Just received a job offer for a CNA position in surgical stepdown/SICU.

I was just recently offered a position I interviewed for to be a nurses assistant in a SICU/Surgical stepdown unit. The shift is from 7p-7a.

What is to be expected of me and what will a typical night be like? I have never had a healthcare job, just experience from clinicals that I've done this year. (I've done basic med surg, gerontology, peds and OB) I'm pretty sure I'll be just doing basic patient care, vital signs and things like that.
Quote from dmoney8827I was just recently offered a position I interviewed for to be a nurses assistant in a SICU/Surgical stepdown unit. The shift is from 7p-7a.What is to be expected of me and what will a typical night be like? I have never had a healthcare job, just experience from clinicals that I've done this year. (I've done basic med surg, gerontology, peds and OB) I'm pretty sure I'll be just doing basic patient care, vital signs and things like that.

I would imagine that q4h vitals would be the minimum, but could also be as often as q2h depending on the pt. You could also be doing things like linen changes, helping with bathing, turning, toileting, fetching pillows and water, etc., etc.

I believe she said that it's a 13 bed unit. She also said that they'll get less acute patients when the less acute floors become full.

Quote from GM2RNI would imagine that q4h vitals would be the minimum, but could also be as often as q2h depending on the pt. You could also be doing things like linen changes, helping with bathing, turning, toileting, fetching pillows and water, etc., etc.

Quote from dmoney8827Sounds like all the stuff we did in clinical minus the "RN only" stuff that we did as well.

In ICU, the job is a little different. Our CNAs do not do vital signs. But since most of our patients are sedated and intubated, the CNAs help us boost patients up in bed and turn patients every 2 hours. When patients need transport to CT scan or MRI, the CNA helps push the stretcher, IV and whatever else, along with the RN and the Respiratory therapist.Each patient room has a supply cart, and the CNAs keep the cart stocked with supplies.The majority of our CNAs are nursing students, and most of our new grads hired worked as a CNA on our unit (and made a good impression).

Quote from RNperdiemIn ICU, the job is a little different. Our CNAs do not do vital signs. But since most of our patients are sedated and intubated, the CNAs help us boost patients up in bed and turn patients every 2 hours. When patients need transport to CT scan or MRI, the CNA helps push the stretcher, IV and whatever else, along with the RN and the Respiratory therapist.Each patient room has a supply cart, and the CNAs keep the cart stocked with supplies.The majority of our CNAs are nursing students, and most of our new grads hired worked as a CNA on our unit (and made a good impression).