CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT

Certified Nursing Assistant – Independent

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides direct patient care under the supervision of licensed nursing staff in a state-run healthcare facility, correctional institution, veterans' home, or other state-operated medical setting. This role involves assisting patients with daily activities, monitoring vital signs, maintaining hygiene, and ensuring patient comfort. CNAs play a crucial role in supporting nursing teams and improving the quality of care for patients.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Assisting patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and oral care.
• Helping patients with mobility needs, including repositioning, transferring, and using assistive devices such as wheelchairs or walkers.
• Supporting patients with feeding and hydration, ensuring proper nutrition and dietary needs are met.
• Measuring and recording vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration) and reporting abnormalities to nursing staff.
• Observing patients for changes in physical or emotional condition and reporting concerns to nurses or medical personnel.
• Recording and documenting patient information accurately and timely in medical charts or electronic health records.
• Assisting in setting up and cleaning medical equipment used in patient care.
• Following infection control protocols to prevent the spread of disease and ensure a safe healthcare environment.
• Maintaining cleanliness in patient rooms, restrooms, and common areas to support sanitary conditions.

Knowledge and skills required include:

• Knowledge of patient hygiene, mobility assistance, and nutrition support.
• Ability to accurately measure and record temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.
• Understanding of sanitation practices, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and disease prevention.
• Ability to maintain accurate patient records and communicate observations effectively.
• Familiarity with basic life support (BLS) protocols, recognizing signs of distress, and alerting medical personnel.

Minimum qualifications include:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must maintain an active Arkansas CNA certification and complete required continuing education as mandated by state regulations.

The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.