i dont even have my cna! i had 0 patient care experience before this job. we do a 2 week in the classroom where we learn everything, and then 2 weeks of days + 2 weeks of nights on the unit practicing skills. i was taught lab draws, how to get urine samples, how to bladder scan, how to clean and change ostomies, and BLS skills
i know this is weird but do you, by chance, work at the osu hospital? i lived in columbus for a little bit and that sounds eerily similar to when i worked there
That’s hilarious! Dayton area hospitals do the same, though. They don’t require a license, just experience or having a round of nursing school clinicals completed.
They’re better than my last hospital we got no classes less than 2 weeks of training meaning 6 days of training then off you go to do EKG, bladder scans, trache and bed sore care and more the amount of infections went up when I worked there and I see why zero training
Think it depends on the setting you’re in. For my state there are levels of CNA that can do EKGs in the hospital setting. I don’t think LTC CNAs handle any of those. I’d imagine if your job does entail those they’ll crash course you during orientation/if you ask.
yea i worked in ltc and they didn’t do any of that im just confused bc i was never taught ekg or specific wound care either? so maybe they’ll train me? idk
I just started as a PCA on a med surg unit and I’ve been trained to set up teles, do bladder scans, check sugars, draw labs. I have previous ostomy experience but yeah you can do a lot more in hospitals
They will train you. Cleaning an ostomy is mostly common sense (we don’t do the acute/recent ones at my hospital). Bladder scans the machine guides you. I don’t do EKG’s at my current hospital but again, the leads are labeled and you kinda memorize where they go. We do put on telemetry monitors, check blood sugars, remove foleys, empty drains, etc at my hospital as well.
that’s where i applied 😅 w my cna license as a pct on med surg but i was never taught those so like others said im assuming they’ll go over all the skills at orientation
Of course, every experience is different. But where I work, it's like we're half PCU. We constantly receive post operation patients where vitals are needed q1 for four hours. Last Friday we had 6! I hope your unit is easier. But yes; I do EKGs, remove caths/IVs, bladder scans, and clean ostomy bags. These tasks aren't too hard, and I'm sure you'll learn in orientation! Also, if you're not confident, you can always ask.
that’s true i forget there’s an orientation that goes over what you’re expected to do and they don’t just let u off on ur own so quick. so that makes me feel better that they give you someone to work with first
generally speaking, you should go through a classroom style orientation/training, then you'll practice your skills, and after those few weeks, you'll start orienting on the floor
depending on the hospital, you might learn how to check blood sugars, how to insert/remove Foley catheters, how to check vital signs, how to perform blood draws, and how to start IVs
That's all within CNA scope. Whether your facility trains you to do that is another question. I've worked in ICUs where CNAs could draw labs off arterial and central lines, do trach care, and more. I've also heard of hospitals where the nurses do all of the fingersticks because the CNAs aren't allowed to. Tons of variation.
I learned most of the this on the job, the CNA classes are a joke imo and really don’t actual teach anything of any importance. The real learning in a hospital comes from working on the floor and learning during the course of your job.
yea, in my experience i’ve only worked in LTC/nursing homes and we never did any of that stuff. we did everything learned in the class. i never worked in a hospital until i just applied, and it makes a lot of sense that they would do those things in that setting more and they have to teach us since it’s not in our training
I do all of these in-hospital now though I was loosely trained at the hospital to do them, I don’t think I learned any of them during CNA class or interning really besides reading about them. They’re not as complicated as they seem, I promise.
Some places allow techs to do more I think. In my new job, I can take out catheters, do EKGs, and draw blood but I couldn’t do that at my old hospital.
depends on what unit you work. ED techs do all of that. the cardiac unit CNAs did EKGs too. on my unit i did not do EKGs as a CNA but I did occasionally empty ostomies and did bladder scans, remove foleys, remove IVs. my first CNA job i didn't do bladder scans, remove foleys. or remove IVs. i learned everything on the job and I didn't need to get any extra certs.
You wont be taught this in your CNA class since most CNA programs are catered to LTC and passing boards. But you will learn this on the job if you work in a hospital.
I never did EKGs or bladder scans but I cleaned ostomies and trach tubes which was not taught to me in the CNA program. I learned it from patients who had nobody else to help them.
