MY JOB DESCRIPTION

From my last post, I talked some of there experiences I have faced as being a CNA. I never  thought that I could do this job but I actually enjoy it. I love being able to take care of people. I love building relationships with them as well. Working as a rehab CNA, I experience the changes of incoming and outgoing of patients. A patient can stay a maximum of up to 100 days or stay one day depending on the type of therapy needed for them.  My biggest smile comes from the accomplishment of a patient. My biggest frown is seeing them leave. I will talk about my job on what I do on a daily basis.

I wake up roughly around 5:00 am to be at work at 6:00 am. I start my day as some and clock in. ( I hate our time clock by the way, its one of those ones that read the hands. Mine never reads) I go to my neighborhood (unit) which is called Renaissance Way (I think it sounds tough). I grab my CNA worksheet which gives all the information (bath days, daily weights, transfer mobility and so etc...) of all my patients. I go on to get report (information about the patient from their shift)  from the previous shift. Then I grab all of my wash cloths and towels to go to each room to clean my patients up. Since I work first shift, most of my patients on my assignment want up for breakfast which starts at 7:30. I have to have them all down there by that time so I can help with breakfast setup. There are the patients that are in their rooms that would rather have their breakfast served to them in their rooms and they get breakfast trays. After breakfast, I finish cleaning up the rest of the patients that I couldn't get to, I shower the ones that are due for theirs, and make sure everyone has used the bathroom. Rehab unit is a more demanding because the patients are call light happy needing things over and over. Theses patients come straight from the hospital needing therapy on either their replacement knees, hips, arms, etc..  Some patients had strokes that learn to walk again. Patients that have heart attacks learning to be stronger again or simply just in rehab for speech. I get to meet all types of people and I love seeing their progress but there are those who do give up and they have to be sent to a long term care facility. Anyways, after breakfast and all their showers and their bowels have moved, they get ready for lunch. Lunch is done the same way as breakfast and they are laid down to rest if they want to afterwards. During the whole day, these patients receive their therapy (physical, occupational or speech) so they are pretty worn out. Then its time for the next shift and I give them report.

This is a catheter bag being empties for the patients that can't
get up and go to the bathroom. I currently have two patients
with these. We record their output.

These are bedpans. These are used for the patients that
have hip fractures.

This is a hoyer lift. These are used for the patients who can't
walk or are too weak to walk.

This is a gait belt. These are used for patients that need
assistance on standing or walking.

These are some of the things that I use on a daily basis. To learn more about what a CNA does please visit http://nursinglink.monster.com/education/articles/3787 .

Experiencing The Medical Field As A CNA

Do you know what CNA stands for? No, it doesn't just qualify as an "experienced butt wiper". (Ha Ha) CNA actually stands for Certified Nursing Assistant. I am one of those. Some people may read this and ask themselves... Is she for real? Is she actually saying she is proud of being one? The answer is yes! Being a CNA has taught me some valuable things in life. Before I became a CNA, I worked in retail.  I helped people out by buying a lawn mower or a new washer but that wasn't really "helping" someone out. I wanted to do more.  I wanted to make a difference in someone's life besides making their clothes cleaner or making their yards greener. I wanted to help them feel better but instead reverse psychology took place and they changed me.

I decided to become a nurse aide in 2012. It was a super hard 3 weeks trying to stay focused on getting my certificate. You had to be in class for one whole week straight and clinicals for two weeks. If you missed any days, you were out. During the 3 weeks, my cousin lost her baby at 20 weeks. I missed the funeral because I was focused on getting my certificate. It was a hard choice but this was an opportunity and I couldn't pass it up. I was so excited and so happy to learn that I passed the final exam. I started searching for jobs and finally landed my first job as a CNA. I was so nervous! I was so scared seeing all the different patients having different types of illnesses. This was all new to me and I didn't know how to handle it.  After a while, I started learning these patients lives and it took an effect on me and how blessed I was to be as healthy as I am and I could use my health to help them. I was at my first job for a while and recently back in this past August, I applied to Aspen Trace in Greenwood, Indiana. When I was hired in, the DON (Director of Nursing) told me that she didn't see why she wouldn't want me. I was hired for the rehab unit that day! My experience there has been amazing. I have met so many new people and have made some close friends especially my nurse, Haley! It is awesome to work under a nurse who cares so much about her patients and gives them treats on holidays. 

