As a Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA, there’s no such thing as a normal day at the office. Whether you’re working in a hospital, nursing home or as a home care assistant, every morning has the possibility of new adventures and challenges. Whether you’re just starting out in this interesting career path as a new CNA, or are a veteran CNA, there is always room to grow. New CNAs especially will benefit from the following tips.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of this rewarding career is expecting the unexpected. If you’re searching for a way to not only boost your productivity, but also your efficiency, then there are several tips designed to support your daily work life. As always, in order to truly exceed your own expectations, you should constantly be on the search for advice and tips from veteran Certified Nursing Assistants.
Tips for New CNAs | Essential Advice to Boost Efficiency
When first starting out in this dynamic career, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. While there are many colleagues capable of answering questions, you shouldn’t rely on the assistance of others to boost your efficiency, productivity and quality of care. The following tips are designed to help those fresh out of CNA school make these first few months as exciting and rewarding as possible.
- Always carry some sort of notebook or writing pad with you. There will be moments when you aren’t sure what to do next, or have a sudden question due to a specific situation. Sometimes, there isn’t time to ask these questions. Therefore, it’s important to write them down instead of hoping you’ll remember whenever you have a quiet moment. Moreover, a notebook can help keep your thoughts and essential tasks organized throughout your day.
- Make sure to read care plans ASAP! This is the most important step as it not only ensures you properly care for a patient, but also it demonstrates your excitement and eagerness to become a vital member of the health care team. Remember, when reading care plans, if you don’t understand a particular abbreviation or technique, always ask! The worst mistake you can ever make is assume you can figure it out, or avoiding questions because you’re embarrassed.
- Create a personalized CNA work kit, and always keep it on your person. A good portion of new CNAs keep a fanny pack on them throughout their shift. This isn’t a fashion statement, but rather, a streamlined way to ensure you have essential items with you at all times. Keep tape, gloves, pens, a notebook and any other essential item you will likely need at any point throughout your shift. Not only does this streamline your daily tasks, but it shows a specific level of preparedness your boss and high-level nursing staff will greatly appreciate.
- Perhaps the greatest tip out of all is to always remains observant. You should not only observe your fellow new CNAs, but also all other members of the nursing staff. Pay attention to how veteran CNAs organize and go about their day. You’ll be surprised just how much you can learn through the simple act of observation.
