Four Traits That Every CNA Must Have

In the following article, we'll take a quick look at the four CNA skills and traits that generally separate the truly exceptional nursing assistants from their average peers. As you go through the list, you'll probably note that not all of these skills are acquired through the training you'd receive when learning how to become a CNA. Nonetheless, each of them can be learned and honed through practice.

Four Traits That Every CNA Must Have

Concern for Others

If you are already familiar with the typical duties of a CNA, you're probably aware that they spend almost their entire day observing and caring for patients. With this being the case, a strong sense of empathy and concern for the well-being of others is essential to performing their duties effectively.

Be a Team Player

Because nurses aides are just one member of the large team of professionals employed by most health care facilities, it is vital that they work well with other people. This means that a CNA must be good at following directions, dealing with different personalities, and also knowing when to bring issues to their superior's attention.

Be Detail-Oriented

There is no shortage of details that must be followed when working in health care, and certified nursing assistants are exposed to many of them. From following a physician's orders to the letter, to sticking to procedures, to noting changes in patient moods, behaviors and vital signs, a good CNA must be highly detail-oriented in order to effectively support the treatment of their patients.

A Sense of Ownership

In many professions, workers are able to get through the day without feeling a personal sense of ownership about their job. The nursing profession is not one of these, however. Being effective in your role as a CNA requires you to treat your duties and patients as if they're the most-important thing in the world at that moment. Nursing assistants are responsible, in some cases, for helping others to overcome life-threatenting conditions. This is a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly.

CNA Skills Learned In Training

The training courses that certified nursing assistants complete prior to becoming certified provide students with a variety of skills that will be required in their jobs. While the natural assumption may be to assume that these acquired skills are the most important things needed to succeed as a CNA, it must be pointed out that having the traits listed above is every bit as necessary. In fact, without the aforementioned qualities, you may find it impossible to effectively master the skills taught in school.