Are you considering a career in nursing but don’t know much about the profession or where to start? If you want to gain some experience and insight before fully diving in, perhaps becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a good idea for you.
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What is a CNA and what do they do?
Certified Nursing Assistants form part of a healthcare team by assisting Registered Nurses with the mass of tasks they have to perform to ensure the best healthcare possible. The work of a CNA involves the routine care of patients.
This includes:
– Responding to patients’ needs.
– Feeding and bathing patients when required.
– Helping patients with walking and exercising.
– Moving bedridden patients to prevent bedsores.
– Transporting patients in wheelchairs or stretchers.
– Making beds, changing linen and cleaning rooms.
– Preparing patients for procedures and surgery.
– Changing dressings.
– Monitoring, recording and reporting on patients’ conditions.
– Assisting with the use of bedpans.
Assisting in the case of any emergencies.
Quite a variety. You won’t be sitting loafing!
Where do they typically work?
CNA’s work in a variety of facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and even home settings. They work with children right up to the elderly.
What are the prerequisites for the course?
You don’t need any prior experience but, generally, a High School Diploma is required – although you will find some courses that waive this requirement. It’s useful if you have studied biology at school, but there is certainly no requirement and it will not be a disadvantage if you haven’t.
Where do you study?
You can either study through a college (costs involved) or through a healthcare facility (for free). Just be aware of any commitments to the healthcare facility in exchange for your tuition, i.e. read the fine print. The Red Cross also has a reputable training program to become a CNA.
Ensure that the program you choose is state-approved. Check with the relevant agency in your state. (List of US Nursing Boards by State)
What does the course involve?
You need to undergo the training and then take a State exam in order to become certified and placed on the State’s registry of nursing aides. You’ll also have to have a health screening and a criminal record check. In most cases, CNAs have to undertake 48 hours of additional training every two years in order to maintain their certification.
The training is made up of 50 hours of theory in a classroom setting and 100 hours of hands-on training. The structure of the course depends on where you study. If you are at a healthcare facility, your class time could be anything from two to six weeks full-time. At colleges and the Red Cross, it could be as much as six months depending on schedules.
During the course, you will cover all of the tasks of a CNA, as well as the required background theory.
What else should you know?
There are some aspects of becoming a CNA that you may want to consider:
– Given the nature of the work, you are probably going to end up working some evenings, weekends and public holidays.
– You need to be compassionate, patient (think of how grumpy you can get when you are ill), organized, have strong communication skills and be able to work in a team.
– According to the May 2008 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey, salaries are around $11.84 per hour. Hospitals tend to pay the best.
– Becoming a CNA is a good stepping stone if you are not sure if nursing is for you and you want to gain some insight into the profession. (With enough experience, CNA’s can train to become registered nurses while still working.)
There is no doubt about it, being a CNA can be tough work. However, the difficult jobs are often the most rewarding.