What Are Cna Duties

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) play a critical role on the healthcare team, providing direct, hands‑on care that supports both patients and licensed nursing staff. If you are asking “What are CNA duties?” in a South African or international context, it’s important to understand that CNAs (often called nurse assistants or nurse aides) work under supervision, and their tasks are clearly defined by healthcare regulations and facility policies.

Below is a factual, SEO‑optimised guide to typical CNA duties, compiled from credible healthcare and regulatory sources.

What Are CNA Duties?

At a high level, CNA duties involve:

Assisting patients with daily living activities (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting).
Monitoring and reporting basic health information.
Supporting mobility and safe movement.
Providing emotional support and communication.
Maintaining a clean, safe care environment.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that nursing assistants “help provide basic care for patients” and typically work in nursing homes, hospitals, and long‑term care facilities under the supervision of licensed nurses (BLS – Nursing Assistants and Orderlies).

Similarly, Alberta Health Services describes health care aides (a role very similar to CNAs) as assisting with activities such as hygiene, mobility, nutrition, and elimination under the direction of a regulated nurse (Alberta Health Services – Health Care Aide role description).

Core Direct Patient Care Duties

1. Assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

One of the primary answers to “What are CNA duties?” is assistance with ADLs. These are routine self‑care tasks necessary for daily functioning.

According to the U.S. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), common ADLs include bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding (NCBI – Activities of Daily Living definition). CNAs are often responsible for:

Bathing and personal hygiene – helping patients bathe, wash hair, and maintain oral hygiene as described in practical nursing aide training materials (U.S. BLS – typical nursing assistant tasks).
Dressing and grooming – assisting with clothing selection, dressing, combing hair, shaving, and nail care when appropriate.
Feeding assistance – helping patients who have difficulty eating independently, ensuring safe swallowing techniques and appropriate positioning, which is highlighted as a core duty for nurse aides in long‑term care (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Nurse Aide Training guidelines PDF, see nurse aide services discussion).
Toileting and continence care – helping patients use the toilet or bedpan and managing incontinence care, as emphasised in the CMS long‑term care guidance for nurse aide services (CMS State Operations Manual – F‑tag guidance for nursing homes).

2. Mobility and Safe Transfers

Mobility support is another central component when defining “What are CNA duties.”

The World Health Organization highlights the importance of safe patient handling and mobility to prevent falls and injuries in healthcare facilities (WHO – Falls prevention in health care facilities). Within that framework, CNAs are typically expected to:

Assist patients with walking, using gait belts or mobility aids as directed by nursing or physiotherapy staff.
Perform bed to chair transfers, wheelchair positioning, and repositioning in bed to prevent pressure injuries.
Use mechanical lifts and transfer devices according to facility policy and training to ensure safety for both patient and CNA.

Alberta Health Services specifically notes that health care aides support mobility, positioning, and turning of patients to promote comfort and reduce the risk of complications like pressure injuries (Alberta Health Services – Health Care Aide responsibilities).

Monitoring, Observation, and Reporting

3. Measuring Vital Signs and Basic Clinical Observations

Another important aspect of “What are CNA duties?” involves basic clinical observations.

Nurse assistants are trained to measure and record vital signs, including:

Temperature
Pulse
Respiration rate
Blood pressure

The U.S. BLS explains that nursing assistants often “measure patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature” under a nurse’s supervision (BLS – Nursing Assistants job duties).

In addition to vital signs, CNAs commonly:

Monitor and record intake and output (fluids taken in and excreted).
Observe and report changes in skin condition, such as redness that may indicate early pressure sores.
Note changes in level of consciousness, mood, or behavior, promptly reporting concerns to the licensed nurse.

4. Documentation and Communication

Accurate documentation and clear communication are fundamental to safe care.

The CMS guidance on nurse aide services emphasises the importance of coordinated care between nurse aides and licensed nursing staff, which relies on timely reporting and documentation of care tasks and patient observations (CMS State Operations Manual – nurse aide involvement in care).

Typical CNA duties in this area include:

Documenting completed care tasks (e.g., bathing, turning schedules, food and fluid intake).
Recording vital signs and other routine measurements.
Reporting changes in patient condition to the nurse immediately.
Participating in hand‑over or shift reports as directed by facility policy.

