Becoming a CNA: Classes and Training

What does a CNA do?

A certified nursing assistant, better known as a CNA, is a healthcare professional who provides direct patient care. These people are sometimes referred to as patient care technicians, home health aides, or orderlies, but they all perform the same job.

Daily tasks that CNAs help patients perform include eating, bathing, getting dressed, moving around the living space and other basic activities. CNAs are also frequently responsible for keeping track of the patient's physical condition and any concerns that a patient may have.

Once a CNA has collected this information, he or she gives it to a nurse in charge.

These duties prepare a large number of CNAs to later become registered nurses. Becoming a CNA requires specialized training, as well as having active registration with the state in which the CNA intends to work.

What Registering CNAs Need

Special CNA classes are required for anyone who wants to register as a nursing aide. The basic academic coursework is just part of CNA training, however.

To become a nursing assistant, it's also necessary to receive hands-on training under a nurse or doctor's supervision. Different states have different requirements for the length and type of experience required, but it must occur in a hospital, nursing home or other medical establishment in most cases.

Finding CNA Programs

Attending the wide range of CNA classes available in most states can be difficult for people with other jobs. However, employer-supported CNA classes are available for people who already have healthcare jobs.

Individuals who are not eligible for CNA programs through an employer, can attend evening classes or choose online coursework as a good secondary choice.

It may be necessary to do extra research about your CNA classes if you decide that online or distant schools are your best option. This is because accreditation and certification standards vary by state.

Make sure that the program you pick is compatible with your state requirements. Every CNA program in the U.S. must provide 75 hours of academic and practical coursework or more.

Career Opportunities

It's true that nursing assistants can only progress so far in a CNA job. CNA salaries average between $21,000 and $29,000 per year, with some rare positions providing up to $40,000. Many CNAs advance their career by getting more education and becoming nurses or physician's assistants.

Increasing medical costs are now prompting many hospitals to use CNAs to do the work that once required a registered nurse. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the demand for CNAs is expected to grow by 20 percent by 2020, especially as more older people need nursing home care.

This increase in demand means that CNA training is a smart choice for anyone who is interested in a caregiving career.