A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides basic care to patients who are unable to care for themselves. CNAs often work with patients in a nursing home, hospice, or long-term care setting.
CNAs generally:
- Clean and bathe patients
- Help patients use the toilet and get dressed
- Turn, reposition, and transfer patients between beds and wheelchairs
- Listen to and record patients’ health concerns
- Measure patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature
- Serve meals and help patients eat
Depending on an individual CNA’s training level and the state where they work, some CNAs may also distribute medication.