Environmental and Safety‑Related Duties

5. Maintaining a Clean and Safe Environment

A safe, hygienic environment is essential in any setting where CNAs work.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outlines that healthcare workers, including nurse aides, must follow infection prevention and control procedures to reduce transmission risks (OSHA – Healthcare Wide Hazards: Infectious Diseases). Within this framework, CNA duties typically include:

Changing bed linens and keeping patient areas tidy.
Cleaning and disinfecting basic patient care equipment (as per facility policy).
Proper handling and disposal of soiled linen and waste to prevent cross‑contamination.
Assisting with infection prevention practices, such as hand hygiene support and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) consistent with training and local policy.

6. Fall Prevention and Patient Safety Support

Because older adults and medically fragile patients are at high risk of falls, CNAs play a critical role in safety.

The WHO identifies environmental modifications and supervision as core strategies for fall prevention in health facilities (WHO – Falls prevention in health care facilities). Under guidance from nurses and therapists, CNAs commonly:

Ensure call bells are within reach and frequently used items are accessible.
Use bed and chair alarms when prescribed.
Keep walkways clear of clutter, and ensure appropriate footwear and mobility aids are in use.
Closely supervise high‑risk patients during transfers and toileting.

Emotional Support and Patient Interaction

7. Providing Emotional and Social Support

Caring for emotional and social needs is an often overlooked part of “What are CNA duties,” yet it is frequently mentioned in professional descriptions.

The BLS notes that nursing assistants “often develop close relationships with their patients because they provide many personal care services and often have more contact with them than other staff” (BLS – Work environment and relationships for nursing assistants).

In practice, CNAs often:

Offer reassurance and conversation, helping reduce anxiety or loneliness.
Support orientation and reality‑based communication for patients with cognitive impairments.
Help patients engage in simple recreational or social activities as permitted by facility policies and care plans.

This human connection is particularly important in long‑term care and residential facilities.

Workplace Settings Where CNA Duties Apply

CNA duties can vary slightly depending on the work environment, but core responsibilities remain similar. According to the BLS overview of nursing assistants (BLS – Nursing Assistants and Orderlies), CNAs commonly work in:

Nursing homes and long‑term care facilities – heavy focus on assistance with ADLs, mobility, and chronic condition monitoring.
Hospitals – more acute care duties such as frequent vital signs, assistance with post‑operative mobilization, and supporting diagnostic procedures (e.g., patient prep).
Home health and community care – assisting clients with personal care and basic housekeeping, under supervision of a nurse or care coordinator.
Assisted living facilities – supporting relatively more independent residents with selected ADLs and monitoring.

In Canada, similar roles (often titled health care aides or personal support workers) provide comparable services in hospitals, continuing care, and home care settings, as described by Alberta Health Services (Health Care Aide – work settings and role).

Training, Supervision, and Scope of Practice

Although laws and titles differ by country, there are consistent patterns in how CNA duties are regulated.

In the United States, CNAs must complete state‑approved education programs and pass a competency exam before being listed on a state nurse aide registry, as outlined by state‑by‑state requirements collated by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN – Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs).
CMS regulations for Medicare‑ and Medicaid‑certified nursing facilities require that nurse aides be competent to perform services for which they are responsible and that these duties be delegated by licensed nurses (CMS State Operations Manual – nurse aide services requirements).

The core principle across jurisdictions is that CNAs:

Work under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or enrolled/practical nurse.
Perform non‑invasive, basic nursing care tasks.
Must not perform assessments, diagnosis, or independent clinical decision‑making, which remain within the scope of licensed nursing professionals.

Summary: What Are CNA Duties in Everyday Practice?

Bringing all sources together, the most common CNA duties include:

Personal care and ADLs – bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, feeding, and oral care (NCBI – ADLs; BLS – Nursing Assistants description).
Mobility support – transfers, repositioning, walking assistance, and fall‑prevention measures (WHO – Falls prevention in health care facilities; Alberta Health Services – Health Care Aide responsibilities).
Basic clinical tasks – vital signs, intake and output, and observing and reporting changes (BLS – Nursing Assistants job duties).
Environment and safety – maintaining cleanliness, managing linens, assisting with infection control, and ensuring a safe environment (OSHA – Healthcare Wide Hazards: Infectious Diseases; CMS – nurse aide services requirements).
Emotional and social support – building rapport, offering companionship, and supporting patients’ psychosocial well‑being (BLS – Work environment for nursing assistants).

For readers researching “What are CNA duties” in order to plan a career path or define job descriptions, the key is to align these evidence‑based core tasks with your local regulatory framework and facility policies, ensuring that all duties assigned remain within the formal scope of practice for nursing assistants in your jurisdiction.