Obtaining a Nursing Assistant Certificate

Answer 1

A career as a nursing assistant provides individuals with exciting, challenging work and plenty of job opportunities. Nursing assistants perform a variety of duties in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, such as making beds, cleaning rooms, and assisting patients with eating, dressing, and bathing. Depending on the employer, a nursing assistant may take a patient's temperatures, blood pressure and pulse rate. Nursing assistants typically work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. Individuals interested in a career as a nursing assistant can also pursue the nursing assistant certificate. Nursing assistants benefit tremendously in their careers by becoming certified.

Education Requirements

Many vocational schools and community colleges offer nursing assistant programs. Common topics covered in the program include basic nutrition, communication skills, personal care skills, and anatomy and physiology. Some nursing assistant programs include an internship, which allows students to gain on-the-job training. Some employers that take on students as interns choose to hire them as full-time employees once the internship is completed.

Certification

The most common designation for nursing assistants is the Certified Nursing Assistant designation. The requirements for certification vary per state. Federal law requires nursing assistants who desire to work in a nursing home to complete 75 hours of training approved by their State. Most states require individuals to pass a written exam before receiving certification. After complete the requirements for a nursing assistant certificate, individuals are listed in a State registry for nursing assistants.

Employment Opportunities

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that nursing assistant jobs will grow by 18 percent through 2018. Nursing assistants with certifications will experience the most employment opportunities. An increase in the number of seniors placed in nursing homes and advancements in modern medicine play a role in the significant increase in employment opportunities. Nursing assistants who desire advancement in their careers typically need additional training, but a career as a nursing assistant provides many individuals an opportunity to work in the healthcare industry.