What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?
Certified Nursing Assistants or CNAs are personnel trained to help clients or patients with all necessary healthcare needs under the supervision of a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Registered Nurse. They may also be known by such abstractions as Patient Care Assistants, State-Tested Nurse Aides or Nursing Assistants. The responsibilities of a CNA will vary on the basis of where they live or work. They work in a variety of settings including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, personal homes, adult day care centers and hospitals. Acting as a helpful liaison between a Registered Nurse and a patient, a CNA fulfils all the essential quality-of-life needs for patients of any age both in outpatient clinics
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Certified Nursing Assistants usually gain valuable skills and knowledge on the job that can be replicated thus preparing them for a career in almost every part of the medical field. Nonetheless, most CNAs choose to stick to the profession for a much longer time. One may think that the relatively low pay for such menial responsibilities would be a reason for nursing assistants to seek other opportunities. This is however mostly the case for those who might have already intended to leave the profession or those who did not feel comfortable about working in the absence of a health insurance that is to be provided by their employers. This pretty much indicates that while they may not have the most glamorous positions, nursing assistants are usually happy at their …show more content…
Some may also work as freelance practitioners as home health aides assisting their patients within their own homes. However, in order to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant, there are certain requirements that must be fulfilled. It is not as difficult and does not take as much time.
To begin with, CNA classes are an essential requirement. These classes are offered by medical care facilities, vocational schools, community colleges and the Red Cross. While these facilities offer training for free, you may be required to work there for a certain period of time. The training usually lasts between four and six weeks requiring at least 160 hours of combined lab/theory work and a supervised clinical training. This should prepare you to provide quality care to residents in nursing homes besides getting you ready for state competency exams. Once you complete your CNA training, you need to take up and pass a CNA certification examination. This exam is comprised of two parts, written and practical. In order to earn certification, you must pass both parts of the exam. Once you have earned the certification, you can pursue your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant working at a facility of your
But that is an option it is not mandatory to become a CNA. Then you can apply for the Registered nurse program which is (2) years. But you should want to take a year to complete your prerequisites so you wouldn’t mix it with your program but that is also an option. Once you have your RN license you must have 1-2 years of experience. You would want to take the program that is called the Bachelor of Science in nursing known as a (BSN). After you complete the (BSN) program you would have to get state certified. After that you would have to obtain your Masters or (PHD) in nursing. Then you can work as a nurse
Of course, successful completion of a medical assistant certification program is a good indicator of an individual’s ability to practice safely. Certification programs are available for both formally trained and on-the-job trained medical assistants, and certifying organizations include the American Association of Medical Assistants, American Medical Technologists, and the National Center for Competency Testing.
Why would anyone be in the healthcare field? First, there are different types of positions available. Second, this is a very rewarding career for those who enjoy caring for others. Although, most people think there are a lot of differences between certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses, they share the same type of work, working conditions and job outlook.
“Behind every great nurse there is a running CNA.” This statement is true, however only in the long-term care setting of nursing homes. Certified Nursing Assistants/Aides can be found in different settings, as well. Such as, hospice environments, and the homes of those seeking home healthcare. In each environment, CNA’s are important to the patients receiving their care.
A medical assistant is an individual that works alongside but not limited to physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics (Medical Assistant Job). A Certified Medical Assistant provides services necessary to support the physician and to help keep the facility running smoothly. It is possible for a Certified Medical Assistant to work without being certified (Medical Assistant Job). However, most employers are wanting the best out of the bunch. Not only would it be likelier for an individual to get a job, it looks better on a resume to have completed the course into becoming a Certified Medical Assistant.
Nursing is an excellent field to invest your career into. There is always a need for nurses, whether you are a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or a Registered Nurse (RN). As an RN there are many different specialties. Let’s look at the traveling possibilities, atmospheres,
Define Nursing Nursing is a knowledge-based profession within the health care sector that focuses on the overall care of individuals. According to The American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), “defines nurse practitioners as registered nurses who have received graduate-level nursing education and clinical training, which enables them to provide a wide range of preventative and acute health care services to individuals of all ages. They deliver high-quality, cost effective care, often performing physical examinations, ordering tests, making diagnoses, and prescribing and managing medication and therapies”. Nurse Practitioners are able to specialize in a particular area, such as family and adult practice, pediatrics, and women’s health; and refer patients to other specialists when necessary. Some nurse practitioners work under the supervision of a physician while others run their own practices.
