A CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) works with Registered Nurses (RN’s) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s)in a hospital or other health facilities to provide basic needs care for many patients daily. To work in this capacity, you would have to complete the training requirements and certification process.

Some of the main duties you would be doing in this job are attending to the daily needs of patients, like dressing, bathing and other personal hygiene type of care that is needed. Many of your patients may be elderly, disabled, or recovering from an illness or disease and unable to go home yet. You would be taking vital signs, like their temperature, blood pressure readings, and other necessary duties to assist the nurses in providing the best care for the patient, as well as being compassionate and caring.

Becoming a CNA is a great place to start a career in health care, especially if you want to go on at some point and go for further training, such as nursing school. Many nurses started as CNA’s, and moved on as they gained experience and skills. The desire to help patients and their families is something you should have when considering this area as a career.

It typically takes only four to six weeks to complete a CNA training class, then take your certification by taking your state board exam, and you can start your career in the medical field. Although your job is an assistant to the nurses, it doesn’t mean you are not valued for your many contributions, and the patients surely will appreciate the care you give to them.

There are several places you can obtain the necessary training, the best of which include retirement/skilled nursing homes and hospitals. Many will offer free or reimbursed training for your agreement to work at their facility for a set amount of time to protect their investment for training you for free or at a reduced cost.

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for a certified nursing assistant is anywhere from $10-$14 per hour, with overtime possible in many situations, due to the high demand in all nursing areas.

Your job as a certified nursing assistant will keep you in high demand as the population ages, as there will always be a need for health care. Job security is yet another reason to consider a career in this field, especially in this age of a tough economy.

Discover how to become a Certified Nursing Assistant now in our comprehensive guide to all you need to know about how and where to find the best certified nursing assistant classes