Due to current unemployment rates, finding a job has become difficult. In order to begin a new career, learning a new skill online has become increasingly popular. If this sounds good to you, you might consider becoming a CNA.
The acronym CNA stands for Certified Nursing Assistant. There is demand for CNAs all over the country, You can work anywhere from a backwater town to a big city and find your skills will be in demand. Best of all, you can bring your job with you, the most you will ever need to do is update your certificate if you move to a new state.
Choosing to become a CNA has other advantages as well. This is definitely not a boring nine-to-five job, and it does offer opportunities for advancement. Many employers of CNAs offer medical and dental benefits and are very generous with their continuing education reimbursements.
While being a CNA can be lucrative in itself, it can also lead to a variety of even more fulfilling careers. Some of the possible jobs you will be prequalified for include Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN).
This may seem like a dream, but to get started out as a CNA, you will have your pick of available classes. There is usually a fee to the CNA course – but the good news is that this fee is low, and you can complete the coursework in a fairly short period of time. It can also be done online, at home, in your spare time.
The CNA training class consists of approximately 75 hours of trainings. About two-thirds of these are classroom instruction and the rest are guided practice giving personal care in actual facilities. Your instructor will provide you with a State Board of Nursing form to fill out after you have completed your training.
There are, in total five steps to becoming a CNA. Undergoing a personality assessment is the first of these. Patience in doing sometimes repetitive tasks to help people is a requirement. It will also be determined if you really have the desire to become a leading member in a healthcare facility. Very often support staff is the first, and most important, part of a patient’s visit to a healthcare facility. It is necessary that you be friendly and helpful, as well as supportive and attentive to detail.
Volunteering in a hospital is part of the program. While you can express interest in a particular department, you will perform various tasks during your volunteer duties. Your performance here will be recorded, and doing well is a good indication that you are in the right profession.
Completing the CNA Training Program is the fourth step. Some of the topics included here will be understanding patient care standards, legal issues, and both your and the patients’ rights and responsibilities. Practical experience with basic medical equipment and daily care procedures is included in this part of the training.
The final step is taking the Exam for CNA certification, and then you will be on your way to a satisfying and lucrative career.
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