Certified Nursing Assistant – How To Qualify As One

Certified Nursing Assistant is a job that requires a high level of skill and commitment, and is a job that is in very high demand across the world today. Training to be a Nursing Assistant was a full time endeavor till a few years ago, and took a great deal of time to get placed with a leading organization. However, thanks to the advent of online learning, the process has become simpler.

That makes the profession even more lucrative for those who are inclined towards nursing, as the shortage automatically leads to better pay and conditions. But most people who become nurses or CNAs don’t just work for the money. It is the satisfaction and the smile on the patient’s face that puts them to sleep peacefully at the end of the day

Certified Nursing Assistant – An overview

There are several terms used for Certified Nursing Assistant. In some places, they are called just Nursing Assistants, as Patient Care Assistants, and in some areas are known as State Tested Nurse Aids. However, the basic job profile does not change by much – it is to help a Registered Nurse discharge their duties effectively. In reality, though, it is the Certified Nursing Assistant who does the bulk of the work which we attribute to a Registered Nurse. Whether it is in a hospital, a day care center, a home of a senior citizen or a differently-abled person, or while tending to the sick at their homes, it is the CNA who acts as the medium between the doctors / nurses, and the patient. Tending to the sick full time is a job that requires a tremendous amount of compassion and commitment, and not everyone will fit the bill. But the rewards that come with the job – in the form of gratitude and satisfaction – make the job quite fulfilling.

Certified Nursing Assistant – Where can you apply?

Like we mentioned, the process of studying and training to be a CNA has changed over the years. While there are several institutions and universities that offer full time education, most people who qualify as a CNA prefer the online or community college routes. Since nursing is a state-controlled profession, you may have to check with your State Licensing Board to make sure that the information provided here is accurate for your state also. There are dozens of online colleges – some run by really good universities – which offer courses in Nursing Assistance. Usually these courses involve a practical hands-on training module also, in addition to a detailed study module. The examinations can be taken online too, and the degree awarded allows you to apply for further education in the field, or to apply for one of the qualifying examinations in your chosen profession. For instance, if you would like to land a job as a Certified Medical Assistant, you may need to apply for the CMA examination conducted by the American Association of Medical Assistants. Qualifying that examination will open up several employment opportunities across the country. There are also courses conducted through Red Cross, Community Colleges, and through several Medical Facilities. Choose the option based on your location so you can reduce traveling while in the program.

The scope of the job for a Certified Nursing Assistant

Landing a job as a CNA is not difficult in today’s times. A survey shows that a Nursing Assistant is among the most in-demand jobs in the country – primarily owing to the heavy turnover rates in the industry. Not everyone is cut out for the profession of nursing. The promise of a certain job lures them into applying, but then a lot of people realize that they don’t have aptitude for the profession, and drop out a while later..

While the most common job profile for a CNA is as a care-giver, there are several other parallel jobs which open up to you once you qualify. Here are a few examples –

-          In Clinics as Patient Counselors

-          As Rehabilitation Assistants

-          In Trauma wings, providing emotional support

-          In test facilities collecting samples

-          Providing assistance in diets and hygiene, or

-          Graduating to assist in surgeries and childbirth through add-on courses

There are several more job opportunities which a Certified Nursing Assistant can apply for. Check them out.