Certified Nursing Assistant Careers Information
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) help take care of the physically and mentally ill in nursing care facilities, hospitals and mental health care centers. Along with psychiatric aides, certified nursing assistants are referred to as direct care workers because of their work with patients that require long-term care.
People in certified nursing assistant careers work under the supervision of nurses and doctors to perform various tasks around the facilities. Typically, they are the primary care workers for the patients that they work with. Their duties include: helping a patient eat, dress and bathe; serving meals; cleaning rooms; checking their vitals (e.g. blood pressure, temperature and pulse rate), and helping the patients out of bed and move around.
Certified Nursing Assistant Careers & Degrees
- Colorado Technical University - Undergraduate: Undergraduate - Online
Grand Canyon University: Online
- M.B.A. and M.S. in Nursing: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems (Bridge)
- M.S. in Nursing with an Emphasis in Leadership in Health Care Systems (Bridge)
- M.S. in Nursing: Nursing Education (Bridge)
- M.S. in Nursing: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (RN to MSN)
South University: Online
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree completion program
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing - Nurse Educator Specialization
- Master of Science in Nursing Specialization in Adult Health Nurse Practitioner
Due to the close nature of primary care, CNAs sometimes develop tight bonds with their patients. They are also required to go above and beyond with the care of their patients, performing care-related tasks that most people would run away from. These numerous tasks can be very physically and mentally demanding, and certified nurse assistants tend to be on their feet the majority of time.
Certified Nursing Assistant Careers Path
Becoming a certified nursing assistant is a great way for individuals to get into a ‘helping’ profession quickly. They only need a high school diploma, some experience, and to be licensed to get employment at even the largest of hospitals. Training to become a certified nurse assistant is offered by high schools, hospitals and other care centers. This training covers nutrition, physiology, infection control and personal care skills (such as helping a patient eat, dress and bathe).
In order to get licensed, a student must complete at least 75 hours of approved training in care facilities and go through an evaluation. Different states can require additional steps in order to be a certified nursing assistant.
Certified Nursing Assistant Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
A passion for helping people, be in good health, patient, emotionally stable, communicative, dependable and understanding
Certified Nursing Assistant Interview
To find out about a day-in-the-life of a certified nursing assistant career, Read More from a Certified Nursing Assistant…
Certified Nursing Assistant Careers Salary Expectations
Because of the low amount of education and experience required for the job, CNAs earn lower wages among the healthcare community. The median annual wage for a CNA in 2008 was $24,040, with the lower 10% earning $17,510 and the higher 10% earning $33,970.
Certified Nursing Assistant Careers Job Outlook
Due to the growing need for healthcare and the growing amount of elderly people that require primary care, the job outlook for certified nurse assistants is quite good. The estimated growth rate for CNAs is 19% from 2008 to 2018, which is higher than most professions.
Certified Nursing Assistant Associations and Resources
National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA)
Slightly Off the Footpath of Nursing Assistant
Source: bls.gov/oco/ocos327
