What Kind of Responsibilities Do Certified Nursing Assistants have?

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Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA's) are a very important component in the health care delivery system.  The ability to recognize signs and symptoms, and monitor the patient's status is an important task.  Certified Nursing Assistants have many responsibilities, and help assist nurses in the care of their patients.  

 

Here are some of the responsibilities associated with Certified Nursing Assistants here in Chicago, Illinois.

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What are CNA's Roles in Congestive Heart Failure?

 

CNA's will be encountering various patients that have diseases such as congestive heart failure (CHF).  As a CNA, the ability to understand what conditions your patients are suffering from is crucial to their care, and helps you understand the issues that they may suffer from.  

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What is Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)?

 

Certified Nursing Assistants must understand what the heart does within the body.  The heart is responsible for delivering (pumping) blood throughout the whole body.  Blood contains the nutrients and materials necessary to support your body functions.  Congestive Heart Failure occurs when the heart is weakened, and cannot pump the blood throughout your body efficiently.  This can cause your heart to be enlarged, cause blood to back up within the heart and lungs, and cause numerous issues.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure CHF.

 

The patient will present with some of the following:

- Crackles and Wheezing in the Lungs

- Coughing

- Difficulty Breathing

- Cyanosis

- Tachypnea

- Fluid in the Abdomen

- Weight Gain

- Chest Pain

- Decreased Urine output

 

Certified Nursing Assistant Duties with Congestive Heart Failure

 

The CNA may have some of the responsibilities listed below.

 

- Taking the Patients weight on daily/prescribed basis.  Taking a weight on a daily basis might seem a bit much, but when the patient suffers from CHF, significant weight changes may indicate an issue that may need immediate attention.

 

- Monitoring and checking the patients oxygen levels.  This responsibility could be done on a regular basis to ensure that the patients oxygen saturation are within certain parameters.

 

- Monitoring the patients blood pressure.  The patients blood pressure is an indicator that will tell if the patient is within normal parameters.  A severe drop or high blood pressure can be detrimental to their health.

 

- Turning the patient frequently.  Making sure that the patient is getting proper circulation, and preventing skin breakdown is an important task.  

 

- Monitoring and noting when the [patient is voiding.

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