Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are in high demand nowadays, due to an increased number of people with special needs. Old people, those affected by various handicaps or injured are the typical patients for CNAs.
Certified Nursing Assistants are trained professionals who offer support to physicians and nursing staff inside the hospital or who provide basic care to patients affected by different illnesses or with special needs, at the sufferer’s home.
This job isn’t simple and it requires lots of skills and knowledge, from medical ones to certain physical abilities. A CNA has to be patient, calm and tolerant; he or she must be able to adapt his/her language so that the sufferer understands him/her, and must be strong enough to lift the patients and help them move from one place to another. Also, he or she should have strong knowledge of physiology, sports medicine and rehabilitation, a good stress resistance, availability to work overtime and why not, a great sense of humor.
How can I become a CNA?
Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant requires lots of study and practice as well. So before registering to one of these preparatory classes, be honest with yourself and answer to the following questions:
• Do I have what it takes to become a good CNA?
• Is this really the job I’m looking for? Will I be able to do this for at least five or ten years?
Now, if you’re sure you want to be a Certified Nursing Assistant, you can start looking for a school or a course which can get you the certification. Try to do a little research before registering, as some of them might not be accredited, while other might have negative feedback from a large number of students.
It’s important to know that most of these schools have two or four years training programs, so you’re going to need a lot of free time and long-term determination if you want to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. In order to apply the knowledge and skills learned during the classes, try choosing a school which is affiliated to a hospital or nursing home – this way you kill two birds once.
As a CNA, you need to have complete knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and other sciences, as you’ll be tested before receiving the certificate. The exam usually consists of a written portion and some physical behavioral techniques which you have to master perfectly.
Once you receive the certification you can consider yourself a beginner Certified Nursing Assistant and you can start looking for a job in your area. This can be done by placing your resume to several nursing homes or hospitals, or by sending it via e-mail, together with a cover letter.
