Caregiving is an emotionally rewarding profession that allows one to help people in their times of need. As a Certified Nursing Assistant or CNA, one takes care of several patients and helps them fulfill their basic needs like bathing, having meals, etc. With a CNA degree, one can also work as a front-line assistant in patient care. But before stepping into this role, one should research what a CNA’s job entails.

What is a CNA?
Certified Nursing Assistants are healthcare professionals devoted to providing hands-on care to all the patients in a hospital setting under the supervision of a registered nurse. CNA is nothing but an entry-level position to step into the health care sector. Being a CNA can help you prepare for nursing or healthcare management roles.

The responsibilities of a CNA are extremely important in the entire patient process in the healthcare sector. CNAs are individuals who provide patients with both social as well as emotional assistance. They play a crucial role in helping the patients undergo their treatment, recover from their injuries, and help them make their lives more comfortable.

What are the functions of a CNA?
The basic task of a CNA is to cater to patients with immediate health care needs. Some of their tasks include moving patients from one place to another, checking vitals, gathering the documents and treatment supplies, taking care of injuries, cleaning beds, and helping them in their everyday activities such as bathing, shaving, brushing teeth and hair, and feeding.

However, the tasks and duties of a CNA differ across healthcare institutions, as every organization has its requirements and responsibilities. But, the most common tasks of a CNA are taking care of the patients, checking for vitals, and keeping them clean.

How to become a CNA?
Unlike other professions in the healthcare sector, a certified nursing assistant necessarily does not need to have a degree. However, nowadays, many organizations prefer CNAs with professional certification. To become a CNA, you must gain a high school diploma or GED and pass a written and practical test.

In the case of a postsecondary non-degree certificate or diploma, authentic training is essential. You can gain the CNA credentials by the state. So, if you enroll in a state-sanctioned CNA certification program or CNA certification training program, you can easily gain the credentials by passing the respective state certification exam.

What is the employment outlook of a CNA?
A CNA degree is a great opportunity if you’re looking forward to entering nursing and other related healthcare professions. The training focuses on practical on-the-job skills and is offered at different levels of education. The job outlook for CNAs is bright, with more than 1.4 million jobs currently held and many new openings. Some states are expected to add thousands to their CNA workforce this year.

Because of the increasing population, the demand for preventive health care has increased tremendously in various sectors. The estimations show a great surge in demand for Certified Nursing Assistants in the upcoming years.

How much does a CNA earn?
As the demand for a certified nursing assistant increases every day, the average salary of a CNA keeps growing constantly. A CNA is either paid on an hourly basis or paid a fixed monthly amount depending on the type of organization and work assigned. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the pay for a CNA was somewhere around $15 per hour and $30,000 per month. However, please note that these salary figures may differ depending on the state, country, and institute.

Where does a CNA work?
A certified nursing assistant can be found in all kinds of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, long-term residential facilities, and adult day-care centers. CNAs can also now work as home health aides or in hospice, where they take care of patients from the comfort of their homes.

Can you pursue a CNA degree online?
Undoubtedly, CNA is a rewarding career option as an entry-level position in the healthcare industry. So, to get started with the same, you need to gain a CNA degree certification. If you are still a student and do not have enough time to complete a certification, you can opt for weekend CNA classes near your location.

The good news is that you can now pursue a CNA degree online too. You can now find CNA courses online accredited by various reputable platforms such as Coursera, edX, etc. The advantage of opting for these courses is that you can pursue them across any location in the world. This way, you don’t have to waste your precious time traveling from one place to another. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and the willingness to learn.