Certified nursing assistants, known also as a CNA’s, nurses’ aides, orderlies, home health aides, or patient care technicians, work in hospitals, nursing homes or even private homes performing everyday tasks for the sick and elderly that those people cannot do for themselves. They work closely with other health care professionals to help make patients safe, soothed and comfortable. Once you get a position in the field, job security and chance for advancement is very good, but finding that first job can sometimes seem unachievable.
The first step toward getting that position is finding the right training. This can be obtained through online programs, many community colleges and some hospitals. A certified nursing program can vary in length anywhere between six weeks and twelve months. The course work usually consists of basic nursing skills, physiology, anatomy, infection control and nutrition and includes ample hands-on-experience in clinical settings. Regulations vary by state, but most programs require a certification exam. After finishing the training and obtaining a position, the salary range is between twenty thousand to forty thousand dollars per year depending on location and experience.
Some hospitals will offer free courses or “guaranteed” job placement. These may be in locales or facilities that are less than desirable or lower paying areas. Do not let that dissuade you from getting the training and taking one of those positions. It is a good way to get your foot in the door and decide whether it is a career you might enjoy and you may even decide that you want to stay in that facility. If you like the job but decide to move, at least you have acquired some experience and it will make it easier to get a position somewhere else. Another option for finding job placement after completing your CNA course is to apply with one or more temporary agencies. These can provide you with work right after your coursework is complete and help find you work for a couple of days up to several weeks and sometimes months at a time. These temporary jobs often lead to full time employment.
While a certified nursing assistant may not be considered the most esteemed position in the medical field, they are definitely one of the more vital to the day-to-day operations. They are responsible for many of the basic care assistance such as grooming, bathing, and feeding patients, provide assistance with medical equipment and check vital signs. Almost more important is the emotional and social support they provide the patients.
This job is demanding and challenging, but very rewarding. The best certified nursing assistants must have certain character traits, such as sensitivity, maturity, self-confidence, patience, dependability and a positive attitude. You need a strong back since you will be expected to help lift and transfer people from beds to wheelchairs. You need be in a general overall healthy condition in order to meet the physical demands of the job. This is a wonderful career to look into whether you are considering full-time or even just part-time work. If this job works out it can also be a perfect stepping stone if you might be interested in continuing your studies to become a registered nurse.
