One of the first things that is taught in a CNA class is the role of the CNA. Expect to learn how to fit into the healthcare team where you may interact with Doctors, administration, nurses, auxiliary medical personnel, other CNA's, patients and patient's families. Understanding what your role is, is an important part of what helps you be successful at your job.

As a CNA student and later as a CNA you will hear the phrase "scope of practice" used a lot. This blends in with what your role is as a CNA. It is the range of care that you can provide to patients. It will define what you can do and what you cannot do. A task that you cannot do is give patients medicine. That is a task that is reserved only for nurses. The CNA focuses on providing care and assistance in tasks that are required for active daily living. These may include:

• Bathing

• Meal Preperation

• Assisting with eating

• Assisting with dressing

• Assisting with toileting

• Assisting with ambulation

• Record keeping

• Taking Vital Signs

• Charting and communication of care with the nursing staff

• And other tasks

Acute Care Certifications

Most CNA's start out in long-term care, but there are additional certificate programs that can help interested CNAs obtain acute care experience. CNA's who work in skilled nursing facilities work with a variety of patient populations, though most of the patients you will care for are elderly. It is not uncommon to be assigned to a younger person who is recovering from surgery such as joint replacement, or who needs physical therapy on an inpatient basis.

The Skills That You May Learn

What you learn during a CNA class is how to deal with people effectively. Patients have rights, and there is a great deal of responsibility in caring for people that the CNA will assume. You should learn about how to respect the rights of patients and what the consequences are for violating the patient's bill of rights.

• You may learn about how safely to use equipment such as lifts, whirlpool baths

• You may learn how to assist in the bathing process.

• You may learn how to take vital signs

• You may learn how to monitor your patients for problems such as heart attack or stroke.

• You may learn how to keep your patients safe

• You may learn how to handle end of life care respectfully.

Obviously what you might learn depends upon where you take your classes, and there requirements in your state, but hopefully this article gives you a general idea. Overall, being a CNA can be very rewarding. This is also an entry level position that can lead to higher education such as becoming a nurse. There are a number of places such as community colleges where a person may be able to take their CNA training. There may also be private schools available. Classes may cost more if you live in a state where the cost of living is higher too. If you want to learn more about CNA classes, training, and the idea of becoming a CNA, one there are a number of sites that you can visit online such as CNA Classes Central (you can click here to visit their website).