by Frank Stickler

Created on: August 02, 2008

The task of a CNA is probably one of the most demanding in any form of health care occupation. As a CNA myself, I can honestly say that it is both the most rewarding, and at the same time taxing, job I could have picked. Most view us as the people who do the "dirty" work that others don't want to do. And it's true, as we do assist people with things called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs.) These include but surly are not limited to:

Bathing
Toileting
Dressing
Shaving
Feeding as needed
Transferring
etc.

With this in mind, another job of ours is being a direct line from the resident, (common term for those living in a Long Term Care Facility also known as a nursing home) and the RN or LPN on duty. We report any changes in mood, skin, bodily functions and systems, etc. to the person in charge for possible further evaluation. This makes us the voice for the resident for anything that might be wrong.

Through all of this us as CNAs connect with those we care for on a level that cannot be seen. The emotional bond that is forged is something that goes way beyond the "professional" one we are told to project. Whoever said that health care workers should distance themselves from those they care for, was obviously never a CNA. In between assisting with ADLs, talking to family members, playing card games, providing emotional support where needed, joking, and helping the person feel validated, there is a connection so strong, it's indescribable. If you were to put 5 CNAs in a room, within 5 minutes we would start discussing those we care for (without naming names, to abide by the HIPPA act of course.) Our residents, along with those we work with, become our own inner family outside of our biological ones. There are those we get mad at occationally, those that we prefer (but NEVER declare favorites), and those we laugh with.

Losing one of those that we care for is quite devastating to us. And while we won't show it at work, we will go home to our spouses or companions and mourn like we would for our own family. This is because, to us, it is our family!

We do all of this for a pay rate that doesn't even begin to compensate us for what we do. You may then ask, "Why would you work in this position?" The answer that is simply because we love what we do. It takes a very special type of person to work like we do, and we feel the emotional reward is greater in amount and quality, then the financial one.

In short, while you may have a very good idea of the physical aspect of a CNA, there is so much more to our job than meets the eye. I urge you, if you have a loved one in a place where CNAs take care of them, to find the Aid taking care of them for the day, and thank them. The reward will be greater than you can imagine.

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