Certified nursing assistants

The healthcare industry is rapidly expanding, and along with this expansion comes several rewarding career opportunities. One healthcare related career is in the area of direct caregiving. This career is known by several names, among them 'Certified Nursing Assistant' (usually applied to caregivers in a nursing home or hospital setting), 'Personal Care Attendant' (term often used for caregivers in an Assisted Living Facility) , and 'Home Health Aide' (direct caregiving provided in patients' homes).

As the elderly population grows, so does the need for qualified caregivers. While Personal Care Attendants, Home Health Aides and Certified Nursing Assistants perform basically the same function, these terms carry with them implications of where the jobs are performed. By understanding what a Certified Nursing Assistant is, you can apply the job description and particulars to other caregiving careers.

Certified Nursing Assistants provide hands on care to those who are unable to care for themselves. This includes bathing, dressing, feeding and toileting patients, among other things. The C.N.A. ensures the safety and comfort of patients entrusted to their care. They are primarily under the direction of a nurse, and as such, are responsible for carrying out duties as assigned by the nurse, as well as reporting changes in a patients physical or mental status to the nurse. Certified Nursing Assistants can be found working with the elderly, or with children...and every age in between!

To become a Certified Nursing Assistant, or 'C.N.A'., most states require a training class and certification. This training class varies in length, depending on where you enroll. The Red Cross has a reputable C.N.A. training class. ( The price may vary in your area, contact the Red Cross for more information). Enrollment in most training programs does not require previous experience, and some do not require a high school diploma.

Often, long term care facilities will offer paid training classes. These classes generally are held on site, and the classroom time lasts, on average, two weeks. The facilities that offer these training classes usually include this information in a classified advertisement. When applying for a job at a facility advertising free training classes, be sure to read the fine print. Some facilities require that you commit to work for them for a certain length of time after acquiring certification.

The C.N.A. training classes are generally taught by a Registered Nurse. The classes cover a broad range of topics, ranging from how to bathe a patient, to positioning a patient properly. You will learn about abuse and neglect, how to feed and dress a patient, proper body mechanics for lifting and turning patients. Usually, the teacher will also touch on topics such as recognizing depression, dealing with dementia, infection control issues, and catheter care. There is much to learn, and the classroom time is generally split into two parts; facts and textbook learning, and hands on care.

At the end of the training class, a test will be administered to determine competency. This test consists of two parts, written and clinical. The written test is made up of basic caregiving questions, all of which should have been covered during the classes. The clinical test consists of performing five nursing duties under the watchful eye of the person administering the test. (This person is usually a highly qualified RN sent from the State). The duties you may be asked to perform can be anything from giving a bedpan to weighing a patient. The important thing to remember, during this test and always, is patient dignity. Some of the things the person administering the test will be looking for is whether you wash your hands properly, and whether or not you remember patient dignity by knocking on the door, pulling the privacy curtain, and explaining each procedure to the patient before performing it. In a real life caregiving setting, these are all important factors and will contribute greatly to your success as a C.N.A.

After passing the exam and becoming certified, be patient with yourself as you begin your new career! Being a C.N.A. is not an easy job, and anyone who has been doing it for any length of time will remember the difficulties they faced in the beginning. One of the most difficult aspects of the job is trying to complete your assignment before lunchtime! This takes some getting used to . Organization is key! The typical patient care assignment can consist of anywhere between seven and fifteen patients to tend to, all with individual needs. You will have to learn to prioritize, and make the most of every minute. Teamwork is also very important in this job, don't be afraid to ask for help from your coworkers.

One of the prime benefits of choosing this career is simply the satisfaction of helping others. Being a Certified Nursing Assistant is one of the most rewarding jobs out there, although not the highest paid! The average starting pay for C.N.A.'s varies greatly across the country, however, it is generally fairly low. Most companies offer opportunities to increase your pay, for example, after you have worked as a C.N.A. for a while, you might wish to become a preceptor, which is a C.N.A. who trains new C.N.A.'s as they are put on the floor to begin working.

Are you cut out to be a C.N.A.? Among the most prized trait in C.N.A.'s is PATIENCE. This is a job that requires much patience. You will be confronted daily with any number of challenges, whether it is a difficult patient, or having to work short staffed. You will encounter patients who may be demented, and may exhibit verbal or physical abuse towards you. It is important to be able to stay calm, and to learn how to deal with these situations.

As a C.N.A., you are in the ultimate customer service field. Few and far between are jobs which place people so directly and intimately in the lives and space of other human beings.

If you are a 'people person', with patience and compassion, along with a desire to help others, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant may be just the job for you!