Certified nursing assistants would have to perform their duties under the directions of medical staff and nurses. Generally, they are known as orderlies or nursing aides. Their work include answering to the call bells of patients, helping patients to eat when they find it difficult to eat on their own, preparing beds, taking temperature readings, checking pulse rates of patients, checking blood pressure, setting up the required operation theater equipments and the like.
If need be, they assist members of nursing staff and doctors with procedures. Often they have to document the doctor-patient interactions and take remedial measures and precautions as needed so that patient safety is ensured.
Requirements
Academic
A professional degree is not required to get employed as the nursing aid. Generally, employers look for the basic qualification of a high school diploma. Besides this requirement, they need to obtain a certification from a certified nurse assistant program. There will be a state certification exam which the candidates are required to pass to obtain the certification.
Skill Sets
A nursing assistant has to be observant since they have to report immediately when there is a change in the condition of the patient to the concerned medical professionals. He or she should have the ability to turn and move patients as needed. They should be capable of responding and reporting during emergency situations. They need to have efficient communication skills as they are the people patients are in touch with for most of the time. They should be compassionate to the patients. They should remain patient even during the most embarrassing situations and they need to know how to handle abnormal situations, like when a patient behaves improperly. They have the capability of working for long hours.
Training
The required training would be provided to nursing assistants by their employers. It is necessary to finish a training period of 75 hours of duration. The training has to be state approved. After the training period is over, there will be the competency test that the nursing aids are required to pass.
Prior Experience
Previous experience is not required to get employed as the nursing aid if you have the required qualifications. Later, when you are a considering a job change, experience will be an advantage.
Employment Outlook
A certified nursing aid will not find major difficulties in getting a job since there is a huge requirement for nursing aids. Jobs are available in several settings like nursing homes, assistant living services, hospitals and private nursing.
Salary
The payment depends on various factors like job location, facility types and the experience. Generally, newly recruited people earn about $17,784 to about $22,360 in a year. Salary would increase with their years of experience.
The job of a nursing aid would not be suitable for all the people since the job demands certain essential qualities. Certified nursing assistant jobs would be challenging and interesting for people with a genuine interest in the field.
