Services a CNA is trained and legally permitted to perform 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) define nine essential task areas that fall within the CNA scope of practice:

• Personal care skills (e.g., bathing, grooming, and dressing).

• Safety and emergency procedures (e.g., Heimlich maneuver or fall prevention).

• Basic nursing skills (e.g., measuring vital signs, height, and weight).

• Infection control practices (e.g., hand hygiene and using PPE).

• Communication and interpersonal skills.

• Care of cognitively impaired residents.

• Basic restorative care (e.g., assisting with range-of-motion exercises).

• Mental health and social service needs.

• Residents’ rights advocacy

It is equally important to know what a CNA cannot do. For example:

• Sterile Procedures: Independent performance of sterile techniques (such as inserting a catheter) is outside the CNA scope; however, a CNA may assist a nurse during these procedures.

• Diabetic Care: Specific high-risk tasks, like nail care for diabetic residents, must be performed by a Registered Nurse due to the risk of infection.

• Clinical Judgment: While CNAs are vital to the Implementation phase of the nursing process, they do not independently assess residents, diagnose conditions, or create care plans

Before accepting any assigned task, a professional CNA should use the 4 S’s to verify they are working safely within their legal limits:

1. Scope: Is this task within my state-defined licensure and training?

2.  Supervision: Do I have clear instructions and access to a nurse if I have questions?.

3. Safety: Am I currently competent to perform this skill safely for this specific resident?.

4. Supplies: Do I have the necessary equipment, such as PPE or mechanical lifts, to do the job?