A CNA may be responsible for:
- taking a patient’s temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, or blood pressure
- helping patients get into and out of bed and walk
- escorting them to operating and examining rooms
- providing skin care
- setting up equipment
- storing and moving supplies
- assisting with some medical procedures
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Salary Information: Certified Nurse's Aide
According to the American Medical Association, nurse assistants make an average of $13.00 per hour. Full-time employees may be eligible for medical benefits and vacation time.
Entry-level nursing assistants earn between $19,925 and $29,764. The top paid CNA's in the field earn an average of $35,377. The key factors affecting the salaries of CNA’s are the years of experience and the places of employment.
For more information on CNA salaries, visit this link on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website: http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco2001.htm#earnings
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Education: Certified Nurse's Aide
To become a Certified Nurse Aide, a CNA certification program at a State Licensed School is required. Some schools may require you to have a High School Diploma or GED, but most will only require you to take an entrance exam. This is to ensure that you are at the appropriate educational level.
Once you have been certified and apply for work, entry level requirements vary, depending on the facility. Some facilities may infact require a High School Diploma or GED. Some may require you to enroll in a GED program and pass the exam within a specified time period. Other facilities may require you to take an pre-employment test.
Classroom instruction for a CNA may include basic nursing skills, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and infection control. Personal care skills, such as how to help patients bathe, eat, and groom themselves, may also be included in the training program. As a CNA student, you may also gain experience through hands-on training.
Training for a CNA is available at technical vocation school, some nursing care facilities, and some community colleges. For more information on CNA training, please visit the Manhattan Institute website by following this link: http://www.manhattaninstitute.com/class-3-certified_nurse_aide.html.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where do CNA's work?
There are a variety of medical facilities where a CNA might work. This includes nursing homes, hospitals, mental health facilities, long-term care organizations, assisted living facilities. CNA’s may even work for private homes, or for organizations that provide home care.
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How can I find a good CNA school?
Here are some tips to help you decide on a CNA school:
- Compare programs at different schools and remember that programs vary in length depending on location, cost and course of study.
- Consider visiting one or more schools and request a tour.
- Search online for CNA schools in your area using your zip code.
- Consider studying online and completing your studies from home.
- Ask schools for references from other students.
- Do you live or plan to relocate to the New York city area? Consider visiting the Manhattan Institute and learn more about how you can become a CNA. Click here to learn more.
What is the employment outlook for CNA's?
Job prospects for CNA’s are projected to increase. This is due to:
- increasing population of aging adults
- increasing demand for use of long-term care facilities
- financial pressures of hospitals to discharge patients more quickly to nursing care facilities
- increasing medical technology, which saves more lives; thereby requiring more nursing aide assistance