Certified Nurse's Aide: Job Information for Students Considering a Career As a Certified Nurse's Aide

If you're interested in starting a career as a Certified Nursing Aide (CNA), you'll need a high school diploma and meet the certification requirements to become a CNA. Experience as a home health aide or as an orderly will help prepare you for a career in Nursing. Continue reading to learn more about how to become a Certified Nursing Aide.

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A Career as a Certified Nurse's Aide Defined

Certified Nurse's Aides (CNAs) work under the guidance of a licensed nurse to provide direct care to patients. Certified Nurse's Aides work as part of a health care team; their duties include monitoring patients; preparing and delivering medications; taking patients' pulse, respiration, blood pressure and temperature; escorting patients to exam or operating rooms; setting up equipment and supplies; and recording treatment. Certified Nurse's Aides may also be responsible for helping patients eat, dress, bathe and get in and out of bed.

How to Become a Certified Nurse's Aide

Educational Requirements for a Career in Nursing

Training to become a Certified Nurse's Aide is offered in some high schools, vocational schools, technical colleges, community colleges and universities. Generally, you'll need at least a high school diploma and complete 75-hours of accredited training and an exam to become a Certified Nurse's Aide. Courses and training include information on nutrition, anatomy, physiology, patient's rights and body mechanics.

Skills Required for a Career as a Certified Nurse's Aide

Because CNAs work as part of a team of medical professionals, it's important that you have good communication and interpersonal skills to succeed in this career. Working as a Certified Nurse's Aide can also require long or unusual hours; an ability to work in a stressful and demanding environment is also important for success as a Certified Nurse's Aide.

Nursing Employment and Economic Outlook

The employment outlook for Nursing, nursing aides, orderlies and attendants, which includes Certified Nursing Aides, is excellent; the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov, projects employment in these fields will grow 18% from 2006-2016. The median hourly wage for these fields was $10.67 in 2006.

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