Certified nursing assistant

1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) CnaCareerSmart.com Author : YASIR AHMED

2. What is a Certified Nursing Assistant • A certified nursing assistant is a degree for nurses to provide them with authentication to professionally handle their clients. • Under the control of a Registered Nurse (RN) a CNA nurse carries out the health care supervision according to the needs and wants of the patient. • CNA nurse works in different categories and varieties like in day care centers, hospitals even personal homes where they act as a reliable assistant nurse for the Registered Nurse (RN). • They keep in record the daily vital information of the patient as they interact with the patients on daily basis and then provide a report to their supervisors. • For them their ability to help people keeps them motivated at time of intense work load and when dealing with stubborn patients.

3. What does a CNA do • If we talk about the main duties of the Nursing Assistant; they include: • Recording Information: A certified nursing assistant keeps an eye on even the smallest and critical gestures and signs of the patient test their temperature and provide blood test to file a detailed report about the patient so that when a doctor treats the patient he comes right to the main point. • Filing report: The maintenance of the information is also very important for the assistant to provide it to the concerning doctor to act upon the direct solution of the problem of the patient. So a proper report is filed containing updated information about the patient. • Patient care: Besides looking after a patient, a CNA nurse also may need to take care of the disabled and sedated patient in recovery. So they need to be patient and empathic at such times and keep them self motivated at all times.

4. What does a CNA do • Availability: There comes a time when a patient needs all the help he/she can get, that requires day and night duties, and even weekends and holidays are to be sacrificed. So the assistant nurse is to unlikely work during these shifts. • Along with these duties there are also some daily activities that CNAs performs that can be cleaning the patient’s rooms, their wounds, bathrooms, changing bandages and examine medications and treatment. • It is clear that this type of job has many ups and downs. Sometimes it requires to physically performing unpleasant activities but it helps in building strong relation with the patient. • In order to perform these duties CNAs should have various skills that include decision making skills, listening skills, communication skills, work ethics and the ability to maintain interpersonal relationships.

5. Path to Nursing Assistant • To become a nursing assistant there is usually no need of any typical degree, it often just needs to have an equivalent of high school, nursing diploma or GED which can be acquired through various institutions, nursing colleges etc. • To become a nursing assistant there is usually no need of any typical degree, it often just needs to have an equivalent of high school, nursing diploma or GED which can be acquired through various institutions, nursing colleges etc. • These programs last from six to twelve weeks and they cost about $500-$1000 depending upon your state and type of institute. For training of assistant nursing the following associated degrees might come in handy.

6. Similar roles • Medical Assisting Certificate • Diploma: Medical Administrative Assistant • As in Medical Assisting • BSN • CNAs have a big responsibility over them as their roles are similar to that of a medical assistant. A medical assistant is just like a CAN nurse who has more interaction with the patient. • In a thorough research it was found that 85% of CNAs discuss face to face with the patient daily, 71% CNAs had close physical interaction and 51% spent time running around. • According to this it can be said that this job requires CNAs to be dependable and interactive with their patient and should be able to overcome hardships daily.

7. Benefits and Payroll • Although CNA job requires lot of patience and many unpleasant physical activities but they are a true motivator of overcoming such obstacles in this world like death itself. • They are paid hourly so they can load up their salary by working overtime, such as the CNAs who are up for vacation patients and night duties. • The basic salary varies in location but as per US bureau of Labour Statistics their annual salary is $25,090. It differs from city to city and on how much you can make as a nursing assistant.

8. Benefits and Payroll • Although the salary paid to CNAs is vigorous there are some benefits that come along with it; you will feel great joy in knowing that you are helping others feel better, it help in building a strong nursing career and will give you credit in becoming a registered nurse (RN). • So if you are a helpful person and care for the humanity and those around you, you should probably start nursing and make yourself helpful for those in need. All you have to do is “care”.