Archive for the ‘STNA duties’ Category

Physical Changes of the Aging a STNA Must Recognize

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

As our bodies age, changes can be seen and felt. Aging affects everything from the integumentary system to the urinary system. A part of your STNA training in Ohio is to recognize the various signs of aging so that you are better able to meet the needs of your patients.

Certain changes to the body are normal. How fast we age and certain aspects of aging differ from one individual to the next depending up diet, health, stress, heredity, exercise and environment. Some changes occur gradually over time, while others can occur quickly as a result of illness or disease. Ohio STNA training helps you understand the different systems and the effects aging can have upon these systems.

One such system affected by aging is the integumentary system, or skin: skin loses elasticity and strength, brown spots may appear on wrists and or hands, fewer blood vessels and nerve endings, loss of fatty tissue, thin and saggy skin, development of fine lines, folds, wrinkles, dry and itchy skin, more sensitive to cold and less sensitive to pain, decreased sweat gland and oil secretions, thinning, drying and or graying hair and development of facial hair in some women.

STNA training in Ohio includes instruction of the various systems in and of the body including the musculoskeletal. Physical changes from aging to this system include muscle atrophy, decreased mobility and strength, bones become more brittle and more susceptible to breaks, stiff and painful joints and a gradual loss of height.

Signs of aging within the nervous system include confusion, decreased sense of smell and taste, forgetfulness, decreased vision and hearing, shorter memory, reduced blood flow to the brain and progressive loss of brain cells, and reduced sense of touch and sensitivity to pain.

Decreased appetite, indigestion, difficulty in swallowing, decreased peristalsis causing flatulence and constipation, loss of teeth, and decreased saliva production are a few of the changes of the digestive system.

Although the urinary and respiratory systems are also affected by things such as lung tissue becoming less elastic, difficulty breathing, urinary incontinence and a decrease in kidney function, focus is generally on the cardiovascular system with changes such as narrowing arteries that become less elastic causing less blood flow, and a weakened heart which pumps with less force yet has to work harder to pump blood through the narrowed vessels.

STNA training in Ohio prepares individuals for the demands of older patient care including the young-old (persons between 60 and 75 years of age), the middle-old (persons between 75 and 84 years), and the old-old (persons older than 85 years).

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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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Is it Time for a Career Change? Consider Becoming an STNA

Monday, July 12th, 2010

You’ve tried various career paths, but with little success, only frustration. Maybe it’s time for something new? Of all of the career options before you, why should you consider STNA training in Ohio? 

 

If you like helping others and want to work in the medical field, being a state trained nursing assistant can be an exciting and fulfilling career option. Candidates who received their STNA training in Ohio have career options in a variety of medical facilities, plus there is a high demand of skilled nursing assistants in the market. This profession can be extremely rewarding for someone wishing to make a difference in others’ lives by helping them.

 

Nursing assistants are the bridge between the patients and the medical staff, providing assistance to ensure the patients’ comfort. They also provide critical emotional support to the patients and their family. Nursing assistants prepare and maintain a report of the patients’ medical condition and vital signs, to which nursing staff refer while attending to patient. Nursing assistants also assist the nursing staff in setting up medical equipment and moving the patients whenever necessary. This job offers constant variety because things change daily – each day has its own set of challenges.

 

A nursing assistant’s job is challenging and it comes with many responsibilities, and it is a great choice for those who are passionate about helping others. Strong communication skills are also vital in this profession as you must communicate clearly and effectively with the patients and other medical staff at all times. Overall, receiving STNA training in Ohio allows you to touch the lives of many people and make a difference in the world.

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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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The STNA and CPR

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Like other medical professionals, a State-Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) must achieve and maintain a certification in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). This is a common first-aid technique used to keep victims of heart failure alive and prevent brain damage until more advanced medical intervention can be given. Our STNA training in Ohio teaches our students how to properly administer CPR and save lives.

CPR has two main goals: to keep the blood flowing and to keep air going in and out of the lungs.

If you find a patient who may potentially be in cardiac arrest or unconscious, the first step is to call 911 for additional help. Once help is on the way, check for a pulse. The STNA classes in Ohio show students all the proper techniques for accurately determining whether or not the patient is breathing or has a pulse.

To begin CPR, the victim must be lying on his or her back on a flat surface. Then you begin with the ABCs of CPR. Developed by the American Heart Association, the ABCs are:

Airway

The mouth and throat need to be clear and unobstructed before any CPR can be given. To clear a blocked airway, you should first place the palm of your hand across the victim’s forehead and push down gently. With the other hand, slowly lift the chin forward and slightly up. Move the chin up until the teeth are almost together, but the mouth is still slightly open.

Tilting the head back and lifting the chin in this manner will move the tongue out of the airway. At this point, you will check again for breathing. If the victim is choking on something, you may see their chest heave as they try to breathe, but you won’t be able to feel or hear air being exhaled. If that happens, you may need to compress the abdomen with forceful thrusts or manually dislodge any object with your fingers.

Once this is done, you have to check for signs of breathing again. Just clearing out the windpipe may sometimes be enough to allow the victim to start breathing on their own. If the victim starts breathing and moving around on their own, you should stop CPR. If this doesn’t happen, you’ll have to help them breathe, by providing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Breathing

Lungs have one main function: remove carbon dioxide and take in oxygen. Normally, the muscles in your chest contract and expand your chest cavity, allowing your lungs to fill with air. Oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse across the immense surface area of your lungs. Finally, your chest muscles relax, and you exhale.

Rescue breathing uses your lungs to force air into the victim’s lungs at regular intervals. The timing of each breath (about 1.5 to 2 seconds per breath) mimics normal breathing. However, the process is much more like blowing up a balloon than real breathing. You inhale deeply, form a tight seal with your mouth over their mouth, and exhale strongly to push air out of your mouth into theirs. Because you also pinch the victim’s nostrils closed, the air has nowhere to go except down into the lungs, which expand as they fill with air.

Mouth-to-mouth breathing is hard work. Normally, when you inhale, the chest muscles drive the process. In artificial respiration, you’re working against the victim’s relaxed chest muscles. When the chest muscles are relaxed, the chest cavity is small, keeping the lungs in a deflated state. As a rescuer, you have to exhale forcefully into the victim’s mouth for 1 to 2 seconds to overcome this resistance. As the lungs fill with air, the victim’s chest is pushed up at the same time; you can actually see it rise. When you remove your mouth from the victim’s and break the air seal, their chest falls and once again deflates the lungs. As in normal breathing, this results in air being exhaled from the victim’s mouth.

Circulation

After giving two full breaths, if you can’t find a pulse, then you need to provide artificial circulation in addition to breathing.

External chest compressions are used to provide artificial circulation. When you apply rhythmic pressure on the lower half of the victim’s breastbone, you force the heart to pump blood. There is a precise timing you must follow to adequately administer chest compressions. Our 3-hour CPR for STNA training classes in Ohio teach you exactly what to do.

Once you have been trained, you must periodically review the procedure. But this training makes you a valuable asset to your family, friends, and neighborhood for years to come.

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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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