CNA nursing assistant is a rewarding career for those seeking job security and the satisfaction that comes from helping people. A CNA nursing assistant can find it satisfying to know they have mastered a set of professional skills, as proven by their success on a state-administered competency exam. As of 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a CNA nursing assistant make an average of $10.67 an hour, although pay varies widely according to the type of institution where they work.
Most CNA nursing assistants work in state-licensed nursing homes, where people needing skilled nursing care reside temporarily or permanently. Today, nursing home residents can be of any age.
CNA nursing assistants give hands-on care to the residents, including all activities of daily living, or ADLs. This includes feeding or overseeing mealtime; all hygiene, including bed baths or showers and care of the teeth; and assisting with mobility. CNA nursing assistants also make beds and are responsible for infection control.
CNA nursing assistants also work in doctors’ offices or clinics. They are responsible for taking and recording vital signs, height and weight, and making the patient comfortable. They also work in rehab centers and hospitals, where they are responsible for infection control and the patient’s comfort, and in some cases, for ADLs.
CNA nursing assistants who work in home health tend to make less money on a yearly basis than those working within institutions.
CNA nursing assistants know ergonomics, which means that they know how to properly move a client so as to prevent accidents which might injure them or the client. They also know emergency procedures and client rights.
CNA nursing assistants must be certified to work in their state. When they move to another state, they must check the procedure for becoming certified in that state. This is easily done on-line. CNA nursing assistants must maintain their certification by working as a CNA nursing assistant under the supervision of a registered nurse for a defined number of hours. If they fail to do so, they must retake the CNA training program, or in some states, pass a state-administered CNA competency exam.