Certified Nurse Assistant Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Check on and assist patients with nutrition, hydration, exercise, hygiene, and other daily living needs


• Serve meals to patients; help them eat and drink if necessary


• Dispense medicine if state certification laws allow


• Help bathe, groom, and dress the patient


• Reposition and turn bedridden patients; assist those who need help walking or assistance transporting in wheelchairs


• Keep rooms clean and sterile and change soiled bedding and bedpans


• Take vital signs daily and record patient eating habits and bodily functions, reporting any drastic changes to a nurse or physician


• Transport medical equipment in and out of rooms according to patient requirements


• Answer calls for help and is a patient and compassionate care-taker for your patients


• Follow state and federal mandated standards and procedures

• High School degree or equivalent (GED)


• State-approved CNA education and training program completion; pass competency test following a training program in order to gain your state-approved certification


• Continued education (if your state law requires)


• Basic knowledge of medicine


• High level of patience, empathy, and compassion


• Excellent observation skills with high attention to detail


• Exemplary communication skills, both written and oral


• Basic computer and note-taking skills (record keeping)


• Ability to work long hours on one’s feet often doing very physical work