CNA Degree and Educational Guide

A CNA degree or certification trains individuals to work as Certified Nursing Assistants and provide care to patients in different settings. Best Health Degrees want to help ou find a pathway into medicine. We want you to learn what it will take to succeed before you begin an educational degree or certification so you make informed decisions and don’t waste your time and money. One of the ways we accomplish these goals is by profiling different nursing roles.

Nursing is a remarkably selfless career path. You’ll work on the front lines of treating patients directly, coordinating their care, and taking care of their essential needs. It’s exceptionally admirable and rewarding. Unlike many other professions, you’ll see the utility of your work every day.

Being a nurse is complicated and arduous. If you want a career in nursing, you’ll need to train vigorously, stay current with the ever-shifting medical field, and complete various degrees and certifications to maintain or enhance your position and job opportunities.

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Nurses are constantly moving. It’s estimated that a nurse walks four to five miles every 12-hour shift (nurses are often required to work 12-hour shifts or longer). During that time, they often treat between one to eight patients, although this highly depends on the environment and facility they work in.

As a nurse, you’ll be joining an ancient tradition. Records of nurses extend back to 300 AD in the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire wanted hospitals in every town under their control. Over the following centuries, as the Catholic Church, Charlemagne, and eventually more localized rulers supplanted the Roman Empire as influential organizations in Europe and across the world, nursing developed dramatically. Throughout, one thing remained consistent: a strong need for nurses. That need continues today.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Job and Education Details

Currently, there’s a far higher demand for qualified nurses than a supply of them. Nursing, and the medical field overall, is expected by many sources to grow drastically over the coming years. It’s not only demand that makes nursing desirable. In 2018, US News and World Report published a list of the 25 Best Jobs for Americans. Three of the top 25 were in nursing.

The nursing population is booming. In 2016 there were 4 million nurses in America. Between 2013 and 2016, 500,000 new nurses joined the field. This trend has continued for a while: the total number of nurses has tripled since 1970, and the number of American nurses increased more than the overall American population in the 2000s!

When we think of nurses, we generally think of Registered Nurses. In 2020 there were nearly 3.08 million registered nurses in the country. However, many working nurses haven’t yet achieved the RN title but are vital participants in the nursing field.

Just like in other career paths, nursing has multiple entry points. You should select a subsection of nursing that suits your needs and goals. What’s best for you can feel murky. But it relies on many factors you can weigh and consider (more on that later). However, if you’re starting to work, or looking for a new career, an excellent option for beginning a career in nursing is earning a Nursing Assistant (CNA) Degree or Certification. So, what does that entail?

What is a CNA?

CNAs are Certified Nursing Assistants. They provide principle care to patients in many different healthcare settings, including clinics, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and hospitals. CNAs work under the oversight of licensed or registered nurses.

What is a CNA Degree or Certification?

CNAs don’t necessarily need a higher degree. In general, they complete a formal training program, or CNA certification, required by their state. These training programs take four to sixteen weeks to complete. There are also other requirements. You’ll need to complete a number of clinical hours (differing state to state) and then pass a nurse aide competency exam. This exam has a written section and a practical skill-based part as well. After completing these requirements, they are put on a state registry and get a certification as nursing assistants.

How Do You Train to Be a CNA?

Becoming a CNA consist of classroom education and clinical training followed by certification. Federal law requires that CNA programs provide a minimum of 75 hours of training with at least 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training. However, many states set criteria that exceed these standards.

1. Have the Minimum Requirements

High school education is a minimum requirement to enroll in a professional CNA training program. You’ll need to satisfy some prerequisites to qualify for a CNA training program. These also vary by state but can include:

Passing a physical exam and tuberculosis screening
Passing a criminal background check
Completing an orientation session
Having a high school diploma or equivalent credential

2. Complete a CNA Training Program

In some cases, CNA training may be provided to successful candidates for a free or low cost. This is a great way to save money compared to other nursing programs, which can cost thousands of dollars. The time to complete one of these programs is 4-12 weeks.

While a CNA is considered an entry-level position, you’ll need the appropriate education and clinical training to work in this role. Federal law requires that CNA programs provide a minimum of 75 hours of training with at least 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training. However, many states set criteria that exceed these standards. Your complete program time includes both instructional hours and clinical practice. State guidelines determine the minimums for each category. As an example, a 120-hour, six-week CNA program may include four weeks of classroom education and two weeks of clinical practice

It’s critical to ensure that your CNA program meets your state’s CNA educational requirements. Check with your state board of nursing or department of health to avoid selecting a program that doesn’t meet your state’s criteria.

Remember: CNAs don’t have the same training as RNs or LPNs (licensed practical nurses), aren’t as skilled, and don’t get paid as much. However, they often work just as hard as nurses above them, and many CNAs use this credential as a launchpad to higher degrees and certifications in nursing.

