Hello and welcome to an informational article on the number of hours a Certified Nursing Assistant can work.
At the end of this article, you will learn about the types of CNA work shifts, the work hours, and the number of patients a CNA is allowed to attend.
The article on CNA hours discusses the following and more:
- Typical CNA Hours – Hospital/Nursing Home
- CNA work Shift Hours – 8-hour shift schedule
- CNA work shift hours – 12-hour shift schedule
- CNA-Patient Ratio
So, let’s continue!
Typical CNA Hours- Hospital/Nursing Home
8-hour or 12-hour shifts are the most usual work hours for a CNA working in a hospital or a nursing home.
They often work eight-hour shifts from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., or 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
A Certified Nursing Assistant can work five eight-hour shifts or twelve-hour shifts with one day off.
Nursing assistants can work three 12-hour shifts per week for their usual CNA hours in places like hospitals and nursing homes.
They often work 32-40 hours each week and are full-time.
They have a choice of hourly possibilities depending on the facility or job.
Most certified nurse aides must work every other weekend to fill shifts.
Although every office setting is different, most employers will aim to maintain consistency in schedules to get adjusted to their hours.
CNA work Shift Hours– 8-hour shift schedule
Certified nursing assistants work on varying schedules since patients require round-the-clock care.
The majority of full-time CNAs work five 8-hour days, three 12-hour days, or a mix of the two.
In addition, they may work day shifts, swing shifts (from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m.), or night shifts.
For an 8-hour shift, a CNA typically resumes work at 7 a.m.
First, he reviews his patients’ files to know their current health status within 30 minutes.
Then, between 7:30 and11:00 a.m, he gets his patients ready for the day – information about the patient, including vitals, assisting impaired patients with morning tasks such as eating, cleaning their teeth, going to the restroom, etc.
Between 1100 and 1300 hours, he ensures patients eat lunch and take mid-day medications.
In addition, the CNA assists patients with daily activities such as daily/routine exercise transport to different parts of the hospital as needed, such as toilet, laboratory, etc., between 1 and 2:30 p.m.
Between 2:30 and 3 p.m., the CNA updates patients’ files with the day’s readings.
CNA work Shift Hours – 12-hour shift schedule
For a 12-hour shift, a CNA typically resumes work at 7 p.m.
First, he reviews his patients’ files to know their current health status within the next thirty minutes.
Then, between 7:30 and11:00 p.m, he gets his patients ready for bed.
From 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., Nighttime rounds, cleaning, and stocking.
CNA takes a little break between 1 and 1:30 a.m.
Between 0130 and 0630 hours, the nursing assistant conducts nighttime rounds, ensures bedding and patients’ materials are cleaned, and changes bedpans, catheters, and soiled sheets.
Between 0630 and 0700 hours, the CNA updates patients’ files with patients’ status information from the shift.
CNA-Patient Ratio
The approved ratio of CNA-to-patient varies by state.
When patients have minimal care needs, hospitals in Georgia must maintain an on-site staff-to-resident ratio of one nursing assistant per 15 residents during waking hours and one awake direct care staff per 20 residents during non-waking hours.
According to Maryland law, the ratio of nursing assistants on duty to patients cannot be less than one to 25.
In addition, Maryland nursing facilities are only required to offer a minimum of 2 hours of bedside care per licensed bed every day, seven days a week.
In Florida, the legislation mandates 2.5 hours of direct care per resident every day for licensed nursing assistants.
In addition, there must be at least one licensed nursing assistant for every 20 residents in an institution.
In New York, a nursing home may assign one nursing assistant to no more than five acute-care patients.
In addition, facilities must have enough personnel to ensure that each resident spends at least 2.8 hours with a certified nurse assistant, 1.3 hours with a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse, and 0.75 hours with a registered nurse, according to New York laws.
New Jersey law requires that, for the day shift, New Jersey law mandates one CNA for every eight residents; for the evening shift, there is one direct care staff member (RN, LPN, or CNA) for every ten residents.
Therefore, one direct care staff member (RN, LPN, or CNA) is assigned to every 14 residents for the night shift.
In Texas, one licensed nursing assistant is required for every 20 residents or .4 hours (24 minutes) of care per resident per day.
A waiver must be in place if a healthcare facility does not meet this criterion.
Conclusion
While a typical work shift for a CNA is an 8-hour or 12-hour shift, some long-term care facilities may require nursing aides to work overtime.
This mandatory overtime usually requires working more hours than they had contracted to work upon hire.
Although some CNAs would likely welcome these additional hours and the overtime pay that comes with it, others may not—they are often faced with the choice to work the overtime hours or lose their jobs.
Some may choose 8-hour shifts for a five-day working week.
However, others prefer to work longer shifts to have an extra day off.
CNAs are frequently allowed to work three 12-hour shifts in nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.
FAQs
How many hours do CNAs work a week?
Nursing assistants work 32-40 hours each week (excluding overtime hours) full-time. CNAs have a choice of hourly possibilities depending on the facility or job. Most CNAs are required to work every other weekend to fill shifts. As a result, CNAs often work eight-hour or twelve-hour shifts.
Who is a per diem CNA?
A per diem CNA is state-certified to work shifts as needed at various healthcare organizations, mostly nursing homes or assisted living communities. A per diem CNA does not have a set schedule and can work as many hours as they want in many healthcare facilities.
What is a typical day for a CNA?
A typical day for a CNA entails assisting patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as using the restroom, bathing, dressing, and personal grooming. Transferring patients from beds to wheelchairs, and so on. They usually have a single patient in nursing homes and help with household chores.
What are the minimum hours of work required for CNA recertification
After obtaining certification, a CNA is obliged to work for at least 8 hours every 24 months (2 years). Work must be in an approved facility, such as nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, personal care attendant services, and assisted living programs, and must be “nursing or nurse related.”
Can CNAs work overtime?
Certified nursing aides are entitled to overtime compensation regardless of their nursing assistant training or experience. CNAs who previously worked in private homes and were exempt from overtime are likely to be entitled to it now. All hours performed more than 40 hours in a workweek must be paid overtime.
What are the mandatory in-service hours for CNAs?
As part of their job, a CNA’s agency or facility may require them to complete particular in-service hours. Infection Control, Bloodborne Pathogens, Domestic Violence, Documentation & Legal Aspects for CNAs, Resident Rights, Communication with Impaired Clients, CPR skills, and Medical Error Prevention/Safety are covered during the biennial renewal in-service hours.
Can a CNA gain hours of training on the job?
The Florida State Board of Nursing states that healthcare facilities may recruit non-certified nursing assistants and allow them to perform CNA tasks for a limited time. If nursing assistants have finished a CNA training program and are awaiting the state’s CNA certification exam, this exception may be allowed.
How long can a non-certified nursing assistant work?
Some states allow you to work without a license for sixteen weeks. In addition, some organizations will recruit persons who have completed at least 16 hours of CNA class training and intend to take and pass the nurse aide certification (NAC) exam while still enrolled in the CNA program.
