Certified Nursing Assistant Career
Certified Nursing Assistant
Nursing Assistant Job Description
A Certified Nursing Assistant, also known as a CNA, has a demanding, challenging, but ultimately rewarding job. Working in hospitals, long term care facilities, assisted living centers, adult day care centers, home health agencies, hospice agencies, and other medical, community, and residential settings, CNAs work closely with patients to care for their basic physical and emotional needs. A Certified Nursing Assistant, is authorized to perform specific duties to assist nurses. CNAs work closely with patients to help provide care for their basic physical and emotional needs, and may also perform vital signs and administer medications if licensed to do so. These include but not to handle medications (unless they are licensed to do so).
Those with certain character traits make the best Certified Nursing Assistants. These include sensitivity, self-confidence, maturity, a positive attitude, patience and dependability. In addition, you must be able to lift and transfer patients from wheelchair to bed, so you must have a strong back. You must be able to stand for long periods of time, so your feet must be in good condition. In general, it’s best to be in healthy physical condition before making the decision to take up this career
CNA Employment Outlook
Certified Nursing Assistants are currently in demand in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, the mean annual national salary for a CNA was $24,620. The outlook for the profession is good as well. Jobs for Certified Nursing Assistants across the United States are expected to grow by 18% through the year 2018.
Pre-qualifications
Although states vary in specific requirements, there are some constants. In most states, one may still be enrolled in high school, but must be at least 16 years old in order to apply to become a CNA. One must also be able to speak, write and understand English. Not every state requires certification, but to be able to obtain the best jobs and the best pay, it’s a good idea to complete one. Most employers value certification and are more apt to hire a Certified Nursing Assistant over a non-certified one.
Nursing Assistant/CNA Training Programs
CNA and Nursing Assistants training programs are offered at vocational-technical centers, nursing care facilities, and community colleges as well as online. Make sure that whichever training program you choose is recognized by your state’s Board of Nursing (usually under the state’s Department of Health and Human Services) as an approved, accredited program. Some CNA training programs require applicants to have prerequisite reading and math tests prior to granting admission. Most training programs are 75 credit hours long, and may take from four to twelve weeks to complete. Courses include nutrition, anatomy, physiology, infection control, communication skills, rights of residents, and personal care skills. A typical CNA training program consists of at least 16 hours of a supervised internship in a clinical setting, with the rest of the time divided between classroom instruction and laboratory practice. Your Certified Nursing Assistant training program will consist of classroom, practical, and clinical training. Because there is much more to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant than just textbook knowledge, you will practice techniques and skills on mannequins in the classroom, then receive clinical experience at a medical facility with real patients. CNA training programs range in cost from $400 to $1200.
CNA Exam
Upon completion of the training program, you will take a CNA exam, often partly written or oral and part practical. You must submit your transcript and/or any passing grades from your CNA exams to your state’s Board of Nursing licensing unit. The state will issue your CNA certification to make you a Certified Nursing Assistant in that state. Once you have received your certification, your education does not stop. You must fulfill at least 12 hours of continuing education each year to maintain that certification (again, requirements from state-to-state vary — check with your state to verify its requirements).
How to get a job as a CNA
So, you’ve passed your test and are a full-fledged Certified Nursing Assistant — now what? Getting a job is not guaranteed yet, however. In most states, you must apply directly with the state to become either licensed or certified to work in that state. Usually you must undergo a Criminal Background Check, including fingerprints, and pay a fee to the state before receiving permission from them to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in that state. Check with your state for its rules and regulations.
If your school/training program offers placement services, take advantage of those to help you find a job as a CNA. Good places to look include hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies. If you have received your certification, you will not be limited to taking a job in the same state in which you received your CNA training, because most states have reciprocal agreements and recognize certifications from other states. Having your certification opens up a world of opportunities and possibilities that did not exist before obtaining your certification as a Nursing Assistant.
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