nursing assistant

New Inservice Topic Just Added!

Submitted by megan on Thu, 06/17/2010 - 15:14.

Did you know that the average load of dirty laundry contains 100 million E. coli bacteria? And, studies have found that more than 60 percent of washing machines are contaminated with fecal matter. Do these numbers surprise you? Check out our newest inservice addition to Just for CNAs: "Infection Control in Home Care" to find out how you can keep your clients safe from harmful bacteria.

This topic is filled with tips about common infection control challenges faced by home health aides... just like you. It also includes information on disinfecting surfaces, doing laundry, "sharps" disposal, household pests and food safety. You'll also find dozens of tips for keeping clients' homes as germ-free as possible.

Are You In the Know about Arthritis?

Submitted by Linda Leekley on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 16:02.

Across America, arthritis affects nearly 50 million people. By the year 2030, as the "baby boomer" generation ages, this number is expected to climb to 60 million! With statistics like that, it's a safe bet that you probably provide care to a number of clients with arthritis. But, do you know that arthritis is not a normal part of aging? Are you up to date on what you can do to help clients who suffer from arthritis? Here is a quick review:

The Aches & Pains of Arthritis

"Oh, my aching joints!" You've probably heard many of your clients make that complaint. In fact, you may have said it yourself! Aching joints are one of the main symptoms of arthritis. (This makes sense since the word "arthritis" comes from two Greek words that mean "joint" and "inflammation".) read more »

Looking to Become a CNA?

Submitted by Evan Leekley on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 13:51.

For CNAs: The Importance of Perineal Care

Submitted by Linda Leekley on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 14:29.

Everyone's favorite topic . . . perineal care! As you know, the perineum is the area that spans from the genitals to the anus. No other area of the body is more difficult to discuss, but, when it comes to client care, it is worth talking about! read more »

What's Quality Improvement All About?

Submitted by Linda Leekley on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 19:33.

You’ve probably heard people at work talking about “quality improvement”. You may have been asked to participate in a QI study or attend a QI committee meeting. But what’s all this fuss about quality—especially when everyone’s already working so hard?

Health organizations focus on quality in order to raise the level of client care—no matter how good it may already be. The idea of a quality improvement program is to:

Identify problems a workplace may have in meeting the needs of its clients and its employees.
Provide an organized approach to solving those problems.
Help improve the quality of life for every client and the working conditions for every employee.

A quality improvement program helps health care organizations measure how well they meet the needs of both clients and employees. QI cuts across all departments and requires participation from every staff member… from housekeeping staff to clerical employees to client care staff. read more »