Certified Nursing Aides (CNA) were previously referred to as nursing aides (females) or orderlies (males). CNAs provide basic patient care under the direct supervision of the nurses responsible for providing direct patient care. CNAs may spend more time with patients than anyone else on the home health or hospice care teams. For this reason, they can easily form lasting connections with patients.

CNAs are most often employed by extended-care facilities, hospitals, hospice, home health, and by individuals who want extra help when they are in the health care facility or in their own home. When working in an individual's home, as is common in hospice and home health care settings, there are often additional duties, such as cooking, shopping, or light house cleaning. For more information about the duties of CNAs, click the link below.