A certified nursing assistant is an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) which helps individuals with physical disabilities, mental disabilities, or other health issues to get through their day. In addition, it is the certified nursing assistants job to occassionally provide bedside care, and basic nursing procedures. The certified nursing assistant works under the full-time supervision of a licensed nurse, doctor, or other health care professional. They help individuals with disabilities in nursing homes, hospitals, clients in their own homes, and any other individuals who may require their assistance. The certified nursing assistant is not licensed, but is a highly qualified individual for providing health care and aid.
How To Become Certified
To become a certified nursing assistant, there are many classes or programs which you could choose from. Various providers such as the American Red Cross, and others, offer programs to help individuals become certified for the nursing assistant job. If this does not suit you, you can also take your CNA training online, and become certified on your own time. For many individuals, this is the number one choice, and you may even qualify for free CNA training; however, it is important to note that the certification exam will require hands-on skills, which you must learn to develop on your own, should you take online courses.
Nursing Assistant Skills
The certified nursing assistant is required to know a great deal about nutrition, the body, medicine, and various health-car technique, such as CPR. They must also be familiar with anatomy, physiology, or any mental issues in order to be fully prepared for their career. Strong communicative skills are a must for CNAs, as they deal with patients on a daily basis, and being an approachable, and likable individual is necessary. The ability to stay mature and composed in high-pressure situations is also highly sought after for the certified nursing assitant.
CNA Salary
As displayed by the above chart, the median salary for a certified nursing assistant is around $28,000 a year. Looking closer at the graph, you can see that the salary can range from $23,000 to $33,000 per year. This variation in salary amounts is due to location of the job. The payment amounts vary based on the state which the individual resides and is employed. For a job which requires a very minimal amount of training, the certified nursing assistant career offers a very healthy salary in comparison.
