Planning on starting your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in the US? Are you wondering what the essential CNA supplies for work could be? Are you planning to invest in some essential CNA supplies to start your CNA career?
Worry not! In this article, you will learn more about essential CNA supplies you may need for work and their uses as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
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The Role of a CNA
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) has many tasks on a daily basis. The main role of a CNA is to assist patients with their daily tasks. Certified Nursing Assistants offer basic care to patients, such as bathing, dressing, and taking medications.
CNAs require strength for physical tasks, like lifting and moving a patient from one place to another. CNAs also record the vital signs of patients and maintain a record of each patient’s information.
13 Essential CNA Supplies for Work
As a Certified Nursing Assistant, it is important to carry your essential supplies with you to make your work easier. It is important to be aware of the tools and supplies you need if you are considering pursuing a career as a CNA.
You should learn more about the role of a CNA as well as the tools and supplies you will be handling when you start practicing as a CNA. You may most likely be aware of the most commonly used supplies by CNAs when you start practicing.
Let’s discuss some essential CNA supplies that you must carry with you to work. These supplies can make your work easy. Here’s a list of 13 essential CNA supplies that can help you be more efficient at work.
- A thermometer.
- A uniform.
- Gloves.
- Protective gear.
- Hand sanitizer.
- A stethoscope.
- PPEs.
- Lifters.
- Organizers belt bags.
- Tape/bandaging supplies.
- A gait belt.
- Surgical scissors.
- A smartphone.
CNA Supplies for Work- Basic
A THERMOMETER:
It is a part of a Certified Nursing Assistant’s tasks to obtain a patient’s temperature as a part of getting their vital signs. While there are some CNAs who use traditional thermometers to record a patient’s body temperature, many use digital thermometers. Digital thermometers can record a patient’s body temperature through the ear or just by pressing it against the patient’s forehead.
A UNIFORM:
As a Certified Nursing Assistant, it is essential to carry your uniform. Though scrubs are comfortable, uniforms are more durable. It is good practice to have a spare uniform with you as it might help in emergencies. It is important to pick a uniform in a specific color and style as mentioned in your respective facility’s guidelines.
GLOVES:
Gloves are an essential item used by all professionals in the healthcare industry. As a CNA, it is necessary to wear gloves because you will be working mostly with patients who fall under the senior citizens category, so it is important to ensure the safety of both you and the patient. It is also necessary to have spare gloves all the time.
HAND SANITIZERS:
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Considering the current pandemic situation, it is necessary and required for all healthcare professionals to sanitize their hands often. As Nursing Assistants, you will work with doctors, nurses, patients, and other healthcare professionals closely, which increases the chances of spreading infections. So it is necessary to sanitize your hands before and after touching each patient.
A STETHOSCOPE:
As a professional in the healthcare industry, Certified Nursing Assistants are required to have a stethoscope with them. CNAs use their stethoscope to check and record a patient’s vital signs.
LIFTERS:
As a CNA, your daily tasks will involve physical work, such as lifting and moving patients from one place to another. Using the right equipment at the right time is necessary to ensure the safety of both you and the patient. Do not hesitate to use lifters to lift patients from the bed to prevent injuring your back or causing the patient to fall.
ORGANIZER BELT BAGS:
It is good practice to carry all the essential supplies you need for work in a small bag. Organizer bags are handy and can literally be a life-saver. You can organize your essential supplies inside the bag to make things easier and more convenient for work.
A GAIT BELT:
As said earlier, CNAs do a lot of physical work. CNAs need to ensure the safety of both the patient and themselves when lifting and moving patients. A gait belt is a safety device that is used to move a patient from one place to another. The belt gives support to the patient, thereby ensuring their safety. It also helps to prevent the healthcare professional from getting a back injury.
A SMARTPHONE:
Last but not least on our list is a smartphone. Smartphones have made most of our jobs easy. As a CNA, you will likely use functions, such as timers, clocks, unit converter apps, and web browsers. It is also useful in messaging or calling someone to quickly relay a message.
CNA Supplies for Work – Protective Gears
PPEs
PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. The main use of PPE is to safeguard healthcare workers from being exposed to biological agents. PPEs are protective gear designed to protect and minimize the chances of a healthcare professional being exposed to biological agents.
PROTECTIVE GEAR:
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As healthcare professionals, it is necessary to carry protective gear, such as masks, protective eyewear, caps, and gowns. As a CNA, you work closely with different patients with different health conditions. It is essential to protect yourself and other patients from spreading infections.
TAPE/BANDAGING SUPPLIES:
As healthcare professionals, CNAs are required to carry tape or bandaging supplies with them. In some states, a part of a CNA’s job is to change the dressing of an uninfected wound. Having these supplies handy makes it easy for the Nursing Assistant to immediately dress the wound, which can save a lot of time.
SURGICAL SCISSORS:
Most of the time, CNAs are responsible for dressing patients’ wounds or changing the dressing. They also offer general wound care as a part of their duty. At times like that, it is required for a healthcare professional to carry surgical scissors. Most CNAs own at least a few pairs of surgical scissors.
Wrapping Up
It is essential to have the right supplies to become a successful Certified Nursing Assistant in your state. Being a successful CNA can help you advance in your career and save you a lot of time and energy as well.
If you are passionate about becoming a successful CNA, you should try our free CNA practice test. Our practice test will help you efficiently prepare for the CNA exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the highest paying CNA job?
Some of the highest paying Certified Nursing Assistants jobs are as follows:
- Home health care.
- Nursing homes.
- Hospitals – Operating room, emergency room, ICU, medicine, and surgery.
Check our article on how much you can earn as a CNA for more details.
What is the easiest CNA job?
The easiest CNA job may vary depending on the individual and the location. Some of the easiest Certified Nursing Assistants job are as follows:
- Home health care.
- Hospitals.
- Working in places away from the facility.
- Nursing homes.
- Working in places with flexible hours.
What does a CNA do in an ICU?
A Certified Nursing Assistant assists the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in attending to patient care needs. They assist healthcare professionals at nursing homes, hospices, and hospitals. CNAs generally work under the supervision of registered nurses.
How can I be a better CNA?
Here are a few tips to improve yourself to be a better Certified Nursing Assistant.
- Good listening and communication skills.
- Good attention to details.
- A good understanding of basic medical terminologies.
- The ability to work independently and follow protocols.
- Continue learning to improve your knowledge and skill set.
Where can I take the CNA state exam?
Candidates can appear for the CNA exams only at Prometric-approved test centers. Check the official website to learn more about exam centers and to view a list of exam centers that are approved in your respective state.
Related Reads
States that Provide Free Reciprocity for CNA License: A Comprehensive Guide
An Ultimate Guidebook to CNA Dress Code
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