A certified nursing assistant (CNA) provides essential support to registered nurses by monitoring patient health, recording vital information, and assisting in patient care across various settings. Becoming a CNA typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent and training lasting six to twelve weeks, with starting annual salaries around $25,090. The role demands strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work flexible hours, and it offers the opportunity to make a significant difference in patients' lives.

1. Certified Nursing Assistant
(CNA)
CnaCareerSmart.com
Author : YASIR AHMED

2. What is a CertifiedNursingAssistant
A certified nursing assistant is a degree for nurses to provide
them with authentication to professionally handle their clients.
Under the control of a Registered Nurse (RN) a CNA nurse carries
out the health care supervision according to the needs and
wants of the patient.
CNA nurse works in different categories and varieties like in day
care centers, hospitals even personal homes where they act as a
reliable assistant nurse for the Registered Nurse (RN).
They keep in record the daily vital information of the patient as
they interact with the patients on daily basis and then provide a
report to their supervisors.
For them their ability to help people keeps them motivated at
time of intense work load and when dealing with stubborn
patients.

3. What does a CNA do
If we talk about the main duties of the Nursing Assistant; they
include:
Recording Information: A certified nursing assistant keeps an eye
on even the smallest and critical gestures and signs of the
patient test their temperature and provide blood test to file a
detailed report about the patient so that when a doctor treats
the patient he comes right to the main point.
Filing report: The maintenance of the information is also very
important for the assistant to provide it to the concerning doctor
to act upon the direct solution of the problem of the patient. So
a proper report is filed containing updated information about the
patient.
Patient care: Besides looking after a patient, a CNA nurse also
may need to take care of the disabled and sedated patient in
recovery. So they need to be patient and empathic at such times
and keep them self motivated at all times.

4. What does a CNA do
Availability: There comes a time when a patient needs all the help
he/she can get, that requires day and night duties, and even
weekends and holidays are to be sacrificed. So the assistant nurse is
to unlikely work during these shifts.
Along with these duties there are also some daily activities that
CNAs performs that can be cleaning the patient’s rooms, their
wounds, bathrooms, changing bandages and examine medications
and treatment.
It is clear that this type of job has many ups and downs. Sometimes
it requires to physically performing unpleasant activities but it helps
in building strong relation with the patient.
In order to perform these duties CNAs should have various skills
that include decision making skills, listening skills, communication
skills, work ethics and the ability to maintain interpersonal
relationships.

5. Path to Nursing Assistant
To become a nursing assistant there is usually no need of
any typical degree, it often just needs to have an
equivalent of high school, nursing diploma or GED which
can be acquired through various institutions, nursing
colleges etc.
To become a nursing assistant there is usually no need of
any typical degree, it often just needs to have an
equivalent of high school, nursing diploma or GED which
can be acquired through various institutions, nursing
colleges etc.
These programs last from six to twelve weeks and they cost
about $500-$1000 depending upon your state and type of
institute. For training of assistant nursing the following
associated degrees might come in handy.

6. Similar roles
Medical Assisting Certificate
Diploma: Medical Administrative Assistant
As in Medical Assisting
BSN
CNAs have a big responsibility over them as their roles are similar
to that of a medical assistant. A medical assistant is just like a
CAN nurse who has more interaction with the patient.
In a thorough research it was found that 85% of CNAs discuss
face to face with the patient daily, 71% CNAs had close physical
interaction and 51% spent time running around.
According to this it can be said that this job requires CNAs to be
dependable and interactive with their patient and should be able
to overcome hardships daily.

7. Benefits and Payroll
Although CNA job requires lot of patience and many
unpleasant physical activities but they are a true motivator
of overcoming such obstacles in this world like death itself.
They are paid hourly so they can load up their salary by
working overtime, such as the CNAs who are up for
vacation patients and night duties.
The basic salary varies in location but as per US bureau of
Labour Statistics their annual salary is $25,090. It differs
from city to city and on how much you can make as a
nursing assistant.

8. Benefits and Payroll
Although the salary paid to CNAs is vigorous there are
some benefits that come along with it; you will feel great
joy in knowing that you are helping others feel better, it
help in building a strong nursing career and will give you
credit in becoming a registered nurse (RN).
So if you are a helpful person and care for the humanity
and those around you, you should probably start nursing
and make yourself helpful for those in need. All you have
to do is “care”.