CNA coursework is offered through the Red Cross, community colleges, vocational colleges, and other settings, depending on where you live. You can also train to become a CNA through technical schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities.

Classroom education

In a CNA program you’ll study many topics, including:

First Aid, CPR, and Emergency Procedures
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Oral and topical medication management
Communication skills
Controlling and Preventing Infection
Nursing and patient safety
Collecting and reporting on data
Mental health issues, needs, and responsibilities
Cultural differences and needs
Patient and client rights
Laws and Ethics Governing Nursing
Long-term care
Specialized population care for the elderly, infants, and other groups
Specialized medical condition care like diabetes or cognitive impairment
Mastery of medical technology
Patient advocacy and support
Proper use of medical records software
Safety protocols

Clinical Training

Basic activities in daily life for CNAs and patients
Proper body mechanics to protect yourself and your patient
Safe transfer and lifting procedures
Maintenance of a safe and clean environment
Taking vital signs, measurement and reporting
Personal care skills Daily personal hygiene and personal care management

3. Pass Your State CNA Competency Exam

CNAs earn a credential that can help them begin a rewarding career with plenty of room for growth. The written part of the CNA exam addresses many pressing issues you’ll face in your career, and some you may find surprising. There are several practice test resources you can find on the web.

Most states require that prospective CNAs pass a competency exam. Each state can use its own CNA competency exam. However, currently twenty states use the National Nurse Aid Assessment Program (NNAAP). This is an exam developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

The test consist of approximately 70 multiple-choice questions. They convert topics like on patient care and take around two hours to complete. A sills evaluation portion of the exam take andouther 25 to 45 minutes. Students demonstrate five skills in the allotted time.

4. Maintain Your CNA Certification

You’ll need to be recertified every 24 months in many states to maintain your CNA certification. Recertification often consists of 48 hours of continued education. You might be retrained in domestic violence, medical record documentation, first aid, and also patient rights.

What Do CNAs Do?

CNAs are the foot soldiers of nursing. In many facilities, due to the high demands on RNs and LPNs, they may be the primary caregiver to many patients. They need to be superbly compassionate, upbeat, energetic and take absolute pleasure from helping people with serious medical issues.

Important Skills and Traits

You’ll need spectacular communication skills and a vast well of humility. You must be comfortable reporting to superiors because everyone you’ll work with (other than fellow CNAs) will be above you.

CNA Job Duties and Daily Responsibilities

Let’s dive into the daily responsibilities of CNAs. Some of the responsibilities CNAs take on include:

Assisting superiors with medical procedures
Stocking medical supplies
Dressing and cleaning wounds
Lifting, adjusting, repositioning, and turning over patients. This can involve putting patients into wheelchairs, exam tables, and beds.
Serving meals, feeding patients, and documenting what they ate
Providing bedpans, emptying them, and helping patients go to the bathroom
Taking and recording vital signs
Monitoring patients and attending to their calls
Dressing and bathing patients
Changing bedding and cleaning patient rooms
Retrieving supplies for nurses and doctors
Transporting patients to treatment units, operating rooms, and other medical facilities
Working with medical technology, including medical record charting software, billing software, and health information software
Administering medication to patients
Serving as a liaison between patients, families, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff

CNAs complete many tasks, and they must do so on the bounce. It’s not easy work and not for the faint of heart or people who are easily grossed out. You might see graphic things, including devastating injuries, violence, and biological processes that aren’t pretty. However, suppose you can handle the rougher aspects of this work. In that case, you’ll build strong camaraderie with your coworkers and have secured a position in a field with many opportunities for advancement. Not all CNAs rush to achieve further positions. The National Network of Career Nursing Assistants notes that 28% of CNAs work in the role for at least five years, and at least 13% stay a CNA for 10-55 years.

Where Do Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) Work?

The specific tasks certified nursing assistants perform during the workday depends to a great extent on where they work. While most CNAs work in nursing homes, retirement communities, hospitals, and home care, there are other places to use your knowledge and skills.

Nursing care facilities
Hospitals
Home healthcare services
Memory care homes
Government
Outpatient care centers
Junior colleges
Elementary and secondary schools
Insurance carriers
Religious organizations
Continuing Care Retirement and Assisted Living
Scientific research and development services

Ask Yourself and Consider the Following About Your CNA Education and Career

Now let’s look at how you should decide whether to become a CNA, along with where and how you should get CNA training:

