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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!

Within the health care industry, support staff such as STNAs assist patients’ needs for basic bedside care. In the state of Ohio, as a STNA you are certified to work in nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities. STNAs have a number of job responsibilities that are under the direction or supervision of a registered nurse or physician. Working as a STNA, you are the one that has the most day-to-day interaction with patients so if their conditions change, you will be the first to notice and inform senior staff. Here we have broken down a few of the basic roles a STNA is responsible for:

Basic Personal Care: A large part of a STNA’s responsibly revolves around basic personal care for patients. This involves assisting patients with using the restroom or bedpan, assisting with bathing or providing sponge baths, and other personal hygiene depending on the patients’ mobility.

Basic Nursing Care: STNAs preform basic nursing duties for their patients. As a STNA if your patient is bedridden, they will need to be regularly repositioned to prevent bedsores. Vital signs, blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, and respiratory rate typically need to be checked and documented.

Physical Activity: STNAs assist their patients with staying physically active. They often lead patients in low-impact exercises that are designed to preserve their range of motion and overall fitness. As a STNA you will work with patients and provide support for their regular physical activity.

Working within the health care industry as a STNA can be a rewarding and demanding position. There are a number of job opportunities within this field and after completing the training to become a STNA, progressing in training is always an option to continue into nursing.

PCHS has launched a new blog! Please continue to follow us on our new STNA blog. Enjoy!

Business may be booming for STNAs, CNA’s and home health care aides, but so are the number of people looking for jobs in the field. The more skilled and networked you are as a job seeker, the more likely it is that you will land a position in a highly-sought STNA role. PCHS offers a number of ways to help make this happen.

Our two-and-a-half week long STNA classes are highly regarded, with an unparalleled 98% pass rate for the state certification exam. We’re a training program that approaches with the goal of getting our students all of the skills they need to pass the test. PCHS offers unlimited reviews, unlimited access to our facilities to practice, and sample computerized tests. Our thorough program ensures the highest pass rate in the state of Ohio.

In-facility clinicals during the course of the class allow our students to practice the skills they’re learning in a practical environment. There is no more effective way to study for the state test. Classes that offer anything less are not doing their students justice.

On our website, you’ll also find our STNA job board. This is a fantastic resource for our graduates to explore opportunities in the Central Ohio area and see what facilities are looking for highly-qualified candidates. Most courses are just that: only a course. PCHS is a person-driven, in our care style and in our course material. We support your growth as a professional and not just as a student.

Check out our calendar of courses available online, as well as our STNA job board. Are you ready to jump start your career in home healthcare? Contact PCHS to learn more or sign-up for a class.

A life-threatening situation could happen at any moment. Health issues and accidents could cause a loved one or stranger to need professional medical care right away, but that care is often not available immediately. What happens when it’s not? While it’s certainly not pleasant to think about, preparing for life-threatening emergencies is essential to a long and healthy life. One of the best ways to be prepared for health emergencies is by taking a CPR class through Premier Choice Health Services.

What is CPR?
CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. CPR is an emergency procedure performed when an individual is suffering from cardiac arrest or other trauma. The person giving CPR offers manual chest compressions and breathing to assist the patient with vital life functions. CPR is often required immediately while additional medical help is on the way.

Who should be CPR trained?
Whether you are in the medical field or not, CPR is an important skill to learn. You never know when CPR may be required to save the life of a stranger or loved one. Everyone can benefit from knowing CPR and having the skills and confidence to respond in an emergency situation.

How do I get trained?
If you live in the Columbus area, you can register for a CPR class at PCHS. Classes are approved through the American Heart Association, and upon completion of the class you will be certified for two years in adult, child, and infant CPR. Classes are affordable and offered at convenient times every other week.

With the proper training and CPR classes from PCHS, you will be prepared with the skills and confidence to respond in any emergency situation. Administering CPR is often the first step to saving a life. Sign up for a class at PCHS and help save lives.

The Affordable Care Act includes a variety of program improvements and funding increases for long-term care services nationwide. The goal was to make care more accessible for those who want to stay at home and not go to long-term facilities, such as nursing homes. This makes home care more accessible to Americans everywhere. The act includes financial incentives for states to further support these programs and expand their reach.

As baby boomers continue to age, the American elder population continues to swell. Care facilities are in high demand and often have waiting lists to get in. Because of this, home- and community-based services have grown more popular. Some don’t want to “be in a home,” others don’t need the full-time care. Whatever the reason, home care is booming. To help reorient funding to where it’s needed, the Affordable Care Act incentivizes states to increasingly subsidize resources for this type of care.

Community First Choice (CFC)
Federal medical assistance increases six percent for states electing to cover home- and community-based attendant services. These attendant services include assisting with daily routines and any medically-necessary activities.

Money Follows the Person (MFP)
Grants have been provided to 13 new states in the past couple years to join the other 29 states and the District of Columbia currently enrolled in the MFP program. This program helps individuals with long-term services and enables them to move out of institutions and back into their homes or other community-based environments.

Home- and Community-Based Services State Plan Option
This section of the Affordable Care Act allows states to target home- and community-based care at certain groups of people and services provided. The option also assists states in ensuring the quality of care provided in these settings.

As these changes are implemented and refined over the coming years, demand for home-based STNAs will skyrocket. Community-based STNAs will also see a drastic increase as the community long-term care field expands to provide seniors and those with disabilities more options for care and socialization.