CNA Services

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), often called hospice aids, are vital Homage Hospice care team members. They work under the supervision of our qualified nursing staff to provide patients with comfort, support, and dignity.

What’s The Difference Between CNAs and Registered Nurses?

CNAs will have completed a state-approved training program, while registered nurses will have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. This means CNAs can only provide basic care, such as assisting patients with daily activities, recording vital signs, and reporting health concerns to nurses.

Registered nurses will have more responsibilities, including developing care plans alongside the care team and administering patients’ medication.

Roles and Responsibilities of CNAs at Homage Hospice

The roles and responsibilities of our CNAs are both big and small but enormously important for the well-being of patients and helping our care team.

• Personal care. CNAs can assist patients with daily activities such as bathing, grooming, basic hygiene, dressing, and feeding. This is important for ensuring patients live out their remaining days in hospice with dignity and respect.
• Comfort measures. Keeping patients comfortable is a key part of hospice, and CNAs do this by providing non-medical pain management. This can include gentle massages, applying warm or cold packs, and even positioning pillows. Comfort care also extends to emotional comfort, as CNAs can provide emotional support and companionship.
• Mobility assistance. For bed-bound patients, CNAs can help by turning and repositioning patients to prevent bedsores. Other duties include transporting patients from their beds to chairs, providing walking assistance, and assisting with exercises prescribed by physical therapists.
• Monitoring vital signs. CNAs can provide continuity of care by monitoring vital signs like blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate. Other duties include tracking patient health changes, assisting with medication reminders, and reinforcing dressings. Any reports or concerns are sent to our nursing team, who will further assess or intervene as needed.
• Nutrition support. CNAs also ensure that patients receive proper nutrition and hydration by assisting them with eating and drinking.
• End-of-life care. During this challenging period, CNAs can assist with symptom management, pain comfort, and support grieving families.
• Communication and documentation. CNAs can act as a bridge of information between our care team and families by reporting on changes in the patient’s health. Accurate documentation of provided care, vital signs, and daily living activities fall under the responsibility of the CNA.

Choose Homage Hospice for Your Loved Ones

At Homage Hospice, our team of CNAs are well-seasoned in hospice care and strive to provide patients with care that is empathetic and compassionate. Working alongside our dedicated multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, bereavement specialists, and spiritual counselors, our CNAs empower patients to thrive in every stage of life.

To learn more about our nursing services, please contact our team at (469) 625-0705 and see how we can support you.