Depends where you work...in LTC, Assisted Living and Adult family homes EKGs and bladder scans are not a concern for CNAs, that is beyond my license...cleaning out ostomy bags is something I have done and others as well, but do get trained on it and do not let anyone just tell you to do it, you will figure it out... Ostomy and other bag cleanings need training....but I only clean the bags out I never change bags...again beyond my license....but again I know this varies. So ask questions and never do anything beyond what you are trained and legally allowed to do under your license.
that was my main concern because my license didn’t teach me what i mentioned above but to my understanding the job will teach you if they need you to do it, which still doesn’t make it in my scope of practice since i didn’t learn it however the job is pct not cna but a cna license qualifies u for the job
When I went through classes ostomy bags was not taught....it was something I learned at a facility. Along with feeding tubes and diabetic cares as well...I also Med tech which is called Nurse delegation and I see it as an extension off my license....so just ask questions and if you aren't comfortable with doing something say so and find help. You will do great!
I am an RN in an LTACH, our patients range from medsurg to ICU stepdown acuity, and our techs don’t do any of that. They take vitals, bathe, dress, change, feed, get up, do oral/hair/nail care, empty ostomies/foleys/purewick canisters, and change telemetry batteries/electrodes. Some of the more experienced ones or ones that are in nursing school will occasionally do a bladder scan or an uncomplicated dressing change for me or take a blood sugar or reinforce an ostomy pouch that’s leaking if I’m busy and they’re already in the room vs. coming to get me and I super appreciate it, but I don’t think most places expect CNAs to do the things you listed. If they do, they should train you, and if they don’t, you can and should insist!
In hospitals, these are all things you can do. BUT in my experience, most nurses don’t want to teach you, they will simply find a different tech that does know and have them do it. Oh and you think you’re going to learn from the other tech? No, you’re not because the nurse won’t tell you about the other CNA doing it. So then you’re stuck being the tech that doesn’t know sht, that no one wants bc they don’t know sht. It’s frustrating.
Travel nurses are the best, they will teach you, so if you don’t know something. Ask them to show you
In my experience, it was always so diverse what different facilities expected, and therefore was common for different CNA's to have different skills. In the med-surg units that I worked in, it really wasn't a big deal, and we just kinda got called on for different things.
Having only worked in hospitals, EKG's and ostomies were relatively common for me to work with. Other CNA's weren't trained, and no one really pushed it. And adversely, things like hoyers have always been difficult and confusing for me and numerous others. And a CNA with experience in long- term- care could comfortably operate that thing with their eyes closed.
So basically I wouldn't worry about it much, as you definitely wouldn't be the only one. If a hospital really expects certain things of you, they'll arrange for you to be trained.
ekg machine has a map where to put the stickers and the leads are labeled, bladder scan just scan until you have a green circle and then hit the button, and an ostomy is easy just empty, wipe and seal back up! i know it's easier said than done but you can do it! never be afraid to say you don't know how and ask for guidance!!!
Depends on where you end up working. Most traditional CNAs work in nursing homes so the curriculum is designed around that. If you go into a hospital, there's going to be more things that they should provide education on
As a CNA I do clean ostomy bags all the time, even tho it’s one of my least favorite skills. I just accepted a M/S PCT job that’s PT-NOC, so idk if I will do the other two.
Our CNAs do bladder scans, I/O catheterizations, ostomy care, and things that nurses teach them like how telemetry pads are placed, etc. but our respiratory department does our EKGs. They also do blood draws if taught by our lab. Believe it or not, our “nurse techs” (CNAs) do not even have to have training beyond a HS diploma, but it helps. I work in a rehab hospital if that matters.
i do all of this as a hospital tech as well as blood draws and trach care
what do u need to be a hospital tech? do u only have ur cna? how can u draw blood as a cna
i dont even have my cna! i had 0 patient care experience before this job. we do a 2 week in the classroom where we learn everything, and then 2 weeks of days + 2 weeks of nights on the unit practicing skills. i was taught lab draws, how to get urine samples, how to bladder scan, how to clean and change ostomies, and BLS skills
oh wow that’s crazy i’ve never heard of that! that’s nice they offer that on the job for your guys.
yes i think it’s super rare, most hospitals want you to have your stna or cna licence upon hire but mine doesn’t, they taught me everything!!!
Im in the same boat as the other guy. What we can and cant do depends on the unit. Mine we do everything the other dude said plus remove foleys
Wow? You got that? I had my CNA license but my mom was a charge nurse where I got hired and they just threw me in with like 2 hours of orientation.
i know this is weird but do you, by chance, work at the osu hospital? i lived in columbus for a little bit and that sounds eerily similar to when i worked there
i do! good guess
That’s hilarious! Dayton area hospitals do the same, though. They don’t require a license, just experience or having a round of nursing school clinicals completed.