If you have formal academic training, you need a master 's degree in a program such as nursing home administration or similar health administration field including an internship of 480 hours. Alternatively, you can also attain a baccalaureate degree with 1,000 of Advanced Individual Training. You have to make sure to maintain 40 hours of continuing education every 2 years to sustain your nursing home administrator 's license. Courses you can take for your degree are those that directly relate to the duties and functions of a nursing home administrator as well as courses in aging or patient care including courses in gerontology, aging, or nursing care may be approved for full credit. Many courses offered by colleges to business administration receive full continuing education credit according to the California department of public health website. Required is a state nursing home administrator examination it varies from state to state. On the national level questions come form health care administrators from across the country. Both have 150 question exam that is similar to the SAT’s broken into sections covering Resident Centered Care and Quality of Life, Human Resources, Finance, Environment, and Leadership & Management. On the national examination students are not penalized for wrong answers, but graded on the correct answers. Once both exams are passed with a score of seventy-five percent or higher you will be eligible for NHA licensure, then you are instructed to send in application and licensure fee to
To obtain a license, the graduate will have to pass the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX) to become a licensed nurse. The NCLEX, which is a computerized test, is only offered on a computer. The test requires you to answer at least, 75 questions and a maximum of 265 questions. The testers only have six hours to finish the test, which in my opinion is more than enough time. However, in order to pass this test, the computer must be 95 percent certain that the test taker is above the passing standard. Certifications for nurses recognize their knowledge and skills within a specific area. In fact, nurses with certifications in special areas earn more than those who aren’t certified. In order to earn certifications, the nurse will have to successfully pass an exam. This exam is offered through nursing associations that offer certification test. Nevertheless, there are other ways besides taking an exam to gain
Certified Nursing Assistants "perform delegated nursing task under the supervision of a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN)" (Sorrentuino & Remmert, 2012). Nursing assistants are trained and certified to "provide basic quality of life care" (Botonakis, 2012) which includes assisting patients and residents with activities of daily living(ADL) such as; feeding, grooming, hygiene, housekeeping task, toileting; transporting patients and assisting with mobility. The responsibilities of nursing assistant vary based on state regulations, employment setting and the employer's individual policy and patients' individual needs (NCDHHS, 2013).
How to get started doing certified nursing assistant there are five major steps to get started in the nursing program the first one is research the career duties of a certified nursing assistant. The nurse usually helps the patient wash hands, get dressed, and eat. Also you might monitor and write down vital signs, keep the rooms clean, then help patients get in and out of bed also off and on the toilet or shower Also help them walk around from their rooms to the dining area. Some nursing homes provide transportation
In conclusion, being a CNA is hard work and takes a kind heart to do this job. From my experience I have learned CNA’s are not just CNA’s, they play an important role in patients and residents lives. They are there when times get rough, when the lonely needs a companion, when the hurt needs comfort, when family absence causes pain. Certified Nursing Assistants are angels in disguise.
“Registered nurses treat patients and help prevent disease, educate patients and the public about various medical conditions and health issues, and provide advice and emotional support to patients’ family members both physically and mentally.”(Registered). It is important for the individual going into this occupation to search out the pros and cons of the different areas of nursing. Sometimes gender plays a part in choosing the specific area of an RN. For instance, the strength of males is needed in areas of physical therapy. While the gentle attributes of women are needed in the care of babies. “A nurse must like people and want to help them, and must also have self-reliance and good judgment, patience, honesty, responsibility, and ability to work easily with others.”(Jacobi). The occupation of a registered nurse includes many advantages such as having the ability to assist your family in medical needs, the salary is attractive and above the average scale, and it offers great job security.
A Certified Nursing Assistant’s main role is to give basic care for patients, as well as help them in their daily activities they might have trouble with on their own. These activities include bathing, dressing, and feeding patients while delivering the highest quality of care. A nursing assistant only goes to school for one to three months for training on how to give patient care
At least when I was a CNA that is what I thought my nurse did. Since I have begun my long journey and learn about nursing I found out that it is more then that. By continuing my education I have learned how much nurses are undervalued, underappreciated and underestimated on their knowledge. They put in a lot of hard work to be still treated like servants.