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What Does A Hospice CNA Do?

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Sam Mohi

CNAs Provide Love!

CNAs provide Love. There is no better way of putting this.

A Hospice Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is an integral member of the hospice team. They are crucial in providing compassionate care and support to individuals who are in the final stages of life and receiving hospice care. Their primary responsibility is to assist patients with their daily activities (basic hygiene needs, activities of daily living, cleanliness, etc.) and provide comfort to ensure their physical and emotional well-being. They usually become closely attached to families as they help care for patients.

Here are some of the typical duties of a hospice CNA:

CNAs help patients with various personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, oral care and other hygiene. They may also assist with toileting and changing adult diapers or bed linens.

Hospice CNAs assist patients in moving around, transferring from beds to chairs or wheelchairs, and maintaining their overall mobility. They help them remain active within the direction given to them by their supervising nurse. They may use specialized equipment like lifts or transfer belts to ensure safety.

Under the guidance of a nurse or healthcare professional, hospice CNAs may assist patients with medication administration. This may involve reminding patients to take their medications or helping them with simple medication preparations. The amount they can help depends on the patient’s cognitive ability and direction given to them by their supervising nurse.

CNAs provide comfort to patients by ensuring their physical needs are met. This includes positioning patients for optimal comfort, providing backrubs or gentle massages, and ensuring a soothing environment. CNAs take any information that may be important and report this back to their supervising nurse and the rest of the interdisciplinary team as needed.

Hospice CNAs offer emotional support to both patients and their families. They listen attentively, engage in conversation, and provide companionship to alleviate feelings of loneliness and anxiety. CNAs usually develop strong bonds with patients and family as they are involved in some of the most intimate healthcare activities. They do become the angels of the hospice team.

CNAs work closely with other members of the healthcare team, such as nurses, social workers, and chaplains, to ensure coordinated and comprehensive care for patients. They actively communicate observations and concerns to the team to ensure the patient’s well-being.

CNAs maintain accurate and detailed records of patient care, including daily activities, vital signs, and any changes observed in the patient’s condition. This documentation helps the healthcare team monitor the patient’s progress and adjust the care plan accordingly. Anything that they notice is out of the ordinary is passed on to their supervising nurse immediately.

CNAs regularly check and record vital signs, including temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. They report any significant changes to the supervising nurse or healthcare team. The CNAs also do visual skin checks and are usually one of the first members to notice skin changes along with nursing staff. They take this information back to the interdisciplinary team so it can be addressed appropriately.

It’s important to note that specific responsibilities may vary depending on patient’s preferences and instructions given to the CNA by the supervising nurse. However, the primary focus of a hospice CNA is always on providing comfort, dignity, and compassionate care to patients during their end-of-life journey. At Lenity Light Hospice, our CNAs are the true center of our mission statement: Compassionate Care, One Patient At A Time.

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