Getting a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification can be relatively easy, and the job has a couple of advantages. It is a part of the helping professions, and it is also the place that many people start when they consider getting into the nursing profession, since they have a chance to see what it is all about. To get the certification, however, one has to know where to attend school, what the fees are and if there are prerequisites.
Significance
CNAs are very important to hospitals, but they also work in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. When there are more CNAs present, there can be fewer nurses in the facility and all of the patients can still be attended to. It allows for a good quality of care and strong supervision with costs that are affordable to the patients and residents. Without CNAs, fewer people would be able to put their loved ones into these facilities where they would receive around-the-clock care in their later years. CNAs have become even more important in recent years as the country continues to struggle with a nursing shortage.
Considerations
Many people become CNAs because they eventually want to become nurses. Others do it because they do not really want the responsibility that nursing entails, but they do want to have a career that is rewarding and fulfilling--it is hard for most people to find something more rewarding than helping others. When looking for a school in which to get a CNA certification, location and price are generally the biggest considerations. Community colleges are the best places to get a CNA certification, and the cost is generally around $1,000 to $1,500. It's also possible to obtain a CNA certification online (see Resources below). Another important thing to consider is how long the courses take; some are shorter than others but still cover the same material because the students attend class for longer hours each day. There are also on-the-job CNA certification options at some nursing homes and assisted living facilities, since they are often short on staff.
Time Frame
CNA certification training programs that are approved by various states generally mandate a 75-hour training course; 16 hours of this must be clinical and supervised. Once this has been completed, a test is given to see if the person has mastered the skills--such as CPR, feeding and bathing patients--that will be needed to perform the job correctly. To stay certified as a CNA, a 12-hour continuing education course must be taken once each year.
Misconceptions
Some people believe that CNAs are essentially allowed to do everything that nurses can do, which is not correct. Others believe that a CNA is basically just an orderly and has no nursing ability at all, which is also not accurate. In truth, a CNA certification puts a person somewhere in the middle of these two categories. CNAs perform many duties that hospital orderlies perform, but CNAs also have some nursing skills and can perform many of those duties as long as there are nurses working at the facility to supervise them. The nurses do not need to watch everything that CNAs do or stand over them while they are feeding or bathing patients, and CNAs cannot administer medication, give injections or perform similar types of duties.
Warning
For someone who is considering CNA certification, the cost of the training, the need for CNAs in the area and how much the job typically pays are all important things to think about. The most significant issue for many people, though, is the mental stress that the job entails. Some people find that working around the sick, the elderly and the dying gives them a strong sense of purpose. Others find that it is very depressing. It is important to be aware of how one really feels about this type of work before seeking CNA certification.
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