Have you ever been in the hospital before? If you have you know how busy the scenery is. There is a lot of staff that make up the hospital and each person do their part to make teamwork happen. No one person can survive without the others to help.

One part of the healthcare staff I feel doesn't get the credit they deserve is the Certified Nursing Assistants. We are the first to answer the lights and to see if you're okay. We are a relief to nurses because we do the littles to help them out, so they aren't running around as much and that they can provide excellent patient care. Certified Nursing Assistants are hard workers, compassionate, dependable, rewarded by the satisfaction of taking care of the sick, and many other qualities.

A nurse gave me a poem by Dawn Mazzola it goes like this:

Only A CNA?

Who are you to refer to us, As "Only" a CNA?

We're the ones who wash and dress,

Our patients for the day.

We're the ones who take the time,

To listen to them speak.

We listen about their lifetime,

In a forty-hour week.

We also give our hands to hold,

When someone's feeling scared.

It's not easy being a patient,

You're never quite prepared.

We take the time to listen,

By lending our ears.

We listen to their worries,

Or how they've spent their years.

Our arms were made to reach,

And even wrap around.

To give our patients hugs,

When their feeling a little down.

We help our patients do the things,

They used to do on their own.

Everybody needs some help,

Even when we're grown.

So who are you to refer to us,

As "only" a CNA?

We do our best to meet their needs,

Within our working day.

We chose to do this job,

The job did not choose us.

We sympathize and emphasize,

Compassion is a must.

We try to keep them comfortable,

And free of fear.

We sit along beside with them,

When the time is near.

We hold their hand, stroke their hair,

Just making sure they know.

Their not alone, an aide is there,

It's ok for them to go.

To all the CNA's keep, your head held high,

We're not "only" CNA's.

We're Angels in Disguise!!

Our days are long and tiring but at the end of the day, it is rewarding to take care of the sick and to know that your job is respected and appreciated.