16.44.117 (talk) 01:05, 15 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]