Nursing Assistant
A career as a nursing assistant can be challenging since you not only have to work with the public every day, but will be dealing with patients who are facing everything from minor illness to major health problems. Receiving a nursing assistant certification requires a lot of hard work and extensive preparation that involves both written testing and hands-on training with actual patients in need of care. Education is provided in everything from anatomy to nutrition to sanitation during training. For those who receive their certification, it is a rewarding job that comes with years of job security and plenty of room for advancement.
Nursing Assistant Certification
To become a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, you must be trained to carry out duties that assist the nursing staff. They often work closely with their patients to ensure their continued wellbeing, both physically and mentally. You must pass an exam to receive your nursing assistant certification, but once you have your CNA certificate you can perform duties like administering medication to patients and checking their vital signs, such as taking blood pressure and temperature. Most employers will give preference to those with certification over those who do not have it.
Nursing Assistant Training
Vocational schools, colleges and universities nationwide offer certification and degree programs in nursing, beginning with nursing assistant training. There are also specific nursing assistant schools and training programs offered online. Training requirements for an assistant in nursing vary by state, with some not even requiring certification, but to become a CNA you must be at least age 16 and write and speak proficient English. The programs vary in length from 4 to 12 weeks but are usually 75 credit hours. Even after certification, those in nursing assistant jobs must continue to learn about their profession, with many states requiring them to take continuing education credits each year.
Nursing Assistant Jobs
As an assistant in nursing you can work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, emergency centers, nursing homes and assisted living and other medical facilities. Jobs are also available for those interested in providing care for the home bound, such as the elderly, patients recovering from a long-term illness or injury and terminal patients in need of palliative care. You can find jobs in other industries too, including manufacturing, where companies require on-site medical personnel to provide treatment in case an employee is injured. The number of available jobs is expected to increase by 18 percent by 2018.
Nursing Assistant Salary
Since nursing assistants are generally considered entry level employees, their salary is significantly less than the nursing salaries of registered or licensed practical nurses. As of 2008, the nationwide mean annual salary was $24,620. Salaries will vary by the type of workplace, geographic location and even the shift worked by a nursing assistant. In states that do not require certification for nursing assistants, their salary is less than that earned by those who are CNAs.
Nursing Assistant
