Nursing Assistant programs are generally run by healthcare facilities and local colleges. Contact any such facility for a listing of up coming classes in your area. Generally, the courses run from four weeks to twelve weeks in length. You will be required to complete a set amount of hours of classroom time as well as a set amount of hours of clinicals. These clinicals are hands on practice that takes place at a medical facility. You will not be paid for your hours worked during this training program. Federal law requires a minimum of 75 hours in any program, all of which must be supervised by a qualified Registered Nurse.

Upon completing all of your classroom hours and clinical training, you will then be required to take a Certified Nursing Assistant exam. This exam is held periodically throughout each state. Some agencies will allow you to secure employment as a Nursing Assistant during that period of time between completing the program and your scheduled exam. Often, verification of program completion and verification that you are registered to take the test are sufficient.

This comprehensive exam is made up of two parts, written and clinical. The written part of the test is said to be mainly common sense. The clinical portion will require you to perform a number of techniques that you will be using in your job. You Nursing Assistant program instructor will inform you of items you should be well skilled in for the exam. In addition, forming your own study group and taking online practice tests can help you feel confident as the date of the test arrives.

The Nursing Assistant licensing requirements are designed to ensure everyone obtaining a certification from the program is properly trained in policies and procedures. Precautions are taken for the safety of the patients, their families, and other medical staff members. It is important to understand that the program will only help you to learn the basics of the job. The specific job requirements will depend on the facility you are working for. You will receive either orientation or on the job training at each medical facility you begin employment with in the area of Nursing Assistant.

With the demand for Nursing Assistants very high right now, it is an excellent career to pursue. The demand is anticipated to continue growing, with the biggest demands being in facilities caring for the elderly. This is the result of people living longer on average.

If you have any questions about the Nursing Assistant licensing requirements in your state, contact your state Medical Board by phone or online. The interest also provides you will additional information on licensing, classes, and career development in the area of Nursing Assistant.

Nursing Assistants must also have excellent communication skills. They are required to have interactions with patients, family members, Nurses, and a variety of other medical professionals. It is imperative that they are able to effectively reply and communication that needs to take place with these various types of individuals.

It is widely known that Nursing Assistants provide basic are for patients including feeding, bathing, and dressing. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg when you take a look at all the various duties involved in being an effective Nurse Assistant. While the specific duties will vary according to the medical facility you work for, there are some that are found in most every one.

Bathing is generally either a shower or a bed bath depending on the level of care the patient requires. Personal hygiene including combing hair, brushing teeth, applying makeup, cleaning dentures all needs to be done for each individual patient. Shaving is also to be taken into consideration, and completed as needed.

Taking patients vital signs are a daily requirement of Nursing Assistants. Taking vital signs includes temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. This information that is recorded on the patients chart, and reviewed by the Nursing staff and other medical professionals.

For patients requiring assistance with eating, the routine can take 20-60 minutes depending on the abilities of the patient and how much food they consume. The Nursing Assistant needs to document the type of food and drink consumed and the quantities of each on the patient’s chart. Some patients will need to take vitamins and other nutritional supplements, also the duty of the Nursing Assistant to administer.

It is also the duty of the Nursing Assistant in many medical facilities to be responsible for getting those who can feed themselves ready to be taken to the dining area. This may just be having their grooming done or helping to lift them into a wheelchair and take them to the dining area.

Nursing assistants will need to change any bedding or other soiled materials if found on the patient. This is a case by case basis and will vary each day. While interacting with the patient, you will need to document their behaviors. It is important that you notify the Nurse on duty if you see any changes that are unexpected or not generally seen. You will be trained in what to look for.

Keeping a sharp eye for details will assist any Nursing Assistant with successfully performing all duties. Caring for people changes because their needs change as well as those you are caring for changes. How quickly you are caring for new patients depends on the type of medical facility you work for.

In addition to performing all of these essential duties, Nursing Assistants are responsible for providing emotional support to patients and their families. This can be helping patients feel comfortable with their surroundings, hanging a photo on the wall for them, or helping them compose a letter. Family members may want you to certain things for a patient such as braid their hair daily or keep their fingernails short.

Performing all the duties of a Nursing Assistant takes practice, dedication, organization, and a sincere desire to help others. It can be an exhausting effort on some days, and often a job no one thanks them for doing. However, for those who enjoy what they do and take pride in it, we need to stop and see all that they do in a days work. They provide valuable services to patients and the medical profession.

The program for becoming a Nursing Assistant is very fast compared with the time it takes to earn a degree in Nursing. Therefore, many see it as a logic choice to gain experience in the medical field. It is an excellent idea for those that aren’t sure if Nursing is for them. It is better to spend four to twelve weeks in training to find out then to spend two or more years working on a Nursing degree.

