Become a Certified Nurse Assistant

A certified nursing assistant or CNA is a type of nurse who performs many different nursing duties but is not yet licensed. CNAs help assist other nurses and physicians in caring for patients. The CNA position is one that falls under a larger group of jobs that are classified as Unlicensed Assistive Care (UAC) personal. A CNA is an integral part of any care facility and should be taken just as seriously as any licensed position would be. In fact, without them care facilities would fall short in customer care.

There are many advantages to becoming a CNA such as the opportunity to work in a wide range of different facilities, having direct and intimate contact with patients, as well as the fact that once you're certified to work in the nursing field you can choose to advance in any area you wish. Entering your nursing career as a CNA is one of the fastest ways to enter the nursing field and start gaining that hands-on experience all nurses need.

CNA Job Responsibilities

The list of duties that CNAs perform is almost endless. The main focus for these types of nurses is to help monitor and care for a patient's well being while in the facility. Some of the most common duties a CNA might perform are:

• Assist patients in moving in and out of the their beds
• Help patients with daily hygiene such as bathing, dressing, using the toilet and brushing their teeth
• Monitor patient's vital signs, eating habits and sleeping habits, and then report status updates to other nurses and physicians
• Keep patients company by talking to or reading to them
• Communicate with family member regarding the progress of the patient's care

Certain other job responsibilities may vary depending on the type of facility in which these nurses work, but the heart of the job is to ensure all patients are as happy and comfortable as they can be.

Did You Know? According to a recent World Health Organization report, East Timor (officially known as Timor-Leste) spends more money, as a ratio of GDP, on health care than any other country, followed closely by the United States and then the Marshall Islands.

CNA Job Requirements

The most important job requirement for being a great CNA is a true love of people and a desire to want to help them.

As a CNA you might often meet patients on the worst day of their lives, and many of them will be scared and alone.

A CNA doesn't just care for a patient's health needs, but cares for their well-being rather as well. Oftentimes patients will light up when their CNA walks in the room, just like they would when a good friend has come to visit.

In some states, having a high school diploma is required to start the training process, but others have entrance exams that students can take in place of having one. In addition, some students can take these entrance exams if their school grades were not quite up to par.

CNA Training & Degrees

Becoming a CNA is not difficult and doesn't take a lot of time. A person must start by enrolling in a certified nurse assistance program and then pass the final exam once the course if completed.

Although each state's requirements are different, courses are generally offered at institutions such as community colleges, nurse care facilities and nursing schools. In addition online classes are becoming more and more popular because of their convenience. The certification program usually consists of both classroom learning that can last four to six weeks, as well as a 75 hour clinical work experience requirement. Courses are also offered on a full-time or part-time basis, taking into consideration those who are going to school while working another job.

After students have graduated from the program, they must register and sit for the state board exam of the state in which they wish to practice. Exams will include both a written portion and a skills section that must be completed and passed.

Did You Know? There are 218 accelerated nursing programs in the U.S. serving over 11,000 students who are switching their careers to go into nursing.

CNA Salary & Benefits

The average annual salary of CNAs working in the US is approximately $27,000. This figure will vary when other variables are factored in. For example, a person's salary will depend on which state a nurse is employed in, the type of facility in which a nurse works, the number of years of work experience they have, and more. But regardless of where you start, all nurses should expect annual salary increases as they gain more experience.

One of the most desirable benefits of starting as a CNA is that in as little as two-months you can be working in the field and actually making a difference in patients lives. CNAs also have a wide choice of facilities to choose from when it comes to looking for work. CNAs work not just in hospitals but also in clinics, schools, long-term care facilities as well as in the private sector. Once you have established yourself as a responsible CNA you can literally choose to go as far as you wish in the nursing industry.

Certified Nurse Assistant Job Summary

• A true genuine desire to help people is a must when working as a CAN.
• In as little as two month you can be working n the nursing field
• Choose to work in just about any type of care facility you can think of
• Enjoy job security and an unlimited potential to take your career in any direction you wish
• Make a difference in patient's lives like no other health care professional does

Being a CNA doesn't have to be a forever position, and although some people work as one their entire career, many other nurses use it as stepping stone to reach achieve other degrees and certifications. Are you curious about other nursing jobs that you can start at or move into from the CNA position? Next we'll discuss the registered nurse (RN) job in depth.

Next Page - How to Become a Registered Nurse >>>