Certified Nursing Assistant CNA

How To Become A Certified Nursing Assistant CNA - Learn About CNA Programs And Training

Certified Nursing Assistant CNA Job Description

A certified nursing assistant CNA, also known as a nurse's aide, orderly or patient care technician, is one of the busiest and most important roles in nursing.

You will be working under the supervision of an LPN or RN, performing tasks like washing, grooming and feeding patients and helping nurses clean and maintain medical equipment and check vital signs, like heart rate, pulse and temperature.

You are also meant to be a source of moral and emotional support for the patients, so being caring, patient and compassionate are part of the job description.

Many people see this job as the lowest level of nursing; the job that takes care of all the menial tasks, but really it gives you a strong feel for nursing as a profession, gives you good hands-on experience with patients and helps you focus on the basic and most important elements of the job.

Necessary Training

To become a CNA, you simply need the prerequisite of having a high school diploma or GED, then join one of the main CNA programs offered at vocational schools or community colleges.

Certified nursing assistant training generally only takes about 6-12 weeks to receive a CNA certificate, not to be confused with CNA certification which comes later. In your CNA course, you will learn the fundamentals of nursing and gain skills in controlling infection, nutrition, anatomy and physiology.

You will follow up your classroom instruction with practical experience to put your skills to the test. Once you complete your studies, you will most likely need to get certified, although each state has different requirements for this. The National Association for Home Care provides a certification exam for you to sit to achieve this national certification.

Furthering your Studies and Career Outlook

A CNA's salary is not that bad considering the short amount of study time required to start working. An entry level position will earn you between $19,900 and $29,700, but with years of experience on the job, the salary can go up to about $35,000 a year.

You also have many opportunities of employment, since CNAs can find work in hospitals, nursing homes, mental health care clinics and private homes. In fact working in private home care will be the fastest growing environment for a CNA, contributing to most of the 28% expected rise in the field until 2016.

Working as a CNA is also a great stepping stone to later continue your studies part time or online to become an LPN or even an RN, or to switch medical areas into a different specialization. With only a few months of training, your medical career can be launched in many directions, so consider becoming a certified nursing assistant CNA if you want an easy and painless way into a medical profession.

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