Nursing in another Aspect

During a conversation with a friend of mine, we were discussing the conditions of her job.  I've wondered for a while what her actual job description and title was, but I always assumed she was an LPN (licensed practical nurse).  So I took it upon myself, to ask her what exactly she does. She told me she was a CNA, or certified nursing assistant. As she started describing some of the things she does on her job, I thought that they were the same as those of an LPN.  I found that the duties between a CNA (certified nursing assistant) and a LPN (licensed practical nurse) vary from care to training. 

 A CNA provides assistance to the residents or patients that can’t take care of themselves as if they were living at home. CNAs spend most of their time getting to know the resident physically and emotionally. They provide care as far as feeding, clothing, bathing, and lending an ear to listen to the resident when there is a particular problem they may need to confirm. It’s the CNAs job to always provide a welcome and comfortable home for the patient. If a new resident arrives in a facility that they are not used to, they may become very confused or scared. As a caregiver, a CNA should make sure the resident knows that everything is going to be okay at all times. CNAs also receive the residents’ vitals: blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and their temperature and report any unusual problems in the resident’s behavior, eating habits, and strength.  Often times the patients are older adults and need to be taken care of very carefully, as a CNA they should show compassion, lend a helping hand, and always listen. 

One the other hand, LPNs spend about half of their time working charting information needed on the residents. This information may be things such as: what pill has been handed out, how many times the resident had an output, their blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, and behavior problems. They also provide proper medication to residents prescribed by doctors. An LPN can tend to be less affectionate towards patients than a CNA would, but in all they are supposed to care for the residents as much as the CNA does. When or if a resident needs to talk to anyone about their health problems they usually call for the LPN, and if it’s a question that they cannot answer, they may call on a RN for help because LPNs are not qualified to do as much as an RN does.

     A CNA makes less than an LPN, and it takes a CNA only a few weeks of lessons, whereas an LPN, a one-year learning process. Their duties differ from one another and so can their care-giving skills. The LPNs do not make as valuable time for the patients as CNAs, but they do provide more health related care to them.