CNA

The Hospice CNA, or Certified Nurse Assistant, offers various services to hospice patients and their families, mostly with or under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. CNA care is usually provided in the home of the patient in order to supplement the care that the individual is already receiving from caregivers and family members. 

As members of the hospice care team, LifeChoice CNAs provide physical assistance with acts of daily living and emotional support for both the patient and their loved ones. These angels ensure that the ones they care for remain as independent as their limits allow. An individual’s dignity is the most important consideration.

What does a CNA do at LifeChoice?

The Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) can easily be labeled as the unsung hero of hospice care. Their role as part of the hospice or palliative care team is crucial. Certified nursing assistants are the hospice team’s eyes, ears, and hands. Because they have significant personal contact with patients, they document and communicate physical and emotional needs to the team. Under the supervision of the RN (registered nurse), the CNA and home health care providers provide daily care to improve the daily lives, well-being, and dignity of our older people, which includes basic tasks such as:

• Feeding the patient
• Assisting patient with grooming and using the toilet
• Bathing the patient
• Turning the bed-bound patient
• Changing the patient’s linens
• Keeping the patient’s living space clean
• Assisting with the set up of medical equipment
• Stocking medical supplies

Certified Nursing Assistants Provide Constant Comfort & Care

LifeChoice CNA is responsible for so many small, yet significant care activities. Our CNAs are immersed in the individual’s needs. 

A CNA’s work focuses on one concept: comfort. There are no two people who require the same care, so our registered nurse creates a care plan based on an individual’s specific needs in order to ensure that each person they care for is as comfortable as possible. Our CNA is responsible for implementing this plan and ensuring that all personal care issues are met.

Another important role for CNAs is to monitor any changes in a patient’s appearance. Without thorough, diligent attention, this would be impossible. LifeChoice CNA is always aware of what is happening to their patients. They regularly inform RN and staff about shifts or changes that are observed during their close interactions with those they care for , and they are often the first to know if there is a problem. 

The Role of the CNA is Irreplaceable.

LifeChoice CNAs consider this work more than just a job and they find great fulfillment in the emotional connection they have with the ones they care for.  The strong relationships that a CNA builds can often leave an unforgettable impression on both the CNA and the patient. The emotional connection means that many CNAs consider their work more than just a job. Hospice patients can sometimes feel alone. CNAs often provide a warm presence with their empathy and acute listening skills. 

A CNAs reassurance and calm nature during each patient’s unique hospice experience is beyond measure and often seamlessly situations themselves into each person’s daily routine as not to disrupt, but to aid. 

In a hospice setting, family members are often caretakers. A CNA can provide relief to the family, who are often also coping with emotional and physical needs. A CNA may help with keeping the patient’s room tidy and clean, transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair, range of motion exercises, and showers or baths depending on the plan of care. The CNA also consults regularly with her supervising registered nurse to keep hospice team members apprised of a patient’s progression and the family’s needs.

Does the CNA monitor patient nutrition and supplements?

A CNA has a role in the hospice patient’s nutritional needs, ensuring appropriate foods and liquids are being consumed by the patient. Various types of medications and medical treatments often change the way a hospice patient eats. Limited appetite, slower absorption, and/or physical changes of the body also contribute to an individual’s unique needs. A CNA encourages nutritional intake and ensures that the patient is adequately hydrated, according to the specific plan of care written out by the RN and family. 

Meet Our Amazing CNAs

It’s a bird…It’s a plane…It’s a SUPER CNA!! Our small, but mighty, Sandra Cruz has worked side by side with our team of RNs and social workers since 2015.  Defender of all that is good, she lifts up her colleagues and her patients with her unwavering spirit and fearless attitude. Here’s what she has to say about being a Hospice CNA:

Question: How did you get your start in hospice?
Sandra: I was working in a nursing home and I would see the hospice RNs come into the facility to take care of some of the patients. The hospice nurses were so compassionate and patient. The end-of-life patients who were being cared for by the hospice nurses were so much less scared than the patients who were not getting  hospice care. Our staff was always calling the hospice nurses, myself included, for assistance. They always arrived so quickly and were never hesitant to do anything they needed to do to get their patients comfortable. Those patients were always so peaceful and it made me want to be a part of the hospice team. 

Question: What makes being a hospice CNA fulfilling?
Sandra: I think knowing that being able to help patients and their families when they need it the most makes me feel like I am doing the right thing. Sometimes a patient just needs a shoulder to lean on and someone to listen to them talk, or even cry. 

Question: What does your average day look like? 
Sandra: (chuckles) There is no average day. Everyday is different. Sometimes I start early in the morning and wrap up early in the afternoon. Sometimes I have a delayed start so that I can assist a patient who needs care later in the day. Being a hospice CNA means you have to be flexible. The main thing is to always make sure my patients are taken care of. 

Question: What do you do to wind down?
Sandra: Afterwork and on the weekends, I like to just relax. I listen to music or watch something funny. I even like to watch cartoons with my grandkids!

She may not wear an actual cape, but she sure is our superhero!