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No matter how knowledgeable or accredited you may be as a professional, or how well you did during your STNA training and classes, others opinions of you can quickly falter if you’ve shown poor communication skills. Whether performed in private care, hospitals, patient’s homes, or nursing homes, exceptional healthcare service is a must for an STNA career. One of the biggest factors in how well you behave with your patient and your colleagues is communication.

Dr. Albert Mehrabian conducted many studies on the topic of nonverbal communication and found that nearly 93% of all communication is nonverbal. Be mindful on not only what and how you are saying something, but also the gestures and expressions you use while saying it. Dependent on the way you speak you may either welcome or put-off those around you.

Problems May Arise
Communication is key when it comes to sharing information between parties, which happens to be an integral part of the medical field. When you lack proper communication skills you directly affect not only your patient’s compliance, anxiety, satisfaction, and safety, but also your team’s level of performance, co-operation, efficiency, and overall job satisfaction.

Your Colleagues
Have you ever heard the saying: “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch”? This can prove true in the medical field. All it takes is one person with poor communication or team-oriented behavior to bring everybody down. Good communication promotes fluid teamwork and prevents workplace conflicts.

Bedside Manner And Patient Relationships
Good communication is key in having the best possible bedside manner, not to mention the overall relationship between you and your patients. Without proper communication you put your patient at risk. Remember that good patient communication is about more than just talking. Practice good communication by listening to your patient and acknowledging their woes, as well as sharing pertinent information with them.

Honesty
Whether speaking to your colleagues or your patients, never tell them you are going to do something if you have no intentions to do so. Be as up front as you can with your patient about their treatments.

So much of the medical field has to do with fantastic communication skills. It’s never too late or too early to begin practicing ways to be a better communicator. Doing so will benefit you immensely in your personal and professional life.

Working as an STNA may not initially strike you as a dangerous profession, but the truth is there will always be certain things to keep an eye out for while on the job. Workplace injuries, allergies, and patient violence are all possibilities of the job when it comes to working as an STNA. The best thing you can do is educate yourself of the potential hazards in the nursing field and better prepare for how to handle them should they arise.

Learn Proper Lifting
You probably remember your boss at your very first job teaching you the proper way to lift heavy items, and now is no time to forget that good advice! The vast majority of STNA injuries reported are all neck and back pain from improperly lifting a patient. Refresh yourself on the proper way to lift heavy items (over 50 pounds): squat down before lifting, keeping the heavy object close to your body, straighten and lift with your legs. Never bend down to pick something up!

Another great tip: push instead of pull whenever it’s appropriate to do so. This will put as little stress on your body as possible.

Let Your Superiors Know Of Any Allergies
One allergy that commonly affects nursing staff is the latex allergy. The powder found on the inside of latex gloves can often cause a rash on those who are allergic. Opt for powder-free gloves and keep your hands clean.

Curb The Spreading Of Infections
As a STNA you should be experienced in washing your hands with soap and water nearly every chance you get. Not only will this help keep you clean and healthy, it will also prevent the spreading of infections to and from patients.

Workplace Violence
Dealing with sick patients, either mentally or physically, may sometimes pose a challenge. The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics reported 2,050 assaults reported by RNs in 2009, and while this is a rare occurrence overall it is still a possibility. Keep yourself safe and secure by knowing safety precautions for your workplace, avoid aggressive behaviour with your patients, trust your instincts, and carry yourself with a calm and approachable demeanor.

Even if you don’t feel such a situation would ever arise, you should always brush up on your workplaces’ violence prevention programs and policies. And remember to report harassment or physically violent behaviour immediately to your superiors.

Working as an STNA is a rewarding career, one that is no stranger to safety procedures. Educate yourself on workplace safety measures. Proper training for potentially hazardous situations will ensure you’ll enjoy the safest work environment possible.

Those who are coming close to the end of their STNA training classes are probably curiously looking to the future of their nursing careers and wondering what kind of STNA they will be. While not all STNA’s are the same, there are 10 key traits they possess in order to get their tasks accomplished. While not all of these traits come naturally, all are necessary and beneficial to your career in the nursing field.

1. Empathy
Having fellow feeling for your patients is an extraordinary personality trait that will make all the difference to both you and your patients. As a nurse, you will be dealing with injured and ill patients, as well as their families and loved ones every single day.

2. Physically Capable
As a nurse you will be standing and doing physically demanding labor for most of the day. Good physical endurance is key to being an STNA, as lifting patients, helping them perform bodily tasks, and being on your feet all day is a regular part of the job.

3. Reliability
In any job, reliability is a well-favored trait. Your employers need to know that you are going to show up on time, do your job effectively, and be ready for whatever circumstances may come up. All the more so in the STNA field when you have not just co-workers, but patients relying on you for help each day.

4. Impartiality
As a STNA your job is to care for every patient who comes through your door, regardless of the color of their skin, their background, or their beliefs. Having an unbiased, impartial attitude toward your patients will show that you care and help you avoid picking favorites.

5. Able to Make Quick Judgment Calls
During your training you were likely taught that things can move fast in the nursing world, so when an emergency arises and your patient needs treatment fast you’ll have to think on your feet and make a judgement call without hesitation.

6. Trust and Respect
Earning the respect and trust of your patients and the staff around you, as well as giving it back in return will make you a valuable asset to your team. Your patients are not always going to be in the most dignified of positions, by showing them respect and dignity your patients will learn to trust you and will feel more at ease during their stay.