There are individuals who must maintain employment while pursuing their education degree for financial reasons. For individuals in this position, completing the Nursing Assistant program offers them a way to secure employment that is related to what they are going to school for.

Others choose to advance their career once they have been working as a Nurse Assistant because they see many of the tasks Nurses are responsible for. It is a level of responsibility they wish to acquire. Since they work so closely with the Nursing staff, it is a perfect opportunity to explore more of what takes place. Others have a sincere desire to further their education, but for a variety of reasons have not been able to.

There is a significant pay difference between working as a Nursing Assistant and having a degree as a Nurse. The dollar amount varies based on location, but on average the difference is $4 to $9 per hour more. It doesn’t take long at all for the overall income difference to be seen. Nursing assistants often decide that they want to work in the medical field, but definitely want to be paid more for their work. Of course, the level of responsibility differs greatly between a Nursing Assistant and a Nurse.

Working at a medical facility as a Nursing Assistant can work to your advantage when you decide to pursue a degree in Nursing. It might help you get into the program if there is more interest in the program than enrollment opportunities.

Due to the continuous demand for qualified trained professionals in the area of Nursing, most medical facilities will support you in your efforts to further your education. They will often adjust your work schedule to accommodate you whenever possible.

Tuition assistance programs are offered by many employers in the medical field. They work in a variety of ways. Some will cover a percentage of your tuition; others will pay up to a particular dollar amount. Often, you will be required to agree to work for them for a particular length of time or have to reimburse them for any tuition paid on your behalf. Others won’t pay anything while you are attending school, but will offer tuition reimbursement upon completion of your Nursing degree.

Another advantage of working as a Nursing Assistant prior to obtaining your degree in Nursing is you will have an edge over other recent graduates. You will have work experience to offer in combination with your degree while many others will only have their degree.

Employers like to maintain their quality employees. If you are able to show outstanding work ethic as a Nursing Assistance, it is very likely they will offer you a position as a Nurse upon your completion of your degree. This often depends on the job openings at the medical facility you work for.

Your certificate and work experience as a Nurse Assistant can help make career opportunities appear. It may peak your interest in returning to school to work on your Nursing degree for a variety of reasons. It can help you be accepted to a Nursing program, as well as help you secure employment after completing your Nursing degree.

There are numerous CNA training centers but the American Red Cross CNA class is considered one of the best and most preferred.  High quality study materials along with highly competent and professional instructors have helped it achieve this position. However as is the norm quality has a price and the Red Cross CNA classes are not free. But there are some institutions which offer free CNA training and you can also access these.

CNA training which are run by the American Red Cross are available in 36 cities as on September 2009 and every year a few more cities are being added. If you have decided to make a career in health care then enrolling in one of the CNA training classes will go a long way in fulfilling your dream for becoming a certified nursing assistant. CNA is also the stepping stone to becoming a fully trained Registered Nurse (RN).

The American Red Cross CNA class program is designed to cater to the standards set by the Federal health authorities. Since healthcare rules pertaining to minimum requirements for licensing like number of hours put in training, standards of practice and other details vary from state to state the training schedule is designed in such a fashion to take care of all these factors.

The duration of the training course can differ from state to state. It is 164 hours course in some states whereas it is 114 hours in some states. The costs of the program can also differ from state to state. It could vary from $1750 to $1400.

He worked on the medical/surgical floor of Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital in Elko for a year and went on to get his bachelor’s degree. Then the opportunity came to work in case management, coordinating care for patients. He did that for five years before taking a new position as the hospital’s infection-prevention specialist a few months ago.

Now Bassett, who is 50, runs a one-man department writing infectious disease prevention policy for the hospital in a job that allows him to be “an instrument for change and an advocate for patients,” he said.

“That’s the advantage of nursing, there’s so many opportunities,” he said. “You can work in schools, for an insurance company, for a hospital … there are a lot of directions to go and in different areas.”

Judith Alewel had been away from nursing for about a decade to raise her three children when she decided to step back into the profession. She enrolled in the nurse-refresher program at the College of Southern Nevada and spent two semesters as a full-time student taking online courses, doing hands-on clinical work and finally a preceptorship at a local hospital.

Nevada requires all nurses who have been away from the field for at least five years to complete a refresher program.

For more read here – Nursing Offers Many Options

Job Details: 1-2 years experience is required
The Nursing Assistant will work under the direct supervision and guidance of an assigned Registered Nurse, will assist with the routine nursing care of patients utilizing the advanced skills required to reach this level of expertise. The emphasis of the Nursing Assistant will be on patient care.

Qualifications
-High school graduate or equivalent.
-Fluency in the English language, including ability to read and write in English
-C. P. R. Certification
-Successful completion of Certified Nursing course or completion of Fundamentals in Patient Care (basic patient care, vital signs, etc. ) course or equivalent.
-One year of recent experience as a CNA or be a nursing student who has completed a Med/Surg nursing rotation.

CLICK TO APPLY FOR THIS JOB or Find more CNA Jobs

This event is designed to introduce potential new employees to employers, and also provides health care businesses an opportunity to present their trade and services to the local community. This event is free and open to all community members.

Employers and universities represented include:

• Catholic Health System, Buffalo, NY
• Daemen College, Amherst, NY
• Eastern Niagara Health System, Lockport, NY
• Erie County Medical Center Corp, Buffalo, NY
• HomeCare & Hospice, Warsaw, NY
• Jewish Home of Rochester, Rochester, NY
• Kaleida Health – Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Williamsville, NY
• Lakeside Health System, Brockport, NY
• Lifetime Care, Rochester, NY
• Med-Scribe, Inc., Fairport, NY
• Monroe Community Hospital, Rochester, NY
• NYS Veterans Home at Batavia, Batavia, NY
• PSA Health Care, Williamsville, NY
• Roberts Wesleyan College, School of Nursing, Rochester, NY
• Rochester General Health System, Rochester, NY
• SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY
• The College at Brockport (SUNY) – Army ROTC Nursing Program, Brockport, NY
• Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY
• Unity Health System, Rochester, NY

(Employers wishing to participate in the job fair please contact Sharon Burns in the Career Services Center at 585-343-0055 x6888.)

Participants are encouraged to dress prepared for an interview and to bring their resume. Students will have the opportunity to explore real jobs, promote themselves and get their ‘foot in the door’ at several local health centered organizations. For the full, updated list of attendees, please visit www.genesee.edu/career/events.

“In an economy where jobs are sparse, the field of health care is booming,” John McGowan, Career Services Coordinator at GCC said. “According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ten of the 20 fastest growing occupations are healthcare related, and wage and salary employment in the healthcare industry is projected to increase 22 percent. It’s an excellent time to be enrolled in a healthcare educational program and jobs are available.”

The event is open to the public, and will be held at the Batavia Campus of Genesee Community College in the Forum from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2011. Parking and attendance are free. For directions and additional details, please contact John McGowan at 585-343-0055 ext. 6383.

Though many would like to get in, few make it past perusing the classifieds, discouraged by educational and experiential requirements. Though it’s true that becoming a doctor, nurse or specialized technician demands an advanced degree, there are some positions in healthcare that can be had without a four-year college commitment and not a lot of prior experience.

But before you toss those thick course catalogs, know that many of these positions do require certification and/or a two-year associate’s degree. The good news is that much of the schooling can be done on a flexible schedule or even online – perhaps while you’re holding down the job.

Phlebotomy Technician (PBT): median annual salary $28,939

If you’ve got a high school education, an interest in science, and some health care experience, the American Society for Clinical Pathology wants to help you land a job as a phlebotomy technician, collecting and analyzing blood samples from patients. Gelasia Croom of the ASCP says these workers are in high demand due to lack of awareness about the job and retiring baby boomers.

Health Insurance Agent: median annual salary $38,205

Health insurance agents provide easy-to-understand information and access to expert advice so consumers can make smart decisions about insuring their health. Yet, Fred Adams of HSA America notes that most insurance agents don’t need an advanced degree. They must hold a license in the state they plan to do business, but that can be obtained in about two weeks, no previous experience required.

Medical Records Clerk: median annual salary $25,189

If you’re a stickler for accuracy and have great organizational skills, a career as a medical records clerk may work for you. One of the few positions that doesn’t require any patient interactions, workers assemble patients’ health information including medical history, symptoms, exam and diagnostic test results and manage the data for quality, accuracy, and security. Most applicants hold an associate’s degree along with a good command of computer software programs.

Physical Therapy Assistant: median annual salary $43,655

Thanks to aging Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers, demand for professional physical therapy assistants is on the rise. If you have a high school diploma and good people skills, earning certification can take as little as six months. Then you can work with physical therapists to help patients exercise, learn to use crutches, and provide therapies such as traction, ultrasound, massage, and balance training.

Medical Transcriptionist: median annual salary $25,559

How fast can you type? Fingers fly when medical transcriptionists listen to dictated recordings made by doctors and other healthcare professionals and transcribe them into medical reports, correspondence, and other administrative material. Though more than half work at hospitals or physicians’ offices, many medical transcriptionists telecommute from home-based offices. Slackers need not apply – accuracy is a top priority to prevent errors in patients’ records.

