CNA stands for Certified Nursing Assistant. It is one of the preferable career options for students who want to join the health industry after passing high school & without making a large investment. Under this blog, we have described the steps which peculiarly make you know “how to become a CNA” and facts that all students know before becoming a CNA,
Steps to become a CNA
1. Small Encyclopedia of CNA
CNA is one of the entry-level jobs in the health industry, and it acts as a bridge between RN and Patients. In the hospital, Nurse’s schedules are very hectic, which include admitting patients and giving medication to patients, discharging patients, and maintaining patient records, due to which they lack assistance patients in regards to their basic needs, which include bathing patients, combing patients’ hair, and shaving. To handle all these responsibilities, CNA came into the role and performs these activities.
What do CNA’s do
- Answering Patient Calls
- Dressing Wounds
- Helping patients to eat
- Observing Patients health issues
- Gathering Supplies for the RN
- Helping Bedridden Patients in repositioning their posture
- Bathing Patients
- Combing Hair, caring nails and brushing teeth
- Preparing report of observance, food and liquid intake and medicines availability
Salary of CNA
The salary of a CNA depends on various factors, which include location and the organization you work. While CNA is categorized under fresher job, the essential starting salary for a beginner CNA got is $ 29,000
For your convenience, we have mentioned the BLS Reported Image, which forecasts the annual mean pay of CNAs in each state –
Career Outlook
As per the BLS report, there is enormous demand for CNA in 2019 – 2029, for about 9%. Apart from this, if you see the age demographics in the United States, a large portion of about 45 percent will enter the age of 65. To assist such numbers, we need a good CNA to help them.
We're here for you.
One of the major benefits of becoming a CNA, you will get an overview of the health industry, which will help you acknowledge the RN studies well.
2. Inbuilt Qualities for becoming a CNA
Keen Observation
CNAs are the ones who have maximum contact with their patients, so they seek the symptoms in the patient’s body first. These symptoms can be red marks on the skin. Noticing these small things and reporting to the RN and Physicians help procure patients, and sometimes certain small things save the patient’s life. You need to be a good observer to become a good CNA.
Strong Mental Attitude
In the hospitals, viable cases endorse a negative atmosphere inward. To handle other patients’ mental status, you need to have the mental stability to face such a case and create positivity among the other patients. In interviews, CNAs’ mental attitudes have always been checked.
Time Management
Time management is a successful attribute in everyone’s career, but when someone’s life safety responsibility is in your hand, one needs to be more peculiar for time.
Sometimes, you need to perform more work due to more patients and fewer CNA colleagues. To handle all patients properly, you need to articulate a timetable that helps you complete tasks more efficiently and conveniently. It can only be done if you have time management attributes,
So kindly develop time management attributes. It is helpful not only in the professional life of a CNA but also plays a vital role in personal life.
Good Communication Skills
Being a CNA, good communication is essential, as it helps to convey the RN and Physician regarding the problem of a patient in their routine, any misconception during communication can create a bigger effect on patient health. In the past, due to a lack of proper communication, some CNAs have lost their job. So it’s better to have good communication skills.
3. CNA Education Requirements
It is the significant step you need to pass to become a CNA. Under this, you will come to know regarding education requirements to become a CNA, so kindly read it thoroughly.
a. Do you need a High School Diploma to be a CNA?
Yes, High School Diploma is necessary to become a CNA. Some states are exceptional, such as New Mexico; one can become CNA at 16 by getting state-approved CNA training only.
We recommend you see long-term goals. You should at least get a high school diploma before going for any career because while doing a CNA job, you might think of becoming RN. In such a situation high school diploma is mandatory,
We're here for you.
While pursuing a high school diploma, prefer subjects such as biology and chemistry if you want to build a good career in the health Industry or aim to become an RN.
b. Get CNA Training
After the high school diploma, your 2nd breakdown is to get CNA training from a state-approved program. The program duration varies from institute to institute (approximate. 4 weeks to 16 weeks), while in the health care industry, it is the only short-term diploma,
What is CNA Training
CNA training is divided into two parts: classroom education and clinical training. In the below images, you can easily see the curriculum –
Guidelines while choosing CNA Training –
- It is approved by NLNAC (CNA Program Accreditation) and the nursing board. Check whether your state considers online CNA programs or not.
- Kindly check whether the CNA training institute is on the approved list of states. Sometimes if the institute is not on the list and you have studied, you are not liable to take CNA state certification exam.
We're here for you.
Try to opt for in-house CNA training. It helps to learn skills more easily and conceptually.
4. Pass Certification
After getting training, if you want to work as a CNA, it is mandatory to take the certification exam,
Fees for the CNA exam vary from $ 115 to $ 50; it includes two exams written and a clinical skill test, and the passing percentage varies between 70 % to 80% (depending on the state)
After passing certification, you will get a CNA license which will be valid for 24 months (under some states, if you don’t practice for particular hours, you need to give an evaluation exam)
If you don’t pass the exam on the first attempt, in the majority of states, you will get three chances to pass the exam, and most importantly, you need to write an exam for the particular section you fail in. If you fail in clinical and pass in writing, then you have to give only clinical again.
5. What to know before becoming a CNA
CNAs are not only for clearing the butt of people; it is rare, and CNAs have various other work (above we mention in jobs and duties).
Getting into a hospital for the first time and serving people might make you nervous. You need to feel as daily task completion and if you don’t know anything, get the help from working staff, they will assist you and make your guide,
Sometimes you get into an argument with colleagues regarding task performance. Actually, each nurse has a different treatment style, so you should be open-minded and don’t take things personally.
Last and Most Important, CNA is considered under stressful job, which might affect your health. It’s our recommendation for all CNAs to prefer their fitness first.
We're here for you.
In the below link source, please see requirements for becoming a CNA in each state. Click Here
Frequently Asked Questions
While if you see the cost of CNA training goes around $ 1100 to $ 1300, sometimes it’s also sponsored by certain hospitals.
Most duration of CNA Programs is between 4 weeks to 16 weeks, it varies from institute to institute.
Yes, CNA programs need to be accredited, it helps in giving certification exam for passing.
CNA working hours varied with nursing home, hospital, if we see the normal working hours, it varies between 8 hours and 12 hours a day.