The most important thing to ask yourself is: can you do the work of a CNA, considering how grueling, painful, and rough it is? Will you be highly motivated by this work?
Even though the training for a CNA position is far less than other medical degrees or certifications, it’s still not something you should waste your time on if it’s not for you. Think hard about whether you’re a good fit for this position.
Consider volunteering at a long-term care facility, nursing home, or other medical organization to get a sense of the work you might do, and experience doing it.
If you’re sure nursing is for you, how far do you want to go in your career? What are your short, mid, and long-term career goals in nursing and general?
Is becoming a CNA a good first step for you, or should you study and become an RN or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) straightaway?
You can become a CNA much quicker than you can get an RN or LPN certification. However, by the time you get a CNA certification, a job, and work in it for a while to get your feet wet, you might spend enough time in the field to have earned a different certification. Weight the pros and cons of quick entry into nursing against higher pay and a more impressive credential.
Where do you want to live and work? Some cities and states have higher pay for CNAs. The top states for CNA pay in May 2018 were Alaska, New York, Hawaii, California, and Nevada.
You might consider a CNA training program in the area you want to work in. It’s not necessary, but the program you train under might be able to connect you to more local opportunities than CNA jobs further away.
One thing you have on your side is the high demand for nurses and the growing demand for certified CNAs.
How long can you commit to a CNA program? Some programs take longer than others to complete. Make sure to find all the specs governing any CNA program you’re considering.

These are just some of the questions and considerations you should be mulling over when you’re choosing a CNA program or whether to pursue one at all. You can help yourself decide by discussing these questions with family, friends, experienced nurses, program facilitators, and anyone you trust. Answering these questions can also be very useful in your decision-making process.

How Can We Help You In Your Nursing Education and Career?

Now let’s explore how we can help you in your hunt for a nursing program and in search for a nursing position.

Here at Best Health Degrees, we’ve worked diligently to offer aspiring nurses a litany of informative content. We’ve ranked degree programs, including traditional and online offerings. We’ve prepared resources to help you decide what roles you should pursue in your medical career, and show you what opportunities exist once you’ve earned credentials, degrees, and certifications. We’re also committed to answering common questions describing roles in the field, their differences, and much more. Some of our pertinent content can be found below.

If you find any program through our work that you’re interested in, you should contact its support staff directly. Usually, they’ll be happy to answer questions about their program and can give you valuable insight into whether it’s for you. You can learn about costs, timelines, and how to be successful from experienced professionals with an intimate understanding of any program you’re considering.

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Resources

Common Questions

What Can You Expect to Earn as a CNA?

CNAs are at the bottom of the earning ladder for nurses, but as we’ve discussed, there’s significant room for advancement in the field. After earning your CNA credential and working, you can qualify to begin training as an RN or LPN, although you may need to obtain a Bachelor’s degree. However, the time you log as a CNA will go a long way towards preparing you to gain further certifications, and you’ll likely work with more experienced and credentialed nurses.

Here’s some information about RN employment courtesy of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In 2020, Registered Nurses made a median wage of $77,600 yearly
In 2020 there were 3,080,100 employed Registered Nurses (RNs)
Expected RN job growof 9% from 2020 to 2030

What are the Numbers for CNA Employment?

BLS also offers information on Nursing Assistants and Orderlies. They define these roles as people who work providing primary care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities.

Nursing Assistants Quick Facts	BLS 2021 Info
Median Annual Wage	$30,310
Pay Range	$23,880 to $46,470
Job Growth 2020 to 2030	8%
Nursing Assistants employed in 2020	1,396,700

May 2021 BLS Quick Facts for Nursing Assistants

Largest Employers

Nursing assistants hold about 1.4 million jobs. The highest level of employment for Nursing Assistants was found in the following industries in May 2020.

Industry or Sector	% Employed
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	37%
Hospitals (state, local, and private	30%
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	11%
Home healthcare services	6%
Government	4%

May 2021 BLS Nursing Assistants Largest Employers

Highest Salaries

In May 2021, the median annual wages for nursing assistants in the top industries in which they worked were as follows.

Industry or Sector	Annual Salary
Government	$37,310
Hospitals – state, local, and private	$35,870
Nursing Care Facilities or Skilled Nursing Facilities	$29,970
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderl	$29,900
Home Health Care Services	$29,280

May 2021 BLS Nursing Assistants Highest Salaries

CNA Specialty Certifications

A great way to earn more as a CNA is to expand your skillset. This can mean gaining a different credential or additional certification. One excellent option is to become a PCT or Patient Care Technician. PCT’s can take on CNA responsibilities and do some work in the fields of electrocardiogram and phlebotomy.

After you’re certified, you can earn optional professional certifications to expand your skills and stand out in the field of job applicants. To earn a specialty CNA certification, you must meet the education and experience requirements of the certifying organization. Some standard CNA specialty certifications and the organizations that award them include.

CNA II: Available in some states to CNAs with specified experience and/or training
Certified Alzheimer Caregiver: Offered through the National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care
Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant: Offered by the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
Certified Wound Care Associate: From the American Board of Wound Management
Medication Aide Certification: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.

We hope you’ve found this guide informative and illuminating. Good luck in your nursing career!