Certified Nursing Assistant
Alt Names: CNA, Certified Nurse Aide, Medical Orderly, Nursing Attendant
Career Description
Certified Nursing Assistants provide general and basic patient care under supervision of nursing and medical staff.
Job Responsibilities
Clean, bathe, and dress patients or residents
Help patients to eat
Change linen
Prepare and serve meals to patients
Move and reposition bedridden patients
Help patients travel from one location to another
Observe and report patients’ physical, mental, and emotional conditions
Education & Training
Must earn postsecondary award or certificate indicating individual learned basic principles of nursing as well as completed clinical work course
Must complete State approved Nurse Aide training program
Important Courses & Info:
CNA programs may be found in (some) high schools, vocational and technical schools, community colleges
License and/or Certification
After completion of program and competency exam, graduated earn Certified Nursing Assistant certificate
Salary
2010 Median Pay: $24,010 per year ; $11.54 per hour [Source: BLS.Gov]
Valuable Skills & Qualities
This career is good for people who are:
Empathetic
Self motivated
Good communicators
Not opposed to having flexible schedules (you will sometimes have to work later, or cover for people)
Quick learners
Work Environment/Setting
Hospitals, home health care, employment services, nursing and residential care facilities
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