How to Become a CNA: Start a New Career in the Medical Field

What is a CNA?
CNA can stand for ‘Certified Nurse Aide’ or ‘Certified Nursing Assistant’. In some states they even have different initials like in Ohio they use ‘STNA’ and in Vermont ‘LNA’.
So what does it all really mean? The basic idea is that a CNA is a healthcare professional that has had some official training or testing and is registered or certified by the state to provide care and assistance to patients within the state’s rules.
Who hires CNAs?
Nurse aides work in all kinds of healthcare settings. You will find CNAs working in hospitals, clinics, home health, and rehab centers. The most demand for CNAs is in long-term care facilities like nursing homes and assisted living facilities. There is so much need with the aging population that you can often get a job at a nursing home and they will pay for your CNA education and all of your training.
What do CNA do? What is the work like?
What the job includes will vary a lot depending on what type of facility you are working in. The general job of Nursing Assistants is to help ill, disabled, elderly or weak people do the things they can’t do for themselves without help.
CNAs help people with their basic needs called ‘Activities of Daily Living’ (ADLs). You might assist people to get out of bed, to walk, to shower and to get dressed. CNAs also perform basic nursing procedures like taking vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse and temperature.
In some states and on some jobs you can get further education and training and be able to perform more complex nursing skills like doing EKGs, drawing blood for lab samples, giving patients medication and more.
How do you become a CNA?
Every state has their …
How to Become a CNA: Start a New Career in the Medical Field Read More