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A certified nursing assistant assists patients with their direct healthcare needs under the supervision of a nurse. These assistants are typically expected to provide nursing care and help monitor patients. Their tasks may include but not limited to changing bandages and drapes, irrigating wounds, assisting the personal care staff with bathing, grooming, and toileting needs of the patient. Study and pass your exam with free CNA practice test to earn the CNA certification.
CNA is short for Certified Nursing Assistant and this profession is a very important one in the medical industry. CNA’s are trained to safely assist with, or monitor, care of patients during their stay in a hospital or other health care setting. This includes performing basic nursing tasks such as taking vital signs, recording information on individual charts and maintaining cleanliness standards. A CNA can also be called upon to help feed patients and transport them around the facility if needed. With this career path, you will work closely with both doctors and nurses who supervise your work and provide feedback on how you can improve your skills and progress within your chosen field.
To become a CNA, you must have a GED, CNA training, clinical experience, and pass a state-issued certification exam. CNAs must meet their state’s continuing education requirements in order to keep their licenses.
There is a list of CNA training programs that are accredited by each state and meet their requirements. CNA training programs typically take six to eight months and offer supervised clinical experience as well as intensive coursework in anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, first aid and emergency procedures. Clinical experience can be obtained through a hospital or other institution that employs CNAs or through an independent work placement. Some CNA training programs also require candidates to pass a skills assessment exam before completion of the program.
Typically, there are two sections to a CNA exam: the written section and the skills section. The written section will assess your knowledge of basic concepts such as anatomy or proper hygiene. The skills section assesses whether you can perform basic procedures such as taking blood pressure, monitoring a patient’s heart rate and respiration, and more.
Most state certification exams consist of 75 multiple-choice questions on topics such as addiction treatment, infection control compliance for healthcare personnel and general safety precautions for household cleaning products. While in clinical skills part, there are 3 to 4 that must be tested.
You can start seeking jobs as a CNA once you’ve completed your certification exam and been included in your state’s registry of certified nursing assistants. The job is not just about assisting the patients and performing tasks such as taking vital signs and feeding them. To be a good CNA, you need to develop some interpersonal skills and ensure that you provide effective customer service to your clients. This is because most of the work entails day-to-day interactions with people in their most vulnerable state. It’s important for CNAs to remain calm and empathetic during such situations.
The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential enables you to work in nursing facilities, hospitals, doctor offices, and other healthcare facilities. CNAs work under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse (LPN). They report to this supervisor any changes in patient condition or anything that could cause harm to the patient. This is often called “patient advocacy.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for Certified Nurses Assistants will grow by 16% between 2014-2024. And the median wage is $26,590 per year! While working as a CNA is a great profession in and of itself, many people see it as a stepping stone to a nursing or other healthcare career. Additionally, CNA positions are an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience before applying for a job in the medical field.
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