Archive for the ‘Patient care’ Category

What Will I Do As a STNA in Ohio?

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

 

Your duties as a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) in Ohio encompass a wide range of responsibilities, depending on where you work. These tasks vary with the job and facility, and also vary somewhat from state to state. There are many laws of responsibility and liability that cover the exact duties of a STNA, and you will learn about many of them during your STNA training in Ohio.

As you go through your formal training and participate in clinicals, you will learn more about which of Ohio’s laws apply to your role as a state tested nursing assistant. Your primary obligation will be, of course, to your client or the patient. You will often be responsible for the daily management and routine care of your patient. This is especially true for the care of elderly residents in nursing home and extended care facilities.

 Your second obligation will probably be to carry out the mission, goals, and objectives of your employer. Many facilities offer intense training and an orientation program to carefully go over the expectation of their workers.

 Your third obligation will be to carry out the duties of a state tested nursing assistant as you were trained and educated to perform. This becomes your major obligation and you will find it very rewarding and satisfying.

During your STNA training in Ohio, you will learn how to ensure that your patients’ are always protected – including the right of privacy, the right to be informed of their health care program and treatment, the right to accept or reject treatment, and the right to be included in their health care plan information.

Because nurses cannot spend a lot of time in direct contact with the patient, you will be the nurses’ “eyes and the ears.” You will keep a close watch over your patients, and will be familiar with emergency responses in case of need. In most situations, you will monitor your client or patient’s vital signs, such as temperature, respiration, pulse, blood pressure, and level of pain.  You will be the one who notifies a nurse or doctor if anything changes in the patient’s condition. During your STNA training in Ohio, you will also learn the feeding process in order to ensure that patients are eating properly and taking any vitamins or nutritional supplements. You may also make beds, and perform hair care, personal hygiene, and bed-bath responsibilities.

There are many duties of a certified state-tested nursing assistant and the responsibility is enormous and challenging. The reward of your training will also be a exciting and very satisfying career.  Get started with your STNA training in Ohio today.

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Desirable Work Ethics for Ohio STNAs

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Mastering skills like taking vital signs and patient care are an important aspect of STNA training in Ohio, but it’s not the only thing that will make you successful in a STNA career.  You also need to display strong work ethics and responsibility.

 

 

Among the traits that successful STNAs possess are:

 

Empathy: Know how to put yourself in someone else’s place. Whenever faced with a situation, be willing to ask yourself what you would do, or how you would act if you had to deal with the very same problem.

 

Courtesy: Be courteous to everyone; your patients, their families and visitors, and fellow co-workers. Simple acts of politeness include saying “thank you” or “please”. Treat others the way you would want to be treated.

 

Dependability: You are part of a team, and each team member is as important as the next when it comes to the overall care of patients. Being on time to work, returning from breaks and lunches at the specified time, and completing assigned tasks are all a part of being a dependable STNA.

 

Caring: You’ve received the necessary training to help an individual be more comfortable, happier and even in less pain. Show your concern in your interactions with your patients and their visitors and families.

 

Honesty: Be truthful and accurate in all reports, comments, conversations, and actions.

 

Consideration: Have respect for the patient’s emotional and physical feelings. Showing acts of kindness and gentleness to a patient and their support system helps to ease some the stress that goes along with needing medical care.

 

Cooperation: Be an active part of your team. Be aware of others and be willing to help out, if applicable, in stressful and busy situations.

 

Cheerfulness: Be pleasant. Everyone has some sort of issue to deal with outside of work, but don’t allow that issue to interfere with your day. Remain pleasant in greeting and speaking with others throughout your workday.

 

Conscientiousness: Be thorough. Know and understand instructions before you begin. Be alert and always “put your best foot forward.”

 

Trustworthiness: Everyone you come in contact with throughout your work day has confidence in your abilities as an STNA. Be trustworthy with all work related information.

 

Enthusiasm: Realize that being an STNA is important. Be eager and excited about your job and what you provide to patients and their families. Showing excitement in what you do shows to patients as well as co-workers and supervisors.

 

Respectfulness: Everyone you meet has rights. Individuals have their own feelings: their own rights and beliefs. Be respectful and treat everyone you encounter with dignity.

 

These skills are valuable in any area of life, but particularly if you are going to be entrusted with the daily care of a sick or dying patient.

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8 Questions to Ask Before Becoming a STNA

Monday, April 12th, 2010

 

It takes time and effort to become a State-Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA). It is a rewarding career for some, but it’s not right for everyone. Here are eight questions you should ask yourself before enrolling in our STNA classes in Ohio.

 

1) Do you enjoy health, science and math classes? As a STNA, you will be expected to understand how the human body works, how different medications may interact, and how to gauge and monitor various measurements. It will be very beneficial to you if you enjoy these areas.

 

2) Do you like to help people, even when they are sick? A STNA is first and foremost a helper. Your role would be to help the other nurses and doctors stay informed about the patient’s health conditions. You would be helping the patient and their family with their everyday needs. In many instances, the patient will be unable to do even simple tasks by themselves and will need your help.

 

3) Can you follow directions, but are you confident enough to take some actions on your own? You will need to follow the directions of the doctors and nurses, but when you have enough experience in caring for your patients, you will need to be confident enough to take care of the patient’s needs without close supervision. The doctors and nurses are too busy to tell you everything little thing that needs to be done. You need to have the common sense to recognize what needs to be done and then the confidence to do it without being told.

