Certified nursing assistants (CNA) are caregivers who assist their patients for their daily activities while they are staying in a health care facility. Their main tasks are to take vital signs, comfort the patient and listen to their patient's concerns. They also assist in feeding, dressing and toileting. They can work in a nursing home, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, home care and so on. The services of these professionals are always in demand because of the need for skilled nursing assistants. They work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. The average starting salary for this occupation is said to be around $26,000.
Steps to help you become a certified nursing assistant
-Find a school that offers training program for CNAs.
-Gather more information about the school you are planning on attending. You may attend an information session to help you get to know more about the school and the courses they offer. Be sure that it has high success rate in finding a job after graduation.
-Enroll a nurse aid course. You need to complete a training program designed for nursing assistant aspirants.
-Pass the certification examination. After completing a CNA training program, you will need to take the examination and pass it to help you become a certified nursing assistant.
What can you learn in a CNA course?
Attending a CNA course helps you learn theoretical concepts and practical skills related to this profession. Classroom set up lets you focus on knowing the theory about this profession. Clinical practice provides you with hands-on experience.
Here are some of the things you will learn by taking a course for nurse's aide training course:
-Basic hygiene skills
-Taking vital signs
-Effective communication
-Proper ways to assist a patient
-Techniques on how to feed the patient
-Proper documentation and reporting.
Is certification a requirement when applying for a job?
It is not a legal requirement but employers prefer to hire individuals who have obtained formal training and passed a certification examination for this profession. You need to be registered with the State Nurse Aide Registry. Other requirements to find a job in this field will include the ability to read, write and speak English. You also have to know how to follow instructions and protocols of the facility.
What salary to expect when working as a nursing aide?
Your salary will depend on the state you are working in. If you work in a larger area, you will receive higher than those who are employed in a small city. If you are an inexperienced nurse aide, you should expect to receive less than average salary rate for this profession. Still, nursing homes offer competitive salary rates and attractive benefits for qualified candidates.
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