Guide to Nursing career paths
Industry info, training requirements, and employment outlook for nursing assistant students
Nursing assistants, also called nurses’ aides or CNAs, are the individuals who assist patients with activities of daily living and other healthcare needs. They can work in many different settings. Most nursing assistants work in nursing homes or at patients’ homes doing homecare, but there are also some who work in hospitals. Moreover, they work on the healthcare team under the supervision of licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs). The profession can be demanding at times, but also very rewarding. The skills that are learned while working as a nursing assistant can help an individual set a good, solid foundation to prepare for a long-term career in the field.
Duties of a nursing assistant:
Even though nursing assistants work under the supervision of other nurses, they still have a lot of responsibilities of their own. They are the ones who are interacting the most with patients and are helping them with their everyday tasks.
Nursing assistants do the following:
- Measure patients' vital signs
- Help patients move around the facility
- Reposition and transfer patients between beds and wheelchairs
- Bathe and dress patients
- Serve meals and help patients eat
- Help patients use the bathroom
- Dress wounds
- Document information
- Make beds and keep rooms clean
- Answer phone calls
- Assist with medical procedures
- Set up medical equipment
- Stock supplies
- Administer medication (depending on if the state they work in allows it)
Traits:
So what exactly does it take to be a nursing assistant? Being a nursing assistant gets really tough at times, which is why it's important to make sure that you genuinely enjoy the work that you do. Every job will get tough at times, but at the end of the day, if you enjoy what you do, even the bad days won't seem so bad. Before delving into this field, do some research on it and consider shadowing someone who works as a nursing assistant. Being exposed to it will help you determine if it is the right career for you.
Here are a few essential traits that you need to be a successful nursing assistant:
Physical stamina
This is a job that requires a lot of physical strength. A lot of lifting will be done. You will be moving patients from bed to wheelchair and back, as well as helping them go to the bathroom. Being strong and fit is important. In addition, most of your shift will be spent on your feet working and walking around the facility, so being comfortable with having a dynamic and active job is really important.
Emotional stability
As a nursing assistant, being emotionally stable is crucial because the job gets very stressful at times. Sometimes patients' emotional stability is not in good standing, so nursing assistants have to be calm and understanding. Aside from interacting with patients and helping them, the job, in general, is quite demanding. Some days, you will feel defeated, so it's really important that you have the determination and emotional stability to keep going.
Attention to detail
Being attentive is important because at the end of the day, you are dealing with someone's life. You will get training for everything, but you have to take caution even after your training is over and you start practicing in the field. For example, there are many risks and dangers when transporting patients from one place to another. You have to follow safety procedures to make sure they don't slip and fall. In addition, you also have to be detail-oriented when working with data.
Passion
To find fulfillment in this career, you must enjoy interacting with people and helping them. The best nursing assistants are the ones who have a genuine passion for their profession. It is a very demanding job, so being able to actually enjoy the work that you are doing is really important. There will be hard days, but if you enjoy the work that you are doing, it will make things a lot easier for you. Being a passionate nursing assistant will also help make a better environment for the patients, as well.
Patience
Many of the patients that you will be working with are in pain, so they will not be able to do the things they were once able to do. You have to be patient with them and conscious of the fact that they will need help with a lot of things. This occupation is not for someone who is always in a rush and is reactive.
Communications skills
Communication skills are crucial in this profession. You will need to communicate with patients and their families. Learning how to communicate thoroughly and concisely is important for everyone. It will allow you to better connect with your patients and understand their needs.
Working conditions
Working as a nursing aide has many benefits, but the profession comes with some cons, as well. Due to the tough physical demands of the job, nursing assistants do have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses. Prior to starting, they do get a lot of training for tasks such as lifting patients and transporting them. This is to ensure that neither the patient nor the nursing aide gets hurt. Even with the training, though, there are risks. As for the working schedule, most nursing assistants work full time, but some work part time as well. Regardless of the setting that they work in, most of them are providing care to patients at all hours of the day. In addition, due to the high turnover rate of nursing assistants, some may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Academic requirements
To become a nursing assistant, you will need a high school diploma or GED, as well as state-approved nursing assistant training. The training programs are found at community colleges, technical schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and other various community centers. The length of the program will vary depending on where it is, but generally, most programs are between 6 to 12 weeks long. In these programs, students learn basic nursing skills and anatomy and physiology. They also gain a lot of hands-on-experience during clinical activities. The classes give individuals a good idea of what to expect once they enter the profession. Once they do enter the profession, though, their skill set will improve with time and experience. After they complete their class, they will have a short on-the-job training to learn how to do specific duties at the place where they will be working. The training, for the most part, will be the same everywhere.
Certification
Once you complete your training program, you will need to take a state exam. This exam will test your basic nursing knowledge and skills. The specific requirements for certification vary by state; however, most CNA programs will offer a certification exam. This exam will also give individuals a title. In most states, it is called Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Once an individual passes the exam, they will be placed on the state registry, and they will be working in a nursing home. Even if a state does not require additional training or education, some individuals may choose to earn additional credentials, such as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).
For more information on the requirements, check with your state's boards of nursing or health.
Licensure
Individuals may also choose to get their CNA license. To do this, they will need to pass another state exam which tests their competency. They will complete a multiple choice exam and they will also have to demonstrate their skills in a clinical setting. Many organizations will cover the costs of classes. In addition, most states will also require continuing education every two years.
Pay
The pay for nursing assistants depends on how many years of experience an individual has, the education they have, and where they work. Some states may pay more than others, and pay is also dependent on the organization that they choose to work in. On average, though, the median wage was $29,660 in May 2019. Moreover, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $40,620.1
Job Outlook
Nursing assistants are very much in demand right now, and will continue to be in demand as the baby boomer population is expected to retire in the next several years. Many of them will need medical assistance. Aside from just medical assistance, a lot of them will also be in residential care facilities. The older population is more likely to develop disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer's, or heart disease. More nursing assistants will be needed to care for these patients. The employment of nursing assistants is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 20292. On average, this is faster than most other occupations.
Furthermore, a lot of nursing assistants use the profession as a stepping stone to becoming an LPN or RN. Many of them are in school while working as a CNA and this career gives them a good chance to gain more experience and exposure to the healthcare field. It's also a good profession to go into if you want to see if healthcare is the right field for you. Becoming a nursing assistant does not take a long time nor does the training cost a lot of money. Individuals can get their certification fairly quickly and once they enter the field, they can decide if they could see themselves working in healthcare for a longer period of time.
1., 2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics