Certified nursing assistants or CNAs are an integral part of medical care. While CNAs do not diagnose conditions or make medical decisions, their work is instrumental to patients’ overall wellbeing in hospitals, nursing homes, and other care settings.
Certified nursing assistants help patients bathe, feed themselves, move into better positions, and provide support and friendly companionship to patients of all kinds. Certified nursing assistants make a patient’s stay in a nursing home or hospital more pleasant and comfortable.
CNAs provide excellent medical care to their patients, and they are also given a path forward to enter other parts of the medical profession. It is a perfect way to try out a medical career and decide whether higher education as a registered nurse or other professional is right for them. Certified nursing assistants do not have to pay a great deal or take out many loans to become qualified for their jobs.
Daniel Murphy is interested in becoming a certified nursing assistant and is researching the process of becoming a CNA, including the prerequisites, the schooling needed, the course load, and the types of schedules that are available.
Prerequisites
Certified nursing assistants are not required to have a college degree. Training is required to become certified as a CNA, resulting in a post-secondary diploma or certificate. CNAs are certified by each state, so it is necessary to enroll in a state-certified training program and pass an exam.
Certified nursing assistants need to receive a high school diploma or GED before they can start their training.
Training
After graduating from high school, they can enroll in a nursing assistant program at a local community college, medical facility, or trade school. Before they enroll, students should make sure that the program is approved by the state nursing board where they live and by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission.
The first step in CNA training is completing coursework in a classroom or laboratory. In the classroom, as well as studying at home, students will learn the basics of human anatomy and physiology, as well as the basic principles of patient care. They will learn how to observe patients, protect their legal rights, track and report patient information, and follow all relevant safety protocols. This coursework prepares students for the clinical practice portion of their training.
Clinical practice is another important part of CNA training. Students are trained in a clinical setting and work directly with actual patients. Clinical settings may include care facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes. Students will learn to care for patients’ hygiene, take vital signs, communicate with patients, and move patients safely, among many other tasks that the CNA is expected to perform daily.
Certified nursing assistant courses provide students with the knowledge they need to provide quality care for their patients. Students who are properly trained will pass their state’s qualifying exams and become certified nursing assistants.
What Training is Like
Prospective certified nursing assistants should know that the training process is physically and mentally challenging. The coursework is detailed, and students will need to remember a great deal of it to pass their exams and care for patients properly. Becoming a certified nursing assistant means spending many hours on your feet, doing physically demanding tasks. In addition, many students who are in CNA courses are also working full-time to support their families. To successfully complete CNA training, students need to find a work/life balance between their schooling and home lives.
First, students should always be prepared for class. Stick to deadlines when completing coursework. Finish all of the required reading. Be in class on time. You will need to make time to study your course materials and complete your online assignments, as well as commuting to school.
You will also need to maintain proper self-care when you are training to become a CNA. Get as much sleep as you can, have regular mealtimes, and drink plenty of water. You should also keep up your healthy diet and exercise patterns.
The Cost of CNA Training
The average cost of becoming a CNA is about $1,300 in the United States. In order to be certified, you will need to spend $125 on the examination and $50 to pay for state registration and certification.
Job Prospects
The market for CNAs has been growing as the years go by. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9 percent increase in the number of CNAs between 2021 and 2028. The average rate of job growth, in comparison, is only 5 percent. As the baby boomers age, more CNAs will be needed to care for them in nursing homes and care facilities.
Certified Nursing Assistant: A Rewarding Career
Becoming a CNA can be a highly rewarding career. CNAs work one-on-one with patients, and they can experience the satisfaction of making sure their patients are comfortable and well-cared-for. CNA training is relatively inexpensive, though it can be intense. Students interested in caring for patients or looking for work in higher-trained nursing positions may want to use their CNA certification as a stepping stone toward a career in healthcare.
Daniel Murphy emphasizes the importance of CNAs in today’s healthcare system. Becoming a CNA can be an excellent career move.
