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Maintaining Your Health As a CNA
By Melanie Ullman
Working as a certified nursing assistant can be taxing on the body and mind. It is necessary for all CNAs to devote time to proper health maintenance. Making sure to provide the body, mind and spirit with the necessary nourishment will ensure that you are capable of performing your job to the fullest each and everyday.
Maintaining physical strength and flexibility is important as a certified nursing assistant. Many of the duties such as lifting and rotating patients require a significant amount of strength. Daily exercise that incorporates weight lifting would be very advantageous in helping a CNA develop weight bearing abilities and strength. Likewise, exercise also provides lots of energy which is essential for nurse's aides who sometimes have to work additional shifts and accommodate additional patients on their rounds. Most importantly learning the correct method to lift and carry patients is very important. Lifting techniques are thoroughly taught during CNA training. Many people including CNAs have lifted a heavy person and have injured themselves in the process resulting in painful pulled muscles, sore backs and over time decreased strength in the pelvic area. Lifting from the knees and using correct posture when handling patients will ensure that you keep lifting accidents to a minimum. Developing physical strength is important as a certified nursing assistant.
Although the body is the means to which a nursing assistant completes many of his or her tasks, maintaining mental well-being is also important. It is very difficult to function at any job when you are tired from sleep deprivation. Some certified nursing assistants work long hours either to reap the monetary benefits of overtime or simply because of a shortage of qualified staff. In most institutions there is usually a limit on the number of shifts a CNA can work in a succession. This requirement prevents overwork and ensures that employees are alert to do their jobs. It also prevents unnecessary accidents as a result of lack of coordination or confusion that comes with extreme fatigue. Ensuring that you are mentally alert and focused on your job as a certified nursing assistant is of vital importance.
Lastly, emotional health is of extreme importance when working as a certified nurse assistant. In this particular type of work you encounter many incidents that will impact you on an emotional level. Sudden debilitating illness of patients, reversals in health and death can be emotionally draining even for people who work with these circumstances each day. Finding an outlet to deal with the feelings that come with these experiences will be of great help in easing emotional pains that can ultimately affect job performance. Sharing your feelings with close friends or family, engaging in activities that lift your spirits or seeking the counsel of a professional therapist can help you deal with any work related experiences that are affecting your emotional well-being.
Overall, making sure to take care of yourself will ensure that you can continue being a quality certified nursing assistant.
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