If you are a person that is full of compassion for those in need, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can be an excellent career choice for you. CNAs generally work in skilled nursing facilities, home health aide agencies, hospitals, or assisted living facilities. In these places, a CNA provides care for patients that are unable to take care of themselves under the guidance of a Registered Nurse RN.
Benefits of Being a CNA
As a CNA you don’t usually need to worry about job security. According to Angeles Institute, CNAs are in high demand no matter where you go. Job forecasts say that this need is only going to increase. Because of this high demand, you can also go just about anywhere that you want to work. A CNA’s work schedule can also be fairly flexible. Most patients that live in facilities that employ CNAs require 24/7 care. As a CNA you can choose to work either a morning, evening, or night shift. Pay ranges for a CNA but it typically is about $15 an hour.
Job Qualifications
So, what does it take to become a CNA? The job qualifications aren’t terribly stringent. To become a CNA you need to have your high school diploma or obtain a GED. After that, you need to complete a CNA certificate program. These programs typically will last only about 6-12 weeks and only cost about $1500 when you include your exam and registration fees. When you compare that to the cost of a college degree, that is pretty cheap. Once you are a CNA, you need to maintain your license by using safe practices when caring for patients. According to attorney Lucy S. McAllister, nurses are often drug tested, even in states where recreational cannabis is legal. As such, you need to be careful about using cannabis.
Growth Potential
A CNA is a great career to begin right after high school. In fact, you can sometimes start your certification before you graduate. However, since your yearly pay is only about 25000 a year, you may want to look for a way to increase your earning potential. Fortunately, being a CNA is a great stepping stone towards becoming a higher-level nurse. According to Woodruff Medical Training and Testing, a CNA is the most basic of nursing certifications. You can eventually certify to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), a Registered Nurse (RN), or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Each level of nursing comes with increased educational requirements, but they also come with higher pay and more employment options.
So, if you are looking for a rewarding career with a great future, a CNA certification could be the perfect start for you. It doesn’t take much to get started and employment is easy to find. You’ll also enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that your work helps people to live better lives.
Read this next: Things To Know Before Becoming an Electrician