A certified nursing assistant intern generally works under the supervision of a senior CNA and assists in providing direct and indirect nursing care to patients.
Their typical duties include; providing personal care, transportation, exercise, hygiene, and eating assistance.
CNA Internship Duties and Responsibilities
• Learn medical procedures including catheterization, enema, irrigation, douche, and massage under the direction of RN and CNA
• Ensure proper and timely intake of oral medication as per doctor’s prescription
• Help patients in using wheelchairs, walking, exercising, and moving in and out of bed
• Assist in transportation of patients from one department to another using stretchers and wheelchairs
• Ensure personal grooming of patients by cleaning, changing, bathing, combing hair, trimming nails, shaving, bathing, and dressing patients who are unable to perform these tasks
• Replenish medical supplies on the floor and maintain inventories for the same
• Restrain patients who are hyper or undergoing a procedure if necessary
• Regularly turn and relocate bedridden patients single-handedly to prevent bedsores
• Change linens of patient’s beds regularly
• Provide bedpans to bedridden patients when required and empty catheter bags regularly
• Sterilize all equipment used on the floor regularly and prepare treatment trays before procedures
• Maintain patient charts and keep them updated at all times, take and record their vitals periodically
• Assist the patients in taking their meals and ensure that the meal they are served is suitable and in accordance with their doctor’s prescription
• Prepare, serve and collect food trays
• Set up, sterilize and operate bedside equipment including oxygen machines, suction machines, and overhead irrigation bottles
• Move, set up and operate portable x-ray machines for x-ray imaging
• Monitor and record patients’ food intake and maintain nourishment chart
• Observe and record each patients’ daily progress and report any irregularity or point of concern observed to the treating physician or RN immediately
• Collect specimens for lab testing including urine, stool, sputum, and blood
• Provide clerical assistance by updating records, scheduling appointments, and forwarding documents
• Greet and direct visitors to respective patient beds
• Perform household services and housecleaning tasks regularly
• Ensure maintenance of assigned rooms in a neat, clean, sanitized, and hygienic manner at all times
• Perform basic medical procedures independently including temperature recording, blood pressure taking, pulse recording, and giving whirlpools
• Attend and respond aptly to patients’ calls, bells, and signals
• Provide assistance to patients in daily living skills
• Carefully note and observe patients’ responses to any changed or new medications
• Monitor patients for any medicine reaction or breathing difficulty
• Dress the wounds of post-surgical patients singlehandedly following HIPPA issued infection control protocols