The Comprehensive Guide to a Career as a Nursing Assistant

Chapter 6: Basic Nursing Skills

As a certified nursing assistant, you will be responsible for providing basic nursing care to patients under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. This chapter provides an overview of fundamental nursing assistant skills, including measuring vital signs, feeding and nutrition, personal care, and hygiene, assisting with activities of daily living, patient positioning and mobility, and assisting with patient transfer and ambulation.

Fundamental Nursing Assistant Skills:
Fundamental nursing assistant skills are essential for providing high-quality patient care. Examples of these skills include:

1. Measuring vital signs: Taking a patient's temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiratory rate.
2. Feeding and nutrition: Assisting patients with eating and drinking, monitoring intake and output, and reporting any concerns to the nurse in charge.
3. Personal care and hygiene: Assisting with activities such as bathing, toileting, oral care, and grooming.
4. Skin care: Performing skin assessments, monitoring for signs of pressure ulcers or skin breakdown, and implementing interventions as directed.
5. Basic wound care: Assisting with wound dressing changes, monitoring for signs of infection, and reporting any concerns to the nurse in charge.

Assisting with Activities of Daily Living:
As a nursing assistant, you will be responsible for assisting patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and grooming. Examples of ADLs include:

1. Bathing: Assisting with full or partial baths or showers, and ensuring that patients are clean and comfortable.
2. Dressing: Helping patients get dressed in appropriate clothing, including any necessary adaptive devices.
3. Grooming: Assisting with hair care, nail care, and oral care.
4. Toileting: Helping patients with toileting needs, including using bedpans or urinals, and changing briefs or other incontinence products.

Patient Positioning and Mobility:
Patient positioning and mobility are essential for preventing complications such as pressure ulcers and maintaining patient comfort. Examples of positioning and mobility techniques include:

1. Turning and repositioning patients: Turning patients every two hours or as directed by the nurse in charge to prevent pressure ulcers and promote comfort.
2. Lifting and transferring patients: Using proper lifting and transfer techniques to prevent injury to yourself and the patient.
3. Assisting with ambulation: Helping patients walk or use assistive devices as directed by the nurse in charge.

Assisting with Patient Transfer and Ambulation:
Assisting with patient transfer and ambulation requires proper technique and communication between the nursing assistant and the patient. Examples of transfer and ambulation techniques include:

1. Using proper lifting and transfer techniques: Using mechanical lifts or other devices as needed to prevent injury to yourself and the patient.
2. Providing clear instructions to patients: Communicating clearly with patients about what you need them to do during transfers and ambulation.
3. Monitoring for signs of discomfort or distress: Watching for signs that the patient may be in pain or experiencing difficulty with transfers or ambulation.

Overall, basic nursing skills are essential for nursing assistants to provide high-quality patient care. This chapter provides an overview of fundamental nursing assistant skills, including measuring vital signs, feeding and nutrition, personal care, and hygiene, assisting with activities of daily living, patient positioning and mobility, and assisting with patient transfer and ambulation.