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A Certified Nursing Assistant works at a hospital or other medical facility and helps patients with any healthcare needs that they may have. CNAs are extremely educated and usually very experienced, but nonetheless they are not allowed by the state to perform any medical procedures. Nursing assistants are extremely valuable in all hospital settings because they are required to work with the patient and help them understand their procedures, something that doctors often do not have time for.
Certified Nursing Assistants are also sometimes called Patient Care Assistants, Nursing Assistants, or State Tested Nurse Aids. The actual job title varies by state, but they all perform the same tasks and procedures throughout the day. So what is a CNA exactly? A CNA is someone who loves helping people and working with them. They are in daily contact with patients, talking with them and finding out very pertinent information about their condition that can be useful for the RNs and doctors. It's not always an easy job, but many Certified Nursing Assistants feel that it is very rewarding.
Once you are a CNA, you have the option of pursuing that career by itself or using it as a stepping stone to pursue a career as a Registered Nurse, or RN. It is typically an entry point for nurses to get into a medical career and start learning about the job and getting experience. One of the reasons a Certified Nursing Assistant career is so popular is because it does not take very long to learn the necessary knowledge and become certified. The only requirements are a high school diploma or a GED and a CNA Certificate program that usually takes between 6 and 12 weeks to complete. These programs are available at most technical or community colleges across the country.
Certified Nursing Assistant coursework will typically include classes in anatomy, physiology, infection control, nutrition, and basic nursing skills. There is usually a lot of hands on classwork and field trips to medical facilities for a first hand look at the proceedings.
Certified Nursing Assistants earn between $24,700 and $29,800 per year on average. The salary of a CNA is entirely dependent on the place where they are employed and the years of experience they have on the job site. The top CNAs currently working pull in over $32,000 per year. When it comes to job positions though, there is certainly no shortage. Nearly every type of medical facility requires some sort of nursing or medical assistant, whether it is a hospital, nursing home, mental health facility, private homes, or assisted living facilities.
Nursing assistant jobs are growing extremely fast, especially jobs for home health aides. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the sector will continue growing by 19% until at least 2018, meaning that anybody who becomes a nursing assistant is going to have job security for a long time to come. There are plenty of online courses that offer certification for anybody who wishes to take the time and learn how to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.
A Breakdown Of The CNA Job Description
According to the Bureau of Labor, Certified Nursing Assistants are part of one of the fastest growing occupational fields in America. The estimated number of jobs available in the field is expected to grow as much as 19 percent from where it is now in the next seven years. CNAs are a critical part of any hospital staff, and that's one of the reasons CNA courses have become so popular among college students.
Certified Nursing Assistant Job Description
The CNA job description varies quite a bit from state to state and from hospital to hospital. For the most part, they act as caregivers for the patients, speaking with them and making sure they are in no discomfort. They also provide several different kinds of patient care, whether it's medical or non medical. Nearly the entire time they are working with a patient they must be supervised by an RN, but CNA responsibilities typically include:
- Helping patients walk
- Cleaning up patients' rooms
- Making beds
- Delivering messages
- Helping patients get in or out of bed
- Answering calls
- Monitoring life support machines and reporting any fluctuations
- Assisting the doctor or RN during medical procedures
- Taking patients' vital signs
- Feeding the patients
- Collecting any samples needed for testing
- Cleaning the patient and providing hygiene assistance
There may be other CNA duties in various hospitals or healthcare institutions, but that list comprises of the most common duties of a CNA in most clinical settings. There is a wide variety of settings that make use of Certified Nursing Assistants, and these can include hospitals, long-term care centers, nursing homes, mental hospitals, outpatient facilities, and directly in the homes of patients who require in-home care or constant supervision.
The job duties of a Certified Nursing Assistant aren't always glamorous, but most CNAs use the position as a stepping stone to becoming an RN. It allows them to get a foot in the door of the medical world and game some real world experience before studying to become a registered nurse. It is fairly easy to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, which is one of the reasons so many college students decide to follow that career path. Typically, most accredited courses only last 12 weeks at the most, and the fastest ones are completed within six weeks. This makes the job of CNA extremely accessible to individuals who are unable to afford several years of schooling.
Online education has become the mainstream method of achieving CNA certification, both because the tuition is typically a bit less than in a traditional university and because transportation is also a hindrance for many aspiring students. CNAs earn a respectable salary as well, especially considering the short amount of time needed for certification. The average salary for a CNA is around $29,000 per year, and the opportunity for advancement is available in nearly every employment setting. Certified Nursing Assistant duties may not be fun, but the job will definitely pay the bills.
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