7. Attention to Detail
As a STNA you are responsible for remembering details and facts about each patient, including their medications, allergies, and personal details. Having a fantastic memory and great attention to detail will help you in this regard.

8. Emotional Stability
As a nurse you go through a myriad of emotions while on the job. Some are amazing, such as seeing a patient recover and finally get to return home, and some are devastating, such as the loss of a long-term patient. Many STNA’s develop close bonds with their patients and will need to brace themselves should anything take a turn for the worse. Emotional strength is a key trait for continuing as an STNA.

9. A Hard Work Ethic
Nursing is not an easy job, in fact many say it’s quite difficult, but if you are determined and have an excellent work ethic you’ll go far in your new career. Patience, endurance, and a willingness to take on new challenges are all part of having a hard work ethic.

10. Communication Skills
Having great communication skills is not only useful in everyday life and relationships, but it is one of the best traits you can have in the nursing field. As a nurse, having regular, clear, and open communication between your patients, their families, the nursing staff, cleaners, and doctors will make you extremely effective at your job.

Are you looking to become a State Tested Nurses Assistant, but aren’t sure what to expect your first year of STNA training? A career as a state tested nurse aide can be a rewarding path, if you are willing to put the hard work and effort into your training and classes. Here are some items of interest you can expect from your first year as an STNA.

Quick Placement and Job Security:
In this day and age, many college and university students are struggling to find work post-graduation. Lucky for you, our STNA course has a 95% success rate with job placement, meaning after taking just under three weeks of training you will be likely to find placement. There is a worldwide need for nurses, and always an abundance of jobs available throughout the USA for nursing assistants; whether you choose to work in a hospital, retirement home, hospice, or for private home care.

A Fast-Paced Environment:
Being an STNA is not for the lazy or the faint of heart. Working as a STNA, you will sometimes be put in a fast-paced working environment with plenty of roles and responsibilities heaped on you. Working at a retirement or assisted living home, you may be assigned many patients/rooms in a small amount of time, meaning you will be trying to care for a dozen people’s needs and desires, such as bathing and dressing, all at once. With proper training and a good attitude, you’ll be able to handle yourself just fine. If you feel overwhelmed, take a 2-minute timeout just for yourself to focus on breathing and remaining calm. A positive attitude will carry you a long way. Remember, you are there to help.

Uncomfortable Tasks:
While you may not think twice about helping out your family member with an illness, helping a complete stranger can be a little uncomfortable at times, especially when dealing with their excrement, or washing their genitals. Because we are not used to caring for someone else’s needs in this way, it can be a little jarring at first. Remind yourself that this person is sick and they need your help. Treat your patient as you would like to be treated in such an awkward position, offering them dignity and respect by the way you deal with them.

A Rewarding Career:
While not everyone goes into a career as STNA with a desire to change people’s lives, you will inevitably find that this will happen. You will change people, and they will change you. Your job as a nursing assistant will be difficult at times, but its discomforts are far outnumbered by the numerous rewards brought to you when you see how your attitude and care can change a person’s life or experience.

Women comprise the majority of STNAs (State Tested Nursing Assistants) within the U.S. The median pay within this field is around $10.48/hr. Generally, earnings vary from $8.77/hr. to $13.11 per hour. Location includes the biggest factor that affects pay for this industry, followed by the particular employer and career length. Though the greater portion lack health benefits of any type, over 2/5 enjoy medical insurance, and 1/3 receive dental coverage, as well. Job satisfaction is stated as high by most workers.

STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant) Job Description
A STNA (state tested nursing assistant) will hold an entry-level position within the medical industry. STNAs will work in various medical settings, which include retirement homes, hospitals, as well as home health aides. The educational requirements differ depending upon the state, yet usually involves a high school diploma or the equivalent, 100-hr. training program, as well as extra instruction in first aid and CPR. Also, most states require a supervised clinical rotation prior to certification.

STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant) Tasks

• Feed, position, dress, bathe, and help patients with grooming and additional tasks.
• Monitor patients’ conditions, record and measure liquid and food consumption as well as output and vital signs, report changes to expert staff.
• Helps with direct patient care underneath supervision of the RN or additional medical professional.
• Offer patients assistance with exercising, walking and moving out of and into bed.

Common Career Paths for STNAs 

• STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant)
• LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)
• RN (Registered Nurse)
• RN (MDS Coordinator Registered Nurse)
• RN (Emergency Room, or Licensed Vocational Nurse, Registered Nurse)
• RN (Operating Room Registered Nurse)
• NP (Family Nurse Practitioner)
• ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner)
• Certified Medical Assistant
• LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)
• Certified Medical Phlebotomist Medical Assistant

STNAs, at the upper end, moving into an RN (Registered Nurse) role may wind up with a hefty rise in pay. The median income for RNs (Registered Nurses) is $55,000 a year. One typical career progression for a STNA includes becoming a Medical Assistant or Licensed Practical Nurse. As compared with STNAs, Licensed Practical Nurses earn $15,000 more on average, and Medical Assistants earn $5,000 more.
What are you waiting for? Contact Premier Choice Health Training Services to enroll in STNA classes in Columbus Ohio today. Before you know it, you will be in rewarding careers as a STNA!