If you’re a caring individual who enjoys assisting others, getting one of the certified nursing assistant jobs in the United States could be a good fit for you. As certified nursing assistants, you must be able to listen to patient’s concerns and ask questions in order to determine their needs.
In a nursing or long-term care facility, a CNA is frequently the primary caregiver for a patient. The ability to form personal relationships with patients and make a difference in their lives can make this career rewarding and emotional.
A certified nursing assistant job (CNA job), unlike most other nursing jobs, does not require a college degree or a school of nursing program. You will, however, need to complete a CNA program and earn a certificate or diploma in patient personal care, infection prevention, vital signs, communication, mental health, and other basic care.
Who is a Certified nursing assistant?
A Certified nursing assistant’s jobs entail that you assist patients of all ages with basic daily tasks. A certified nursing assistant provides direct health care to patients, often under the supervision of a nurse. Certified nursing assistants are also known as nursing assistants, nurse’s aides, and patient care assistants. Patient care assistants work directly with patients and nurses, assisting with the numerous physical and complex tasks associated with patient care.
Wherever personal care is required, nursing assistants or nurses’ aides are available. These professionals work in nursing homes, home care, hospitals, community-based long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, and other long-term care settings, such as when a hospital has job openings for CNAs.
Certified nursing assistant jobs provide assistance with such tasks as:
- Dressing
- Bathing and skin care
- Feeding
- Mouth and hair care
- Making beds
- Toileting assistance and catheter care
- Bowel and bladder care
- Taking vital signs (temp, pulse, blood pressure etc)
- Helping patients walk with gait belts, walkers, canes, and other devices
- Assisting with range-of-motion exercises
- Transfer wheelchair-bound patients using safe patient-handling devices
- Turning and positioning bedridden patients regularly
- Reporting all changes to the nurse
- Safety awareness
- Observing, reporting, and documentation
- Post-mortem care
Where do certified nursing assistants work?
As a patient care assistant you can work in any of the following places:
- Home Health Aide Agency
- Nursing Home
- Hospitals
Home Health Aide Agency
This job entails traveling to patients’ homes and assisting them with mobility and personal care tasks that they are unable to perform on their own. The pay scale is comparable to other facilities, but the patient ratio is superior. Working for a home health aide agency provides less stress and a 24-hour work opportunity.
Nursing Home
Nursing homes employ approximately 42 percent of Certified nursing assistants. The majority of CNAs begin their careers in facilities, as the demand for such facilities grows by the day. The benefits of working in a nursing home or long-term care facility include patient relationships and job security. With the baby boomers entering their golden years, the demand for certified nursing assistants in nursing homes will increase in the coming years.
Hospitals
Certified nursing assistant jobs are extremely important in both public and private hospitals. Hospitals, like nursing homes, are open around the clock, which increases the demand for skilled Certified nursing assistants. The competition for hospital-certified nursing assistants jobs job is fierce, as these are generally regarded as the best jobs.
Working in a hospital provides job security and a higher salary. One of the most advantageous aspects is that you are always supported by some of the most highly trained nurses in the field.
CNAs are employed by a wide range of facilities. As the population ages, so does the demand for healthcare support workers like CNAs. As a result, becoming a certified nursing assistant is a great way to get started in a high-demand career in health care.
Certified nursing assistant jobs education requirements
CNAs have relatively limited healthcare responsibilities, in part because the educational requirements to become a certified nursing assistant are less stringent than those of other medical professions. Because nursing assistants are entry-level positions in a hospital or care facility, their education and certification requirements are less rigorous than those of other health professionals, such as nurses.
Patient care assistants’ jobs education varies from state to state but typically includes completion of a state-approved training program. This could be taught in a high school, community college, vocational school, or even a hospital. These CNA classes typically last 4-8 weeks and cover patient care, basic medical skills, and essential ethical and moral understanding.
Steps to Become a Certified nursing assistant
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to become a CNA professional, these steps are a bit different from how to become a registered nurse:
- Get a high school diploma
- Enroll in a nurse’s aide training program
- Become a certified nurse’s aide/assistant
- Complete on-the-job and specialized training
- Look into advancement opportunities
Get a high school diploma
Some do not require a high school diploma or equivalent for admission, but certification requires one.
Enroll in a Certified nursing assistant programs
Nurse aide training programs last between one and six months and result in a diploma or certificate upon completion. Shorter programs are typically designed for students who have prior healthcare experience, such as as a personal care aide, volunteer, or in another similar role. For students with no prior experience, longer CNA programs are preferable.
Some vocational/technical high schools, community colleges, and independent healthcare training schools offer CNA programs. Because there is a growing demand for patient care assistants, many employers (particularly nursing facilities) and the American Red Cross provide courses.
Basic health concepts and skill training are included in CNA job programs. Additional classes such as communication skills, nutrition, and human anatomy and physiology may be included in longer programs.
Become a certified nursing assistant
A state license is not required for nurse aides to practice. However, becoming a certified nurse’s aide/assistant (CNA) is an option (and a desirable one) for better job prospects. Furthermore, many employers demand that NAs be certified.