I have experienced  death, the crazy and great progress. My first death experience scared me half to death. I WILL NEVER forget it! Let me share with you the story... My co-worker and I knew this man was going to pass on our shift by the way his vitals were looking. The man had kidney failure and I had seen him slowly fade away day by day.  I remember taking my lunch that night and when I came back, my co-worker went. Before she went, I asked her how he was doing. She told me she had just checked on him and he was still hanging on. She went to lunch. She was only gone for 30 mins. After 15 mins of her telling me that he was still hanging on, I checked on him. The man was in a dark room (that is how he liked it). He was a c-pap on (a breathing machine with a mask). When I peeked into his room, I could tell he wasn't breathing. I wouldn't go in that room by myself. I got the nurse and we both went in his room and she checked his vitals and sure enough, he was gone. She asked me to take his mask off and I looked at her like she came from the crazy house. I told her there was NO WAY I was about to do that. She took it into consideration and she took it off. As she took the mask off, the mans eyes flung open and holy crap did I run out of that room. As a CNA, I didn't know that cleaning up a dead body was part of my job description until that night. I had to go back into his room with other co-workers to get his body ready for the mortuary. Let me tell you, it was the worst experience of my life.  This man was not skinny minnie and he almost fell off the bed while we were cleaning him up but let me remind you, I stayed away from his face.

I can go on and on about my job but I think I will save that for the next post but take a look at this link for more information about what a CNA does  http://www.nursetogether.com/learning-the-life-of-a-certified-nursing-assistant  You never know, you may want to become one ;)



                    TO BE CONTINUED......

Lets Talk About Blood Pressure!

This is how we all feel when we get our blood pressure taken ;)

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries, which carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day. But if it stays high for a long time, it can damage your heart and lead to health problems. High blood pressure raises your risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States.1

High blood pressure has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. The only way to know if you have it is to measure your blood pressure. Then you can take steps to control it if it is too high.

Learn more about high blood pressure:

• High Blood Pressure Signs and Symptoms
• Effects of High Blood Pressure
• Measuring Blood Pressure
• Controlling Blood Pressure

Your health care team may refer to high blood pressure as hypertension.

         

What Does the Systolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?

When your heart beats, it contracts and pushes blood through the arteries to the rest of the body. This force creates pressure on the arteries. This is called systolic blood pressure.

A normal systolic blood pressure is below 120.

A systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 means you have prehypertension, or borderline high blood pressure. Even people with prehypertension are at a higher risk of developing heart disease.

A systolic blood pressure number of 140 or higher is considered to be hypertension, or high blood pressure.

What Does the Diastolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?

The diastolic blood pressure number or the bottom number indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.

A normal diastolic blood pressure number is less than 80.

A diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 indicates prehypertension.

A diastolic blood pressure number of 90 or higher is considered to be hypertension or high blood pressure.

How Is Blood Pressure Measured?

Blood pressure is measured with a simple, painless test using a blood pressure cuff -- doctors call it a sphygmomanometer. It consists of a small pressure gauge that is attached to a cuff.

The inflatable cuff is wrapped around your upper arm. Some blood pressure cuffs wrap around the forearm or wrist.

When measuring blood pressure, your doctor or nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through an artery.

The cuff is inflated to a pressure that’s known to be higher than your systolic blood pressure. As the cuff deflates, the first sound heard through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. When this noise goes away, that indicates the diastolic blood pressure.

The systolic blood pressure number is always said first, and then the diastolic blood pressure number is given. For example, your blood pressure may be read as "120 over 80" or written as 120/80.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

This is a picture of a healthy heart getting ready to be transplanted.

Some people may not know but blood pressure is not exactly part of vital statistics. Blood pressure should always be taken when taking vitals because its important. Blood pressure is typically recorded as two numbers. Systolic is the top number, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. Diastolic is the bottom number which is also the lower of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries between heart beats. What is the AHA recommendation for healthy blood pressure?

Normal- Systolic is less than 120 and Diastolic is less than 80.

Prehypertension- Systolic is 120 -139 or Diastolic is 80-89.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1- Systolic is 140-159 or Diastolic is 90-99.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2- Systolic is 160 or higher Diastolic is 100 or higher.

Hypertensive Crisis (Emergency care needed)- Systolic is higher than 180 or Diastolic is higher than 110

Checking your blood pressure is very important. Eating a healthy diet and regular exercise will help prevent high blood pressure and the different types of diseases associated with high blood pressure. Go to  http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/hypertension-symptoms-high-blood-pressure to get more information on the symptoms and the treatments of high blood pressure. 

Find downloadable fact sheets about high blood pressure and related conditions:

• High Blood Pressure
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• High Cholesterol
• Pulmonary Hypertension