There are more than 1.5 million nursing assistants in the United States. The outlook for certified nursing assistants is positive, with job growth hitting 8% a year over the next 8 years.
If you are thinking about a job in nursing, you want to have job security. You’ll have it as the population gets older and more people get diagnosed with chronic conditions.
Before you dive into a new career, you need to learn more about it. What does a certified nursing assistant do? How do you become a CNA? How do you start your CNA career?
You’ll want to keep reading because this article has you covered. Find out the answers to these questions and everything you need to know about becoming a CNA.
What Does a Certified Nursing Assistant Do?
Certified nursing assistants don’t have an easy job, but it’s necessary. If you believe that people deserve the best care possible, you have an opportunity to provide it for patients. They have different titles, such as certified nursing aides, nursing aides, and patient assistants.
CNAs are the ones who work with patients in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and home health agencies.
As a certified nursing assistant, you are responsible for the personal care of a patient. That involves bathing and dressing them. You may help feed them and help with other personal care tasks, like shaving.
You’re also taking vital signs regularly. You check a person’s pulse, temperature, breathing, and blood pressure. You might need to collect samples for testing and monitor weight changes.
Certified nursing assistants assist in-home patients to get to doctor’s appointments. They may arrange transportation or take patients to the doctor themselves.
What are some of the qualities that the most successful CNAs have? Since you’re the one spending the most time with patients, it’s important to have the knowledge to care for patients.
You can learn those skills, but there are skills that don’t come naturally to everyone. You need to have compassion and empathy for your patients.
They might be emotionally struggling with their physical condition. They’re probably terrified to see their bodies change as they age. You can help support them by being compassionate.
Communication skills are a must for certified nursing assistants. You are part of a healthcare team, and you need to keep everyone involved with patient care aware of changes and conditions. A simple oversight could have detrimental consequences.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant
What does it take to be a certified nursing assistant? It depends on where you live. The path to becoming a CNA is overseen by state nursing boards. There aren’t a set of federal requirements to be CNA.
In Pennsylvania, you need to be able to perform basic math and writing skills in English, have coursework, and clinical practice. You then have to take the Nursing Aide Exam.
California’s requirements are similar. You need to be at least 16, and take a course from an accredited institution before you take the exam.
Enroll in a CNA Program
The key to becoming a certified nursing assistant is enrolling in a CNA program in your state. The first step is to look for accredited CNA programs.
You’ll then need to evaluate the cost to attend the school and the course offerings. The CNA program should get you ready to take the exam, but it should also prepare you for your career.
You could end up in a position where you pass the exam, but you have no confidence is doing the daily work of a CNA.
When you weigh the costs of the program, you have to ask if there are scholarships or grants available. You want to make sure that you don’t graduate with a lot of student loan debt. You should see what the price of tuition includes.
Some programs include a CPR certification, while others have you pay for that separately.
Be sure to take a look at the course loads and expectations. You need to make sure that they fit with your schedule.
The one thing that you need to do after you pass your board exam is to maintain your certification. You worked hard for it and you don’t want to let it lapse. That could cost you your job.
CNA continuing education requirements also vary by state. Some states have no continuing education requirements, while others require 24 hours every 2 years. Check with the requirements in your state before you enroll in a class.
Finding a Job After the Exam
You passed your CNA exam! What’s next? Well, you need to find a job.
Here’s the difference between successful CNAs and ones that struggle. Successful CNAs start job hunting on the first day of classes. They don’t wait until they pass the exam.
They start building their networks of contacts. They engage with the career center at the school to see how they can position themselves to get a job when they graduate.
They also do what they can to gain experience. They might enroll in a work-study program or intern to get more experience.
Those steps put them well ahead of everyone else in the program. You should take these same steps before you graduate.
Ready to Start Your Career as a Certified Nursing Assistant?
When you become a certified nursing assistant, opportunities and doors will open. That’s partly because there is a growing need for CNAs.
It’s also not for everyone. You need to have the right skills and temperament to care for people who are unable to care for themselves. You also have to choose the right CNA program, pass an exam, and get a job that’s a good fit.
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