Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Career Overview

Are you looking for a quick way to enter the healthcare field? A career as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) could be for you. CNAs, sometimes called a nursing assistant or nurse aide, are a part of the healthcare team who works under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN).

Requiring only 4-16 weeks, a CNA license is the fastest way to enter the healthcare field. Keep reading for more on CNA responsibilities, education, and salaries.

CNAs are essential care providers in hospitals, nursing homes, and residential care centers, assisting patients with basic activities, such as moving, eating, dressing, and staying sanitary. They also support nurses and other care providers by taking vital signs, including temperature and blood pressure.

While CNAs do not provide medical care, they must have enough healthcare knowledge to recognize when to call for a nurse or other clinician to assess a situation where the patient’s health might be at risk.

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from July 2022, 96% of CNAs work in skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, residential care facilities, or home health care. CNAs do many of the same duties in all of these work settings. These responsibilities include assisting patients with daily tasks, communicating with other members of the healthcare team, checking patients’ vital signs, and following facility and legal procedures about safety.

The pros of being a CNA make the career a popular choice for people who want to eventually advance their nursing career. However, the cons of being a CNA can be significant.

You must complete a training program that includes 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. Required subjects in a CNA program include residents’ rights, personal care skills, basic nursing skills, basic restorative skills, caring for cognitively impaired residents, and mental and social services needs.

You must have a high school or GED diploma to enroll in a certified nursing assistant program before you can sit for a state licensure exam. After passing the exam, you receive your CNA license and get added to your state’s registry. Then, you can start applying for positions as a CNA.

The BLS projects 8% job growth for CNAs between 2020 and 2030. BLS projects 192,800 job openings for CNAs each year.

CNAs make an average of $13.97 an hour for a total average annual salary of $30,000, according to Payscale data from July 2022. The lowest 10% of CNAs make $10.73 hourly, while the highest 10% of earners take home $17.98 hourly. Skills, experience level, work setting, and location can affect how much money CNAs make.

CNAs with skills, such Microsoft Excel, office administration, medical terminology, typing, and cognitive behavioral therapy, earn higher-than-average salaries, according to Payscale data from July 2022.

CNAs with 10-19 years of experience earn 4% more than average. CNAs with more than 20 years of experience earn about 8% more than average.

According to BLS data from May 2021, junior colleges, scientific research and development services, and the federal executive branch offer CNAs higher-than-average pay.

CNAs help the healthcare team carry out the care plan, assist the patient with daily living activities, and report any changes in patient ability or needs to their supervisor.

CNA programs can range from 4-16 weeks, but the process may take longer if you are balancing other commitments. After the CNA program, you can complete the clinical hours and take the exam. The whole process can take six months or more, depending on your state’s requirements.

Registered nurses (RN) and other healthcare professionals work under the authority of their own license. CNAs work under the authority of the license of the RN who supervises them.

The heavy workload, long shifts, and physical demands of being a CNA can be hard for some individuals.