Explanation of a Certified Nursing Assistant

The certified nursing assistant will help with patients and clients healthcare needs under either an LPN or an RN.

• RN is a Registered Nurse
• LPN is a Licensed Practical Nurse

The certified nursing assistant is going to gain a lot of experience and ability but due to liability issues and other legalities are going to prevent the certified nursing assistant from performing certain procedures which are left to the nursing staff.

Your designation is going to vary dependent on where you’re working or where you’re living but you’ll most likely be referred to as a certified nursing assistant or just plain nursing assistant. In addition to all of the titles you’ll also potentially work in a variety of settings. Some of these settings are going to be:

• Nursing homes
• Hospitals
• Adult daycare
• Personal home care
• Assisted living

No matter where you end up working you’re going to be an important liaison between the patients and the nursing staff. In almost all instances, especially when the patient to nurse ratio is high, you’ll be the eyes and the ears of the nursing staff.

A nursing assistant is going to provide the basic care which could be for a patient of any age, gender or ethnicity. Since the nursing assistant has daily and direct contact with the patients they are a key to providing some vital information about the conditions of the patients to their direct supervisor.

I won’t sugarcoat it, the job can sometimes be difficult and isn’t for everyone. The workload can be intense sometimes and the job is very fast paced. But for almost all certified nursing assistants this job can be extremely rewarding. Through having a desire to help people and a true compassion for the people that you help will continue to put the smile on your face during the good days and help you get through the bad ones.

The flourishing certified nursing assistant is one that is engaged with the patients and their supervisors and feels that their role is essential to the patient’s health condition, because it is. Having excellent interpersonal skills and having the ability to be a team player are such valuable traits for this job. Of course none of this really matters without having good training.

Most of the training for a certified nursing assistant is done through programs that are offered through the Red Cross, a community college and other medical facilities. Going through a medical facility gives you some great on the job training that will be invaluable to you as you move forward with your career. After you finish your training you’ll need to take an exam before you are able to be deemed qualified.

The nursing shortages will provide you with a lot of challenges and the turnover rates are high due to the shortage. For someone that is intent on working the job this provides them with a lot of opportunity though and that’s what you should focus on. You’ll be high in demand especially in the institutions that provide elderly care. Almost all of the healthcare facilities recognize and appreciate the role that a compassionate and qualified certified nursing assistant can do for their facility.

The one thing that you’ll need to remember is that all states are going to vary in regards to the requirements of training and testing so you want to make sure that you visit the following licensing website before you continue to make sure that you’re fulfilling the requirements of the state you’re going to be working in.

Good luck, you’re on your way to a rewarding and fulfilling career.