As a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), your job includes providing hands-on care for patients in a healthcare setting. While this can be a fulfilling career, it also comes with its own set of safety concerns. Your daily tasks can be physically and emotionally demanding and require you to be alert, focused, and proactive in ensuring the safety of both yourself and your patients. To help you stay safe while working as a CNA, you must remain proactive and keep some of the safety tips listed below in mind.
Wash Your Hands Often
Keeping your hands clean is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and infections. Always wash your hands regularly, especially before and after caring for patients and handling equipment. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
Take Regular Breaks
Caring for patients can be physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. It's essential to take breaks to recharge and prevent burnout. Be sure to take regular breaks, stretch your muscles, and take deep breaths to reduce stress and avoid injury. Additionally, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep to maintain your physical and emotional well-being.
Wear Personal Protective Equipment
Working in a healthcare setting can expose you to bodily fluids, infectious diseases, and other hazards. To protect yourself, wear the appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection, as required. Additionally, properly remove and dispose of the personal protective equipment to avoid contamination.
Keep Your Workspace Clean and Organized
A clean and organized workspace can help you work more efficiently and effectively while reducing the risk of injury. Regularly clean and disinfect your work area, and properly store equipment and supplies. Additionally, keep your workspace free of clutter and clear pathways to avoid tripping hazards.
Report Incidents and Accidents
If you experience an incident or accident while performing on the job, report it to your supervisor as soon as possible. This will allow for investigating the incident, identifying any safety hazards, and applying corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Additionally, reporting incidents can help you receive the support and resources you need to recover from an injury.
Practice Safe Body Mechanics
Lifting, transferring, and repositioning patients can put a lot of strain on your back and muscles. To prevent injury, use proper body mechanics and always lift with your legs, not your back. Be bold and ask for help when lifting heavy patients, as this can prevent injury and ensure that you can provide safe care.
Working as a Certified Nursing Assistant requires a commitment to safety, both for yourself and your patients, so that you can provide the best care possible. By following these tips, you can stay safe and confident while providing high-quality care in a healthcare setting. Now that we've shared tips on staying safe in your work environment, we'd like to share the next steps.
What are the next steps?
Check us out.
Schedule a Tour at Nurse Resource Training Center LLC.
Complete an Enrollment Application at:
Sign up for a course.
Graduate (Go You!)
Start your new career as a Certified Nursing Assistant!
Nurse Resource Training Center is now a CEU Provider. Classes will be available starting near
the summer of 2023 and can be taken at the training center to meet the 24-hour requirement.
*Please note. You will need to upload documents to CE Broker. Courses can be found here at
https://courses.cebroker.com/search/fl/certified-nursing-assistant. Feel free to contact us for
more details.
When is the next course?
Day Nursing Assistant Courses
7 week - Day Sessions 2023 | Monday - Thursday, 9am - 2:15pm |
April 20 - June 15 | Monday - Thursday, 9am - 2:15pm |
August 4 - September 2 | Monday - Thursday, 9am - 2:15pm |
Evening Nursing Assistant Courses
7 week - Evening Sessions 2023 | Monday - Thursday, 4pm - 9:00pm |
April 20 - June 15 | Monday - Thursday, 4pm - 9:00pm |
August 4 - September 2 | Monday - Thursday, 4pm - 9:00pm |
References:
Nurse Sharena Beard, MSN, RN
Founder of Nurse Resource Training Center LLC
850-792-6619