Becoming a CNA is a fast way to jumpstart a career in the fastest-growing, most sustainable industry in the world, healthcare. With baby boomers approaching retirement age, healthcare needs will continue to grow. Approximately 28% of today’s population in the United States is baby boomers. With the right CNA training employment opportunities are endless. The average CNA makes $20,000 to $30,000 a year after a quick training program and passing a test. People contemplating a lifetime career or making a career change due to the current lackluster economy should consider the benefits this vocation offers.
Benefits Offered By A CNA Profession
There is a growing demand for healthcare professionals. This career offers an opportunity to help other people; with the aging population, geriatric care is the most popular field. Employment options are varied including hospitals, nursing homes and home health care. These developed skills can be used anywhere, relocations do not affect employment prospects. Advancement into specialized fields increases income potential. Many companies offer benefits like medical, retirement, dental and additional training opportunities for specialized degrees. Before investing in nursing or medical school, these programs offer an opportunity to verify this is the right profession for the student and determine the areas of medicine most fascinating to him or her.
Responsibilities Of A CNA
These qualified nursing assistants are much more than people helping and comforting patients. The intimate and daily contact with patients alerts these professionals to changes in patients’ conditions and the level and quality of care required. Relaying this information to nurses and doctors improve the quality of care given. These are the caregivers who keep people comfortable by adding or removing blankets and pillows, helping them shift positions in bed, moving them to and from wheelchairs or supporting them while they try to walk. Assisting people with limited mobility or in extreme pain from recent surgery cope with personal hygiene and common daily chores like eating requires special knowledge and training.
Training Time For A CNA License
The training can be fast tracked and take as little as six weeks. Most CNA training classes last between six and twelve weeks with a few involving nine months or one year. Each state requires a certain training regiment before a student is qualified to take CNA test. The federal government requires CNAs working in hospitals receiving Medicare funding have a full 91 hours of designated classroom instruction and 16 hours of practical hands-on experience. This test may be administered by the state or by the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program. The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program test has three parts. The written portion contains a series multiple choice questions. The oral section has 10 basic comprehensive questions plus multiple choice problems and is given in both Spanish and English. The skills section allows students to demonstrate what they have learned.
Training Costs for A CNA License
CNA training programs usually cost between $400 and $1000 which is an inexpensive investment in both time and money for the future income and benefits offered. Many courses are available with CNA training online; students can complete these courses at their convenience in their home. Actual experience can be arranged with volunteer work or as an apprentice at a local hospital or nursing homes. Due to the extreme shortage of trained workers, many hospitals and nursing homes offer free CNA training in exchange for a promise to work at that facility for a period of time. In about half the states in the United States the Red Cross presents specialized training programs.
For people looking for a quick new career in the healthcare industry, CNA training is a viable option. This industry is growing, will continue to grow and offers attractive advancement opportunities for energetic, enthusiastic people.
