In order to enable nursing assistants manage the demands of the job and have a rewarding career despite the difficulties, CNA training cover a wide range of topics. One of the difficulties faced by certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and other nursing assistants and aides is dealing with patients’ deaths and death-related issues on a daily basis.
Classes for CNAs and Death
During textbook work, demonstrations, and the practical portion of CNA education, where students get to put their newly acquired abilities to use in a hospital or nursing home with actual patients, different facets of this vocation are covered. The majority of a patient’s fundamental needs, including bathing, feeding, grooming, lifting, changing bed linens, changing bed pans, etc., are often taken care of by CNAs.
Because of the daily pressures imposed on CNAs, other topics covered in CNA programs, such as dealing with burnout, will be discussed. Other topics include dealing with death and dying, particularly if a CNA works in a nursing facility where death is particularly common. The majority of CNAs work in nursing homes, followed by hospitals and other institutions.
While correct handling of dying and death may be covered in CNA education, practical experience with working with patients who are going through this stage of life is the only way a CNA can learn effective handling techniques. Comparing CNAs to nurses or other medical and healthcare professionals, they typically spend the most time with patients. In light of this, CNAs are frequently the ones who are most affected by a patient’s passing, and having the ability to deal with this in a healthy way can help the CNA classes near Pasadena in their careers.
Managing death while working
CNAs are special since they are frequently committed to ensuring that patients receive the best care and cater to all of their needs. They attend to the patients’ fundamental necessities as well as their psychological and emotional requirements. Sincere CNAs go above and above for their patients and the patients’ families.
The harsh reality of death can be difficult for a CNA to deal with because the job description calls for them to ensure that the patients feel better. This is especially true if they are new to the position. CNA classes might not fully address this aspect because only experience can provide the necessary learning experience.
One of the first things a CNA should do when someone is dying is to respect their needs. Death can be difficult to deal with, especially for the patient and their family. Some patients struggle until the very end to stay on because they are terrified to die or let go, even though letting go would be the kindest thing for them, their families, and everyone else involved. Being respectful is especially crucial while coping with impending mortality because dealing with it may involve reading from religious texts, praying, or engaging in other religious activities as prescribed by the patient’s religion.
Even though helping someone through death may be unpleasant for everyone concerned, including the CNA, and even though the CNA may not know what to do, a CNA must still do their best to keep the patient comfortable. Being a source of consolation for the patient and their family at this time is very important. Being compassionate needs a certain kind of person, which is why not all CNAs possess it and why it cannot be taught in CNA programs.
Simply keep the patient comfortable during these final days by keeping them clean, making sure their mouths are never dry, which happens frequently during these final days, etc. They might become unresponsive at this period, but all you need to do is give them small sips of water or wipe their mouths with a sponge. If they have dry or cracked lips, you might even need to use chapstick or another type of lip balm.
Keep in mind the specifics of every dying patient. Make care to turn them if necessary to lessen pain on a regular basis. Check their body temperatures and, if necessary, make the appropriate bedding, heating, air conditioning, etc. modifications. To make sure the patients are cozy and clean, all of this should be done. Even if you don’t always know what to say to the patient and their families or how to comfort them, at least you’ll know what to do to make this time easier for them.
Some of the indicators of death that CNA training and work orientation will educate you to look out for and record on the patient’s file may include breathing changes, muscular tone loss, sluggish circulation, impaired vision, incoherence, etc. Any substantial changes in the patient should be immediately reported to the nurse in charge.
Other ways to support a dying person include holding their hand, reading to them from a favorite book or passage, and more. Do whatever you feel comfortable doing right now. Many of them come naturally from being a human and how you would want to be treated rather than being taught in CNA education. Many CNAs may grow connected to their patients, which could make it difficult for them to continue working after their passing. Usually, the company will offer counseling services during this period. By taking advantage of these programs, the CNA can better assist dying patients and equip themselves with the skills necessary to deal with death and terminally ill patients.