You’ve decided you want to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. You’re excited and want more information about this career. Some questions you might have deserve answers, and here we will try to do that.
1) What is a CNA?
A Certified Nursing Assistant is a member of the health care team. Always working under the direction of a nurse (RN or LPN/LVN) the CNA provides hands on nursing care to patients, residents, clients and customers in a variety of health care settings. CNA’s typically provide assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and oral care to people who cannot do these tasks alone. Also, the CNA is often the person who gets the vital signs, weights and height measurements.
A Certified Nursing Assistant is a member of the health care team. Always working under the direction of a nurse (RN or LPN/LVN) the CNA provides hands on nursing care to patients, residents, clients and customers in a variety of health care settings. CNA’s typically provide assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and oral care to people who cannot do these tasks alone. Also, the CNA is often the person who gets the vital signs, weights and height measurements.
The CNA has a high school diploma or GED.
2) Why be a CNA?
Why not? If you’re looking at a career in nursing, being a CNA is a great way to really test yourself on this goal. Being a CNA exposes you to many members of the health care team: You get to see nurses, physical and occupational therapists, doctors, med techs and assistants in action. You’ll soon know whether you have what it takes to further yourself in nursing; perhaps you’ll decide to move to another field of work within health care.
If you’re looking for a quick job – I say becoming a CNA might not be the right choice for you. Going through the training is hard work; being charged with caring for sick people isn’t something to be taken with a grain of salt. You have to the will and desire to help people…you’ll need patience and compassion. You have to be committed to a physically demanding job, with little tolerance for poor work ethic.
Why not? If you’re looking at a career in nursing, being a CNA is a great way to really test yourself on this goal. Being a CNA exposes you to many members of the health care team: You get to see nurses, physical and occupational therapists, doctors, med techs and assistants in action. You’ll soon know whether you have what it takes to further yourself in nursing; perhaps you’ll decide to move to another field of work within health care.
If you’re looking for a quick job – I say becoming a CNA might not be the right choice for you. Going through the training is hard work; being charged with caring for sick people isn’t something to be taken with a grain of salt. You have to the will and desire to help people…you’ll need patience and compassion. You have to be committed to a physically demanding job, with little tolerance for poor work ethic.
Career CNA: You won’t get rich doing this for a living. But you will gather experiences not often found in any other career. You’ll have pride over many accomplishments and you’ll make friends with people you would otherwise never meet. Being a CNA is one of the few careers where one can say they truly give it all for little in return. On the downside, your body will pay you back in a bad way if you don’t take care of it. You’re apt to hurt your back. If you get sick, plan to be at work irregardless- and PLAN on getting sick more often than other people get in other careers. As stated above, the pay is not going to be rewarding- but the other rewards are priceless.
CNA’s don’t earn a high salary. You should be very aware of this. Many of who have been doing this for a long time notice new aides coming into the field, who get disillusioned over the pay. We’re paid by the hour; that rate is dependent upon several factors which include how much experience one has; what region of the country one works in and where employment is at.
In general, CNA’s who work in long term care settings (nursing homes, assisted living) earn the least; those who work for staffing agencies and hospitals earn the most. Belonging to a union also has an impact upon pay. Overall, wages for aides range from 7.00/hr for a brand new CNA at an assisted living center, to 20.00/hr for a CNA with 20 plus yrs experience, working for an agency. The most common wages, I hear of, are in the area of 10.00 to 12.00/hr in all settings. Like I said you’re not going to get wealthy doing this work.
3) Where can CNA’s work?
In any setting provided there is a nurse to oversee the CNA’s practice. This is very important to remember. Always, CNA’s work under the direction of a licensed nurse. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. This is per federal and state statute, and it’s to protect the public. Only a licensed nurse can delegate duties to CNA’s. Doctors and therapists cannot. Families cannot. CNA’s cannot delegate to CNA’s.
In any setting provided there is a nurse to oversee the CNA’s practice. This is very important to remember. Always, CNA’s work under the direction of a licensed nurse. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. This is per federal and state statute, and it’s to protect the public. Only a licensed nurse can delegate duties to CNA’s. Doctors and therapists cannot. Families cannot. CNA’s cannot delegate to CNA’s.
Always keep this in mind- legally a CNA cannot practice on their own. Many aides place ads in newspapers offering their services as a CNA. This is illegal in all states! It’s okay to offer care giving services. It’s okay to use your experience as a CNA; but it’s never good to claim yourself a CNA who is providing the services. When you do this, you’re delegating. And breaking the law. Be careful with this.
CNA’s are found on the payrolls at:
Nursing Homes
Home Health Care Agencies
Assisted Living Facilities
Staffing Agencies
Hospitals
Hospices
Doctor Offices/Practice Groups
Day Care Centers and Schools
Medical Clinics
Urgent Care Centers
An interesting note on potential sources of employment: The role of the CNA is mandated by the Federal government for nursing homes only. Other health care settings are not required by law to hire CNA’s…this includes hospitals, assisted living facilities, doctors offices, ect. While all of these places DO hire CNA’s, for good reason, they don’t have to.
Nursing Homes
Home Health Care Agencies
Assisted Living Facilities
Staffing Agencies
Hospitals
Hospices
Doctor Offices/Practice Groups
Day Care Centers and Schools
Medical Clinics
Urgent Care Centers
An interesting note on potential sources of employment: The role of the CNA is mandated by the Federal government for nursing homes only. Other health care settings are not required by law to hire CNA’s…this includes hospitals, assisted living facilities, doctors offices, ect. While all of these places DO hire CNA’s, for good reason, they don’t have to.
4) How does one become a CNA?
Once you’ve decided this is the work you want, set out to locate a training program. Many nursing homes offer the training; the Red Cross does classes too- contact your local chapter. Tech colleges are another source where training is offered. Some high schools also provide classes- but mostly for students and not others. More and more, small Medical Ed schools are popping up all over the country. Offering a variety of specialty training, a CNA program is often part of this.
Costs of training programs vary by region and by the source. College classes are the most expensive followed closely by these Medical Ed schools; typical for my area, NH- right now- the costs including books is 1500.00. One thing to remember when choosing a program is to make sure it is approved by your State board of Nursing or whatever State agency is charged with approving curriculum. This is vital to know. It does no good to take a course that isn’t approved.
