Certified Nurse Assistant Career Choice in High Demand
Individuals interested in a nursing career no longer have to spend years or get a college degree in order to find good employment. Becoming a certified nurse assistant is one of the most satisfying ways to enter the healthcare field and job demand is expected to remain high over the next decade both at hospitals and assisted living facilities.
A certified nurse assistant (CNA) is a trained individual who is on the front line of patient care, assisting the registered nurse in all aspects of taking care of the patient’s many needs. Although they are not able to administer medications or medical tests to patients, a certified nurse assistant handles a wide variety of duties ranging from getting patients out of bed and dressed, helping patients move from one area to another, monitoring vital signs, helping to maintain records, and providing whatever additional assistance is requested by the patient’s registered nurse or doctor.
Anyone who wants to pursue certified nurse assistant training must have a high school diploma or GED in order to enroll in a certified nurse assistant training program offered by a local community college or medical institution. A CNA training program runs anywhere between 6 and 12 weeks in length. In addition to classroom instruction including such topics as basic nursing skills, nutrition, infection control, physiology and anatomy, certified nurse assistant students also take part in 75 hours of hands-on clinical training in the field dealing directly with patients. On-line training is also offered in preparation for becoming a certified nurse assistant with the clinical portion of the classwork done locally. Upon successful completion of both classroom and clinical training, the CNA candidate must also pass an examination offered by the state in which they will be practicing prior to receiving official CNA certification.
Skills needed to become a successful certified nurse assistant is the ability to deal sympathetically with a wide variety of patients of different ages who may be uncomfortable or in pain. Patience, sympathy, the ability to handle stressful situations, as well as a true desire to help people are all important personality traits for a CNA.