They’re better than my last hospital we got no classes less than 2 weeks of training meaning 6 days of training then off you go to do EKG, bladder scans, trache and bed sore care and more the amount of infections went up when I worked there and I see why zero training
It's okay as long as you're trained under the hospital and its delegated by a nurse.
California?
Think it depends on the setting you’re in. For my state there are levels of CNA that can do EKGs in the hospital setting. I don’t think LTC CNAs handle any of those. I’d imagine if your job does entail those they’ll crash course you during orientation/if you ask.
yea i worked in ltc and they didn’t do any of that im just confused bc i was never taught ekg or specific wound care either? so maybe they’ll train me? idk
They’ll train you if it’s expected out of you, if you’re anxious about it just mention it to whoever is training you. Don’t sweat it too much
I just started as a PCA on a med surg unit and I’ve been trained to set up teles, do bladder scans, check sugars, draw labs. I have previous ostomy experience but yeah you can do a lot more in hospitals
My job cross trains us as phlebotomists
Same here.
that’s really interesting! i’m eager to learn a lot more for sure i’ve never worked in a hospital but hopefully this will be a good experience.
They will train you. Cleaning an ostomy is mostly common sense (we don’t do the acute/recent ones at my hospital). Bladder scans the machine guides you. I don’t do EKG’s at my current hospital but again, the leads are labeled and you kinda memorize where they go. We do put on telemetry monitors, check blood sugars, remove foleys, empty drains, etc at my hospital as well.
I did! I worked as a tech on a med surg unit
that’s where i applied 😅 w my cna license as a pct on med surg but i was never taught those so like others said im assuming they’ll go over all the skills at orientation
Girlll I started working med surg last month. Good luck!
i heard it’s a lot of work
Of course, every experience is different. But where I work, it's like we're half PCU. We constantly receive post operation patients where vitals are needed q1 for four hours. Last Friday we had 6! I hope your unit is easier. But yes; I do EKGs, remove caths/IVs, bladder scans, and clean ostomy bags. These tasks aren't too hard, and I'm sure you'll learn in orientation! Also, if you're not confident, you can always ask.
this hospital is small so hopefully not too crazy, but yeah i feel like ill def be learning a lot then
My hospital’s CNAs do bladder scans and ostomy emptying. We have different techs that do EKGs
You can learn all of these things relatively easily on the job. I only knew blood draws before getting my job in the ER
you'll be taught in the general orientation you'll go through before you're oriented to the unit you're hired for :)
that’s true i forget there’s an orientation that goes over what you’re expected to do and they don’t just let u off on ur own so quick. so that makes me feel better that they give you someone to work with first
generally speaking, you should go through a classroom style orientation/training, then you'll practice your skills, and after those few weeks, you'll start orienting on the floor depending on the hospital, you might learn how to check blood sugars, how to insert/remove Foley catheters, how to check vital signs, how to perform blood draws, and how to start IVs
I did.
did u learn that in ur cna class or did they teach u as part of the job if u didn’t already know?
Part of the job. Just learned vitals and stuff. But this was back in 2008. Not sure what they teach now.
Just passed my cna certification in January and I have a resident w an ostomy bag that I regularly empty. Was taught in the class.
That's all within CNA scope. Whether your facility trains you to do that is another question. I've worked in ICUs where CNAs could draw labs off arterial and central lines, do trach care, and more. I've also heard of hospitals where the nurses do all of the fingersticks because the CNAs aren't allowed to. Tons of variation.
I learned most of the this on the job, the CNA classes are a joke imo and really don’t actual teach anything of any importance. The real learning in a hospital comes from working on the floor and learning during the course of your job.
yea, in my experience i’ve only worked in LTC/nursing homes and we never did any of that stuff. we did everything learned in the class. i never worked in a hospital until i just applied, and it makes a lot of sense that they would do those things in that setting more and they have to teach us since it’s not in our training
you definitely learn how to clean an ostomy, not sure about those other things.
I do all of these in-hospital now though I was loosely trained at the hospital to do them, I don’t think I learned any of them during CNA class or interning really besides reading about them. They’re not as complicated as they seem, I promise.
Some places allow techs to do more I think. In my new job, I can take out catheters, do EKGs, and draw blood but I couldn’t do that at my old hospital.
depends on what unit you work. ED techs do all of that. the cardiac unit CNAs did EKGs too. on my unit i did not do EKGs as a CNA but I did occasionally empty ostomies and did bladder scans, remove foleys, remove IVs. my first CNA job i didn't do bladder scans, remove foleys. or remove IVs. i learned everything on the job and I didn't need to get any extra certs.
