Should You Become a Certified Nursing Assistant?
With the economy the way it is and the amount of people displaced from their occupations, many people are on the market for a new career. One sector that many believe can weather the economic turbulence is the health care industry. Among all of the jobs, one of the most popular actually requires just about the least amount of classroom attendance possible. The career of being a certified nursing assistant (cna) is a very popular one as of late and for good reason.
A CNA basically takes care of patients and their general needs. They primarily work under the supervision of a registered nurse and provide generalized patient care. Anything from grooming to feeding all the way to emotional support and hygiene related care are among the many daily tasks of a nurses aide. If you’re the type of person who loves to help others and work in a hospital or caring environment then this is probably the career for you!
You can actually become eligible for employment in this field within as little as 3 weeks. You can do one of the expedited fast track courses available at many colleges or you can take a full semester of training. If you’re working at a facility that has other nursing assistants then it’s possible they may pay for your school. Yes, it’s completely possible to get free schooling for this wonderful position. Be mindful though that they may in fact require you to work there after receiving your certification for a period of time to recoup costs of putting you through classes.
So, this all sounds great but the real question is probably “How much money do you make?”. Well, the field is actually growing very fast even with all of the new applicants. Salaries in the 30 to 40 thousand dollars per year range are not unheard of for underserved markets. Depending on where you live and what type of experience (if any) you have and what skills you possess (what additional classes did you attend in school that are relevant to this field?), you could either make more or less than this.
Many students elect to finish their cna training and them while working they’ll complete a degree in nursing and move up the occupational tree. There’s a lot more money available in nursing but it’s much higher competition. You can easily raise a family and live a fulfilling life on an assistants salary and probably deal with a lot less stress too.
So in closing, it’s worth mentioning again that being a cna has its many advantages and disadvantages. If you’re the type of person who enjoys working with people and can see yourself in a hospital environment, then I’d highly suggest you look into becoming a certified nursing assistant!