Maintaining Professionalism as a CNA

No matter what type of job a person may obtain, he or she is expected to act professionally while working. This is especially true if you obtain employment as a CNA. Not only will your patients depend on you, but your boss and coworkers will depend on you as well. But just what defines professionalism, and how can you make sure that your are acting professionally? The following tips can help!

Personal Appearance

First and foremost, as a nurse aide, it is essential that you pay attention to your personal appearance and hygiene. Your personal appearance is important in maintaining professionalism in the workplace, and cleanliness is a crucial factor in preventing infections and bacteria growth in medical settings.

With that said, before going to work each day, make sure that you shower, shampoo your hair and apply deodorant. Likewise, make sure that your clothing is clean and pressed. Additionally, since some of your patients may be allergic to cosmetics, minimize your use of such things as perfume, cologne and make up.

Work Attendance

Work attendance is another valuable factor in maintaining professionalism as a CNA. Chronic tardiness or absences are not only unprofessional, but they can lead to a variety of repercussions as well. Your employer needs you at work! If you have poor work attendance, you may face docked hours at best or loss of your job at the worst.

Assuming you want your job, it is best for you to arrive to work on time and avoid any unnecessary tardiness or absences. You also need to realize that as a nurse aide, there may be times when your employer will need you to work overtime. While it is okay to decline extra shifts, it is not a good idea to decline overtime hours.

Overall Attitude

All employers want to hire staff members who are able to maintain cheerful attitudes, and it is no different for employers who hire CNAs. If you constantly arrive at work with a poor attitude, your employer may choose to fire you and hire someone else! Furthermore, it is important for you to keep in mind that your patients are suffering.

And since they are suffering, they can certainly benefit more from cheerful staff members than those who have chips on their shoulders. With that said, do your best to be cheerful during your workday. If you find this to be difficult or if you are experiencing job stress, seek out productive ways to relieve your tension.

Patient and Coworker Interaction

Finally, it is essential for you to know that when you obtain a job as a CNA, you will become a member of a unique healthcare team. For this reason, you need to learn how to work effectively as a team. This means that when you need help, ask for it, and when a coworker needs help, take some time out to assist him or her.

This also means that you need to learn how to take directions from your supervisors and act on them appropriately. Lastly, while it may be difficult at times, you must treat your patients like human beings and not just patients. In short, give them the type of care that you would want to receive if you were the patient and they were the caregivers.

Conclusion

Maintaining professionalism as a CNA involves paying attention to your appearance, work attendance, attitude, and interaction with coworkers and patients.