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Health care is a growing industry in the U.S., as an aging population and advancing medical technology create new demand for health services. Certified nursing assistants play an important role in the delivery of basic care. Working on the frontlines of patient care, certified nursing assistants provide crucial support to nurses and other caregivers.
Overview of Nursing Assistant Training
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) provides basic health care to patients under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). Nurse assistant (or nurse’s aide) training teaches you the clinical skills, knowledge, and bedside manner to function effectively as a certified nursing assistant. Some of the basic tasks a CNA or nursing aide may face on the job include:
Together, these abilities make certified nursing assistants a vital part of the medical care team. The exact nature of your nursing assistant training and responsibilities depends on your career goals. For example, nursing aides at a long-term care facility develop skills in assisting patients with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating, and grooming. Psychiatric nursing aides learn specific procedures for dealing with mentally ill patients, such as monitoring patients for behavioral changes, organizing activities, and handling emergencies.
Certified Nursing Assistant Training: Degrees and Coursework
Prerequisites for a CNA program include a high school diploma or GED. You can find nurse aide training at vocational schools, technical schools, nursing care facilities, and community colleges. Programs generally lead to a certificate or diploma as a certified nursing assistant.
Certified nursing assistant program requirements include:
Classroom Instruction: Formal education for nursing aides and assistants offers a broad foundation of knowledge to help you function effectively as a caregiver. Courses include anatomy, nutrition, body mechanics, physiology, and infection control.
Applied CNA Program Training: Formal training may include personal care skills; clinical procedures such as checking vital signs and updating patient records; and facility procedures such as maintaining proper medical hygiene.
On-the-Job Training: Most CNAs transition from formal education to clinical practice by training on the job with a licensed nurse or experienced aide. This informal apprenticeship allows new nursing assistants to learn the ropes of a particular facility or care specialty. These programs may last a few days or a few months, depending on the institution.
The final step in your certified nursing assistant training program is state certification. To become certified as a nursing assistant, you must complete a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved training and pass a test. Each state mandates its own certification requirements, so check with your state board for exact training and testing standards.
Certified Nursing Assistant Career Outlook
Certified nursing assistants can expect robust job opportunities for the foreseeable future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNAs and nursing aides can expect 19 percent job growth between 2008 and 2018, well above the national average of 10 percent growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing aides earned a median annual wage of $24,040 in 2009.
The long-term care needs of the nation's aging population is driving growth in job opportunities for nursing aides and certified nursing assistants. A major study published in March 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control estimated that the number of Americans in need of long-term care should "more than double from 13 million in 2000 to 27 million in 2050." Since certified nursing assistants primarily offer basic care and assistance with activities of daily living, they play a major role in delivering paid long-term medical care.
Certified nursing assistant training prepares you to meet the historic demand for long-term caregivers in the U.S. Compassion and basic clinical care skills qualify you to serve the needs of elderly, ill, and disabled patients struggling to overcome life challenges. To turn those skills into a career as a certified nursing assistant, complete a formal certificate or diploma training program.
Resources for Certified Nursing Assistants
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.
| School | Locations | Degrees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline College | AZ, NM | Diploma | |
| Career Point College | OK, TX | Diploma | |
| Computer Career Center | NM, TX | Certificate, Diploma | |
| Everest Institute | FL, GA, PA | Diploma | |
| Florida Career College | FL | Diploma | |
| Florida Technical College | FL | Diploma | |
| Illinois School of Health Careers | IL | Diploma | |
| Kaplan College KHE | CA, TX | Certificate, Diploma | |
| Pittsburgh Technical Institute | PA | Cisco Certificate | |
| Prism Career Institute | NJ | Coursework | |
| Salter School of Nursing and Allied Health | NH | Certificate | |
| Ultimate Medical Academy | FL | Diploma |
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