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The certified nurse's aide, or CNA, acts as an assistant to registered nurses in hospitals or clinics. They work closely with patients and are responsible for basic care such as bathing, grooming, moving and feeding patients. They also assist nurses with medical equipment and check patient vital signs. Although they do not have the same responsibilities that doctors and nurses do, they are still capable of causing harm to patients if they do their jobs carelessly or negligently.
CNAs are only required to have a high school diploma or GED and completion of a 6 to 12 week CNA certificate program--which are typically completed at a community college or medical facility. After the program is completed they can work directly with patients.
Despite the fact that CNAs do not engage in the diagnosing or direct treating of patients, they are still working very closely with fragile patients and are capable of causing injury or death. This is particularly true with patients who must be treated very carefully in order to avoid injury such as patients in the intensive care unit or at nursing homes. One of the CNA's biggest jobs is moving patients or helping patients move. Patients who are particularly weak or have brittle bones can suffer greatly from rough handling on the part of CNAs. CNA medical malpractice typically occurs due to:
- The rough handling of patients
- Failing to be sanitary by washing hands frequently and changing gloves between patients
- Failing to respond to a patient's requests
Every person that works with patients in a hospital should be held to the same high standard of patient care.
About this Author
To find out more about CNAs and medical malpractice, visit the website of the Sheboygan medical malpractice lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. today.
James Witherspoon
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