What is the primary role of a CNA in a healthcare facility?

The primary role of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in a healthcare facility is to provide care and assist patients with daily living activities under the supervision of a nurse. This encompasses a wide range of tasks that are essential for the comfort, safety, and overall well-being of patients. Such activities may include helping patients with bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility, as well as assisting with basic medical tasks like taking vital signs.

This role is critical as it directly impacts the quality of care that patients receive. CNAs often spend the most time with patients, allowing them to build rapport and recognize changes in the patients' conditions that may need to be communicated to nursing staff. Their work is foundational in ensuring that patients can maintain a level of independence while receiving the support they need for daily activities and personal care.

In contrast, options regarding medication management, administrative duties, and supervising nursing staff describe roles that are outside the CNA's scope of practice. Medication management typically falls under the responsibilities of licensed nurses, the administrative duties are handled by office staff, and supervising nursing staff is a role reserved for higher-level nursing positions, not for CNAs. This clear delineation of responsibilities highlights the important but distinct level of care provided by CNAs in the healthcare team