Certified Nurse Assistant Jobs

Under the guidance of nursing and medical staff, certified nursing assistants are responsible for providing care and performing routine tasks. The task’s they are asked to perform vary from patient care to administrative duties. Patient care involves helping patients eat, dress, and bathe. They can also be responsible for taking a patient’s temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Often times they are also responsible for serving meals, answering phones, making beds, and cleaning rooms. Finally a certified nursing assistant can help other members of the staff by setting up equipment and delivering supplies to specific rooms. Because of their skills, they are often times employed in long term care units, where people require help with their basic needs.

Certified nursing jobs can place a physical strain on a person. Often times they are on their feet for hours at a time, with a full schedule of work. Many times they will have to lift a patient to help them stand, and provide them with stability as they walk. The nurses may also be responsible for bathing a patient, and cleaning a patient’s room. Many nurses take satisfaction in the fact that their working is making people’s lives easier, and more comfortable.

States have different requirements for certified nursing assistant jobs, some states require certification, while many states rely on job site training. Many jobs only require a high school diploma or equivalent before a person may take a job as a certified nursing assistant. Training is available in high school, technical schools, nursing facilities, or community colleges. Typically courses will cover nutrition, anatomy and physiology, infection control, and resident rights. Other courses covered include helping patients eat, breathe, and care for themselves.

Depending on the job, some employers offer instructional classes for nursing assistants, while others rely on training provided by licensed nurses, or other experienced nursing assistants. Training could last anywhere from a few days to a few month, with carious lectures and workshops. People seeking a certified nursing job may also have to pass a background inspection before they are able to care for patients.

Unfortunately there are few opportunities for certified nurses to advance their careers. Nurses typically need certification, or other formal training to pursue other options in health care. Many nurses choose to go back to school and become an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), registered nurse, or a medical assistant. The job does provide many high school and college students with experience, and provide them with an insight into the field of health care.

The market for Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs is expected to grow by 19% between 2008 and 2018. Many are employed by hospitals, while the rest work in care facilities, government agencies, outpatient care centers, or finding employment with families needing an assistant for an elderly member.

Tags: Assistant, Certified, Jobs, Nurse