The certification process may be integrated into some basic NA training programs or provided separately. In addition to the education time commitment required for a basic nurse’s aide, approximately 75 hours of additional training are required. Certified nursing assistant jobs require that you must also pass a competency exam administered by their state in order to be certified.
Complete on-the-job and specialized training
Students learn the fundamentals of certified nursing assistant job duties in their certified nursing assistant programs, but the majority of training takes place on the job under the supervision of another nurse’s aide or a nurse.
Following completion of a basic educational program, patient care assistants can pursue additional training in specialized skills such as working with complex patient care technology or specializing in the care of specific age groups (such as the elderly).
Nurse aides in hospitals may receive specialized training depending on the area in which they work. Typically, training lasts a few weeks and includes information about employer policies as well as specific job skills. Aspiring CNAs may also take leadership and management courses in order to be considered for administrative positions.
Look into advancement opportunities
Certified nursing assistants, may become mentors, supervisors, or trainers for other NAs. The most common path for a former NA is into medical assisting, licensed practical nursing, or registered nursing. While these fields require additional education and training, a background as a nurse’s aide provides excellent preparation.
Certified nursing assistant jobs salary in the US
Certified nursing assistants in the United States earn an average base salary of $15.35 per hour, or $34,670 per year, although CNA salary information is frequently updated. CNAs also earn an additional $4,500 in overtime pay per year on average.
The salary of a Certified Nursing Assistant varies greatly depending on their geographical location and the type of facility where they work. CNA salary averages are often higher in areas with more nursing homes and hospitals, such as metro areas. Working in specialized facilities, government facilities, or research centres also tends to pay better for Certified nursing assistants. A certified nursing assistant with more experience and education may earn a higher yearly salary.
High Paying Certified nursing assistant jobs
Below are the high paying jobs roles you could get as a Certified nursing assistant:
- Nursing Technician
- Nursing Unit Clerk
- Nurse Aide Evaluator
- Cna Per Diem
- Cna Pct
- Geriatric Nursing Assistant
- STNA
Nursing Technician
Nursing Technician salaries in the United States currently range from $30,500 (25th percentile) to $132,500 (75th percentile) per year. This wide range of salary potential suggests that there may be numerous opportunities for advancement and higher pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.
Nursing Unit Clerk
A nursing unit clerk assists in the safekeeping of sensitive patient information in a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility. Your responsibilities as a nursing unit clerk include scheduling appointments, managing patient records, ordering supplies, and coordinating with physicians and other staff. A nursing assistant diploma or associate degree, which may include hands-on training in a medical facility as well as coursework in subjects such as health information management and medical terminology, is typical for the career.
Nurse Aide Evaluator
Nurse Aide Evaluator salaries in the United States currently range from $31,500 to $58,500 per year. This wide range of salary potential suggests that there may be numerous opportunities for advancement and higher pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.
Cna Per Diem
Cna Per Diem is a person working on an adjustable (rather than a set) schedule. These professionals carry out a variety of tasks that assist nursing staff in providing primary care to patients in medical facilities such as hospitals or hospice care facilities, washing and bathing patients, feeding them, turning or repositioning them, assisting them into wheelchairs or other assisted mobility devices, measuring vital signs (such as blood pressure and temperature), and listening to the patient describe their condition are all part of your responsibilities.
Patient care technicians
Patient care technician (PCTs) work at patients’ bedsides, tending to basic needs such as meals and hygiene, similar to the duties of a CNA, but Patient care technician typically has more training that allows them to perform additional tasks as well. Patient care technicians, for example, may be responsible for some medical or medication-related care while under the supervision of doctors and RNs.
Patient care technician salaries in the United States currently range between $27,000 and $45,000 per year. This wide range of salary potential suggests that there may be numerous opportunities for advancement and higher pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience matter a lot when discussing Patient care technician salary.
Geriatric Nursing Assistant
In a hospital, clinical facility, or assisted living retirement home, a geriatric nursing assistant cares for elderly patients. As a geriatric nursing assistant, you will assist patients with daily activities such as cooking and light housekeeping, as well as administer medications and move bedridden patients. A high school diploma or equivalent, as well as experience working with elderly patients, are required to become a geriatric nursing assistant.
State-Tested Nurse Aide
A state-tested nursing assistant’s (STNA) job is to help patients, monitor their health, serve meals, transport them as needed, and otherwise assist a physician. People in this occupation frequently provide a variety of services, such as assisted living care, rehabilitation therapy, home health care, and emotional support.
An STNA may be asked to bathe, shave, feed, or dress patients in addition to assisting them with the toilet, skin and nail care, and any other daily needs.
FAQs About
A certified nursing assistant (CNA), unlike most other nursing jobs, does not require a college degree. You will, however, need to complete a CNA program and earn a certificate or diploma in patient personal care, infection prevention, vital signs, communication, mental health, and other basic care.
Your most important skills as a certified nursing assistant include a desire to learn, patience, and tenacity.
Yes, if it doesn’t, look for another job with a unique organization.
Conclusion
Certified nursing assistant jobs or patient care technician jobs are a broad field with numerous opportunities. From bedside care to behind-the-scenes management, there is truly something for everyone interested in the healthcare profession. All of the positions on this list have one thing in common: they are all considered to be among the highest-paying nursing careers available.
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