 

4) Do you communicate well? The STNA is usually the position with the most contact with the patient and is often the go-between to make sure the patient’s questions and concerns are being heard by the doctor and nurses and then make sure the patient and his or her family hears accurate information from the doctors and nurses. A STNA must be able to accurately convey information, without excess emotion or hyperbole to everyone else in the medical care chain.

 

5) Are you patient and thick-skinned? As a STNA on the frontline of patient care, you will have to deal with patients and families who are in pain and ill. As a result, they may say or do mean things. They will complain a lot, they will find fault in everything you do. You have to be able to listen to their criticism, understand that it’s not YOU, but their circumstances, and still maintain a positive, cheerful attitude.

 

6) Are you a good listener? Many times, a patient just needs someone they can talk to. You have to show your patients that you care and hear their concerns. Sometimes, you will have to interpret what they are feeling because their pain cannot allow them to express themselves adequately.

 

7) Do you like working with your hands and doing physical work? The job of a STNA is physically demanding. You will be on your feet a lot, and you will be helping patients button their shirts, brush their teeth and brush their hair. You will not be sitting in an office all day staring at a computer screen.

 

8) Do like a routine where you know what you are going to do every day? Then being a STNA may not be right for you. Every day will be a different challenge. Those individuals who like variety and can adapt to whatever the day brings are the most successful in this type of environment.

 

If you have answered these questions and still want to explore becoming a STNA, we encourage you to check out our STNA training in Ohio.

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What Are the Typical Duties of a STNA?

Monday, April 5th, 2010

A state-tested nursing assistant (STNA), by definition, assists other medical professionals, like doctors, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses, with patient care. Most STNAs work in health care facilities, such as hospitals or nursing homes. However, a growing number of STNAs are providing care to patients in their homes as home health care workers.

 

The STNA is often the person with the most one-on-one interaction with the patient and is the first to discover any health issues the patient may be experiencing. It is a position of great responsibility in the healthcare of a patient. The STNA training in Ohio teaches nursing assistants how to be successful with many of the following skills:

 

1. Personal Hygiene
One of the most common responsibilities of a STNA is taking care of a patient’s daily personal hygiene needs. This may include assisting the patient with going to the bathroom, brushing his or her teeth, changing clothes, and brushing the patient’s hair. The STNA is also often charged with the task of making sure the bedding is changed regularly and the patient is not developing bed sores. Because of these types of duties, a STNA must be in good physical condition.  It can be a physically challenging role.

 

2. Proper Diet
Making sure the patients maintain a healthy diet is also an important task for the STNA. In cases where the patient cannot feed themselves, the STNA will be expected to feed them. In cases of finicky eaters, the STNA is the one charged with trying to make sure the patient is getting proper nutrition and recording what has been eaten each day so the doctors or nurses can determine if other sources of nutrients are needed.

 

3. Vital Signs
The STNA is often the person who takes and records the regular vital signs for the patient, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration statistics. The STNA is trained to look at the results, note any irregularities or surrounding conditions, and point out potential issues to the rest of the medical team.

 

4. Emotional Support
But probably the most important task of the STNA is to provide emotional support and encouragement to the patient and the family. Many times, the patient just needs to know that someone cares. The ability to provide a friendly smile, a kind word, and just being able to listen to the patient are vital skills for every STNA.

 

Top-notch STNA training in Ohio can be found here at Premier Choice Health Services.  Call us today to get registered and get started on your new exciting career.

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Keep Your Patients Active

Monday, March 29th, 2010

It is extremely important to keep your patients as active as possible.  During the STNA training in Ohio, students learn that activity improves and maintains physical and mental health for the patients.  Our training teaches students how to engage. Patients who are inactive may experience

  • Loss of self-esteem
  • Depression
  • Boredom
  • Pneumonia
  • Urinary Tract Infections
  • Constipation
  • Blood clots
  • Dulling of the senses

 Meaningful activities help promote independence, memory, self-esteem, and quality of life. Physical activity can also help manage disease states, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Regular activity can also:

  • Lessen the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, diabetes, and obesity
  • Relieve symptoms of depression
  • Improve mood and concentration
  • Improve bodily functions
  • Lower the risk of falls
  • Improve sleep quality
  • Improve the patient’s ability to cope with stress
  • Increase energy
  • Increase appetite and promote better eating habits.

 Many facilities have an activity department that encourages residents to socialize and to be physically and mentally active. Activities such as exercise, arts and crafts, games, reading, gardening, and religious events are regularly scheduled and patients are encouraged to participate to the best of their physical and mental abilities. These activities are often a regular part of daily schedules and are usually posted in conspicuous places throughout a facility.

While encouraging residents to be active, you must also be respectful of their wishes. Some residents may simply not want to participate. Ask them why they do not want to participate and respect that feeling, rather than treating them like a child, which is embarrassing and demeaning.

  • The resident may not want to participate because he or she does not know how to do the activity and they don’t want to be embarrassed. Removed from the group, patiently teach them what they need to know about the activity.
  • Offer an alternative activity.

The goal is to keep patients as healthy and active as possible.

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