Acquiring A CNA Certification For Future Employment?

Answer 1

A certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification is a form of professional accreditation that is a requirement in order to get a job as a CNA. The certification allows an individual to assist a professional nurse, but does not require all of the extensive medical training that a nurse must undergo. CNAs work in hospitals, but can also provide basic elder care and are able to assist other professionals in a private practice or on-site clinic. There are many jobs available for CNAs since they are commonly used as support staff for large hospitals. As the need for health care professionals increases, so does the desire for qualified CNAs.

The CNA certification exam is a test that can be taken after completing some type of CNA training. Training can be done independently, but is better completed through a professional course that can last anywhere from 2 to 4 months. The exam itself covers four vital areas that all CNAs must be familiar with to function in a health care environment. The four areas of study are simple nursing skills, anatomy and physiology, infection control, and nutrition. With these basic skills, a CNA is capable of assisting nurses with patient care, and can perform many tasks unsupervised.

In most cases, CNAs prepare patients for larger procedures, or perform non-medical duties before a medical nurse arrives. This can include shaving or bathing a patient, assisting a patient in moving around a room, or providing general supervision while monitoring the patient. When providing companionship or home care services, CNAs can take vital signs, help patients eat, and can even administer some medications. CNAs also play a role as a sympathetic figure for patients and are sometimes employed to give emotional support when there are no further medical solutions.

When first starting, a CNA can make a salary that is below other health care professionals. Depending on the demand in an area and the type of facility and care that is provided, this salary can rise to a level that is slightly above average, but still lower than most others providing medical health care. CNAs that work outside of a hospital or strictly medical setting, like a home care CNA, can actually make an hourly salary that is only slightly above minimum wage, although there are usually few actual nursing responsibilities with these positions.