Thinking About Becoming A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)? What You Need To Know

Do you enjoy caring for others? When you were a little tyke, were you the one who always ran to get bandages and first aid ointment when one of your friends got hurt? Was biology your favorite class? If so and you are thinking about what line of work to go into, a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?

As a Certified Nursing Assistant, you will be supervised by a Registered Nurse or a Licensed Practical Nurse and will provide direct care for patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities or nursing home in a multitude of ways. Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Taking the vital signs of patients
• Bathing a dressing patients
• Assisting patients with eating
• Gathering information about patients conditions and treatment from nurses and doctors
• Examining patients overall health and wellbeing
• Cleaning beds, bathrooms and other patient areas

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant

In order to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you will need to meet the requirements the educational, practical experience and certification requirements that are put forth by the state you wish to work in, including successfully completing State Tested Nurse Assistant (STNA) classes.

The Benefits of Being a Certified Nursing Assistant

You may be wondering what type of benefits you'll reap working as a Certified Nursing Assistant, which is understandable, as you want to be sure that this is the career path you want to take.

While there are many positives to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, some of the biggest perks include:

• The satisfaction of knowing that you are providing help for others who are in need. Your main goal will be to ensure your patients are comfortable, that they are cared for and that their needs are met. In this position, you'll likely develop strong relationships with the people you care for, which can be very rewarding – for both you and the patient.
• There is tremendous opportunity for job growth. For example, if you wish to become a Nurse Practitioner or a Registered Nurse, being a CNA may be a prerequisite in order to enroll in a nursing school.
• There are a variety of work environments to choose from. Whether it's in a hospital, a nursing home or the residence of a patient, you have the benefit of being able to work in a variety of environments.
• A good job outlook. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth between 2012 and 2022 is expected to grow 21% faster than average, which means you'll be able to enjoy job security.

So, what do you think? Given the nature of the work and all of the benefits, do you think that becoming a CNA is the right choice for you? For more information, contact companies like Alia HealthCare Services.