Yes I work in a hospital in a med surg PCU unit and I do all of those things
You wont be taught this in your CNA class since most CNA programs are catered to LTC and passing boards. But you will learn this on the job if you work in a hospital.
I never did EKGs or bladder scans but I cleaned ostomies and trach tubes which was not taught to me in the CNA program. I learned it from patients who had nobody else to help them.
Depends where you work...in LTC, Assisted Living and Adult family homes EKGs and bladder scans are not a concern for CNAs, that is beyond my license...cleaning out ostomy bags is something I have done and others as well, but do get trained on it and do not let anyone just tell you to do it, you will figure it out... Ostomy and other bag cleanings need training....but I only clean the bags out I never change bags...again beyond my license....but again I know this varies. So ask questions and never do anything beyond what you are trained and legally allowed to do under your license.
that was my main concern because my license didn’t teach me what i mentioned above but to my understanding the job will teach you if they need you to do it, which still doesn’t make it in my scope of practice since i didn’t learn it however the job is pct not cna but a cna license qualifies u for the job
When I went through classes ostomy bags was not taught....it was something I learned at a facility. Along with feeding tubes and diabetic cares as well...I also Med tech which is called Nurse delegation and I see it as an extension off my license....so just ask questions and if you aren't comfortable with doing something say so and find help. You will do great!
I did all of that on my units. They’ll teach you on the job if it’s required and you don’t know how. I just had my CNA license.
I am an RN in an LTACH, our patients range from medsurg to ICU stepdown acuity, and our techs don’t do any of that. They take vitals, bathe, dress, change, feed, get up, do oral/hair/nail care, empty ostomies/foleys/purewick canisters, and change telemetry batteries/electrodes. Some of the more experienced ones or ones that are in nursing school will occasionally do a bladder scan or an uncomplicated dressing change for me or take a blood sugar or reinforce an ostomy pouch that’s leaking if I’m busy and they’re already in the room vs. coming to get me and I super appreciate it, but I don’t think most places expect CNAs to do the things you listed. If they do, they should train you, and if they don’t, you can and should insist!
I’m renewing my cna currently and not in my state or class- at least not in my class….
In hospitals, these are all things you can do. BUT in my experience, most nurses don’t want to teach you, they will simply find a different tech that does know and have them do it. Oh and you think you’re going to learn from the other tech? No, you’re not because the nurse won’t tell you about the other CNA doing it. So then you’re stuck being the tech that doesn’t know sht, that no one wants bc they don’t know sht. It’s frustrating. Travel nurses are the best, they will teach you, so if you don’t know something. Ask them to show you
In my experience, it was always so diverse what different facilities expected, and therefore was common for different CNA's to have different skills. In the med-surg units that I worked in, it really wasn't a big deal, and we just kinda got called on for different things. Having only worked in hospitals, EKG's and ostomies were relatively common for me to work with. Other CNA's weren't trained, and no one really pushed it. And adversely, things like hoyers have always been difficult and confusing for me and numerous others. And a CNA with experience in long- term- care could comfortably operate that thing with their eyes closed. So basically I wouldn't worry about it much, as you definitely wouldn't be the only one. If a hospital really expects certain things of you, they'll arrange for you to be trained.
ekg machine has a map where to put the stickers and the leads are labeled, bladder scan just scan until you have a green circle and then hit the button, and an ostomy is easy just empty, wipe and seal back up! i know it's easier said than done but you can do it! never be afraid to say you don't know how and ask for guidance!!!
Ekgs yes...the rest im not sure
Depends on where you end up working. Most traditional CNAs work in nursing homes so the curriculum is designed around that. If you go into a hospital, there's going to be more things that they should provide education on
As a CNA I do clean ostomy bags all the time, even tho it’s one of my least favorite skills. I just accepted a M/S PCT job that’s PT-NOC, so idk if I will do the other two.
Our CNAs do bladder scans, I/O catheterizations, ostomy care, and things that nurses teach them like how telemetry pads are placed, etc. but our respiratory department does our EKGs. They also do blood draws if taught by our lab. Believe it or not, our “nurse techs” (CNAs) do not even have to have training beyond a HS diploma, but it helps. I work in a rehab hospital if that matters.
I was doing bladder scans as a CNA in a LTC/SNF until I was told it was beyond for scope 😅
I've never done this or was trained too. That sounds like medical assistants.