Certified Nursing Assistant Career Breakdown

So you've decided from sources like this one becoming a certified nursing assistant is the right career choice for you. However, before you devote hours of your life to training, it's important to fully understand the dynamics of this ever-changing profession.

What's a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?

A Certified Nursing Assistant is an associate of the healthcare staff. Constantly operating under the direction of a registered nurse the Certified Nursing Assistant provides hands on medical care to individuals, residents, clients and customers in various healthcare institutions. CNA is generally provide help with washing, dressing, eating, toileting attention to individuals who can not do these jobs alone.

Additionally, the Certified Nursing Assistant is frequently in charge of obtaining vital signs and other essential patient information for nursing and physician staff. Generally, certified nursing assistants hold a high school diploma or a GED as well as completing some form of training. This training may be completed at a community college, vocational school or even through the American Red Cross, which offers free CNA training programs. You'll also be required to sit for and pass your states CNA certification examination before you're able to perform this career's job duties.

Perhaps one of the most important things to remember when seeking out training as a certified nursing assistant is to avoid online classes. While some community colleges and vocational schools offer select courses online, the majority of training is conducted in a traditional classroom environment. The main reason why this is essential is because in order to sit for the certification examination, you must have a minimum of 16 hours of hands on (or clinical) experience. It's literally impossible to achieve this via an online-only training module.

The CNA Profession

Although you wont strike it rich as a CNA, the challenges and rewards of this profession are unlike any other. Many CNAs find the satisfaction of actually assisting patients throughout their recovery beyond simply checking vital signs and dispensing medication is unique from any other nursing job.

Much like many other nursing careers, you're able to work in a variety of settings. While being employed by a nursing home, also referred to as a rest home, is generally the top employer for CNAs, these professionals may also work in hospitals, private doctor's offices and even in educational systems, such as elementary and middle schools.

Although this career isn't for everyone, the challenges and rewards offered are ideal for those who wish to work in the medical field but don't have the time, financial ability or desire to undergo years of intense and expensive training.

Next Steps

If you are interested in what's next after becoming a CNA, look to Think CNA Online to provide tips on becoming an LPN, LVN or RN after some time as a Certified Nursing Assistant.