Yes, cleaning patients is a core and essential part of a CNA’s daily responsibilities in almost every healthcare setting (hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health, etc.). This duty is often referred to as providing “activities of daily living” (ADL) care or “personal care,” and it is explicitly included in the CNA scope of practice as defined by state boards of nursing and federal regulations (e.g., OBRA for long-term care).
Specific tasks CNAs routinely perform include:
- Perineal care (“peri-care”) after incontinence episodes (cleaning genital and anal areas)
- Full or partial bed baths and showers
- Changing adult briefs/diapers
- Cleaning patients who are soiled with urine, feces, blood, vomit, or other body fluids
- Oral care, skin care, and preventing pressure injuries by keeping patients clean and dry
- Changing soiled bed linens while the patient remains in bed (“occupied bed making”)
These tasks are non-negotiable because maintaining hygiene directly prevents skin breakdown, infections (UTIs, MRSA, C. diff), pressure ulcers, and dignity-related distress. Federal and state surveyors (for Medicare/Medicaid facilities) specifically check that CNAs perform this care adequately during inspections.
While some CNAs find certain aspects unpleasant, refusing to provide personal care is generally considered patient abandonment or neglect and can result in disciplinary action, write-ups, or loss of certification. Most facilities rotate assignments to distribute the heavier-care patients fairly, and proper body mechanics, PPE (gloves, gowns), and no-rinse cleansers make the work safer and more efficient.
In short: Yes, cleaning patients thoroughly, respectfully, and regularly is a fundamental expectation of every CNA job. It is not optional, and it is one of the most important ways CNAs protect patient health and dignity every shift.