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Writer's pictureJanuary Regino

5 Essential Skills You’ll Learn During CNA Training


Training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) equips you with essential skills needed to collaborate with nursing teams in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, and retirement facilities. To secure your desired position, it's crucial to showcase these skills employers seek.


CNAs undertake vital responsibilities, ensuring optimal health outcomes for patients, relying on their compassion and expertise throughout treatment and recovery.


For those pursuing this fulfilling career path, here are five fundamental skills taught at LA Skills Academy during CNA training. These skills are essential for aspiring caregivers dedicated to assisting others.


1. Implement a Treatment Plan

A fundamental aspect of a Certified Nursing Assistant's (CNA) role is ensuring patients faithfully adhere to their doctor's prescribed treatment plans. This responsibility encompasses a comprehensive range of tasks, from accurately dispensing medications and monitoring dietary intake to meticulously tracking vital signs.


The treatment protocols developed by healthcare providers are specifically tailored to address each patient's unique health condition. Any changes from these protocols could potentially alter the progress towards achieving positive health outcomes or the patient's condition. Therefore, CNAs undergo extensive training to master the precise implementation of these plans as directed by medical professionals.



2. Develop Interpersonal Skills

In addition to technical proficiency, CNAs also develop strong interpersonal skills essential for effective patient care. Effective communication is the key in building trust and rapport with patients, enabling CNAs to convey instructions clearly, address concerns, and guide patients through their treatment journeys. Through active communication, CNAs can also identify non-verbal cues that may indicate discomfort or reluctance in discussing sensitive health issues. This ability allows CNAs to adapt their approach and create a supportive environment conducive to open dialogue about the patient's health concerns.


3. Prevent and Control Infection

Furthermore, CNAs are trained to prioritize infection prevention and control. Given the potentially life-threatening consequences of infections for patients with compromised immune systems, CNAs learn stringent protocols for using personal protective equipment, sterilizing and disinfecting equipment and surfaces, and implementing measures to minimize the spread of infections within healthcare settings.


LA Skills Academy CNA training programs teach students the proper precautions for preventing infection, including how to correctly wear and remove personal protective equipment so as to minimize exposure and distribution of infection, the best methods for sterilizing and disinfecting, and best practices for reducing the spread of infection in care facilities.


4. Obtain Vital Signs

Monitoring vital signs is another critical responsibility entrusted to CNAs. Beyond simply recording measurements like pulse rate, blood pressure, and temperature, CNAs are taught to interpret these readings accurately. This skill is essential for promptly identifying any deviations from normal ranges and promptly notifying healthcare providers if intervention is necessary. Effective communication skills are pivotal here as well, enabling CNAs to articulate their findings clearly to nurses and other healthcare professionals.


Reading these and other statistics don't mean much unless the CNA understands what he or she is seeing and knows how to analyze them properly. Training to become a CNA will teach you the correct ways to perform these procedures, assess the readings and determine if the patient's vitals fall within a normal healthy range. This is where those communication skills play a role in the CNA's duties as he or she will need to know how to explain the results to a nurse and the patient in terms that are clear and easy to comprehend, even if the diagnosis or condition is complicated. 



5. Adopt Compliance with HIPPA Laws

CNAs are educated on compliance with healthcare regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Understanding HIPAA guidelines is crucial for safeguarding patient confidentiality and privacy. CNAs learn to handle patient information sensitively and responsibly, ensuring that disclosures are made only with appropriate authorization.


Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) laws are in place to protect patient privacy and violating these laws can have a devastating impact on the patient and potentially derail your nursing career. The basics of HIPPA mandate that no healthcare facility may disclose a patient's private medical or personal information without prior permission from the patient or an authorized agent or representative.




Need a BLS certification or start taking CEUs - join Los Angeles Skills Academy! Find an LA Skills Academy class near you. Our instructors with valuable experience and knowledge from the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association will make your education process enjoyable.


Easy enrollment process and unlimited support during and after your classes.


Experience the class and read LA Skills Academy reviews.


Get started now!

For questions, contact us (213)-444-8997 or email us at office@laskillsacademy.com




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