Dispensing Optician’s Apprentice: median annual salary $23,600

Want to help people see better and look great? With a high school diploma, you could snag a position at an optometrist’s office and receive technical instruction on the job along with learning the finer points of office management and sales. Apprentices work directly with patients, fitting them for eyeglasses or contact lenses, while being supervised by an experienced optician.

Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with 5-8 years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing.

1. Nurse stress management is a must. Learn techniques that work well for you and use them routinely.

2. Managing your time efficiently and effectively is vital. Become organized, stay on top of things, and do not procrastinate!

3. Replenish yourself. Make time for yourself and do it often! Nursing is a demanding/giving profession. If you have given all you have to give, then you have nothing left for yourself, and you can’t continue to give – you’ll have nurse burnout.

4. Nursing is a lifelong learning process. Use your continuing education opportunities to stay up to date with your selected field and to learn and hone new skills. Secondly, make sure to learn something about other fields of nursing whenever you can. Know your options and keep them open.

5. Nurses are overachievers. Strive for excellence and set the bar high. Do not settle for mediocrity. Encourage others to do the same.

6. Be a nurse mentor. Help those around you to strive for and achieve excellence as well. Always being a nurse mentor throughout your career is the key to providing excellent quality care with the best possible outcomes.

7. Be a sponge. Learn from others. Pick up on their tips and tricks and then share them with others.

8. Always be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. Get involved in strategic planning for your workplace and help to make it a better place.

9. Be a good TEAM player. Be a nurse leader when you need to be and a nurse supporter always. There is no “I” in TEAM. Be good role model to others who “just don’t get it,” and help them to become team players too.

10. Learn your limitations and how and when to say “No.” Respect yourself and always set a good example for others. It’s simply not possible to say “yes” every time and not get burned out!

Nursing is one of the most rewarding careers you can find, but it is also physically and emotionally demanding and draining. Take time for yourself so that you have something more to give when it is needed. And when you find yourself stressed and burning out, remind yourself why you became a nurse.

Nurses, do you have any tips to add? Please leave a comment below!

About the Author: Kathy Quan, RN, BSN, PHN is an accomplished writer and author of four books including: The Everything New Nurse Book and 150 Tips and Tricks for New Nurses. Kathy has been in the nursing profession for over thirty years, and is very passionate about patient education and mentoring new nurses.

Source: NurseTogether.com

What I do: I instruct individuals from 17 thru 68 years of age on how to become a certified nursing assistant.

How I got into this: “I came to Georgia in 2003 from New York City and… I started looking for a job in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I found an ad that was looking for a licensed practical nurse to teach certified nursing assistants. I could not work as a registered nurse, but I was an LPN for 7 years, working in long-term care facilities before I became an RN.

“I was also a nursing assistant for five years… and as a result of my background, I felt qualified for the job in the paper. I was hired at Covenant C.N.A. School… [and] I fell in love with teaching CNAs and continued to teach, as well as work in health care facilities as a registered nurse.”

Best part of the job: “As an instructor, you have the ability to transform lives. People come into your classroom with the expectation of receiving knowledge from you, knowledge which they do not have at the time, but with determination, hard work and team effort, you can make a difference.”

Most challenging part: “There is a difference in age groups and ethnicity in the four-week classes at Covenant C.N.A. School. The ethnicity difference has never been an issue, because we learn from each other. However, the age difference is sometimes challenging… The challenge is to sometimes slow down the younger individuals physically but speed up their minds academically, and vice versa for my more-mature individuals.”

What people don’t know about my job: “My job is not just a job to help pay my bills, but it is a mission. I have always planned to go overseas to do missionary work as a nurse, however, after teaching at Covenant C.N.A. School, I have come to realize that I do not need to leave our country to help those that are less fortunate than myself. Right here in America, there are so many people who need help.

“I can watch someone who is homeless, but has a desire to change their life, go from living in the street to obtaining employment in four weeks. I can allow my life experience as a single parent on public assistance — who was one step from being homeless — guide and empower others who start the program to successfully finish.”

What keeps me going: “I have a career that keeps me awake every night thinking about how I can make a difference in someone else’s life when the sun comes up. What I do in the classroom allows me to see the product of my hard work and dedication at the end of every four-week program, when a new set of students graduate and successfully become [CNAs.]”

Preparation needed: “A program coordinator must be a registered nurse with at least one year of long-term care experience. You have to create a lesson plan and submit it to the Georgia Medical Care Foundation for approval. Once your program has been approved, you have to maintain standards each year on your annual evaluation by the state.”

Salary: “Program coordinators who are in management or own their own business can earn as much as $52,000 and higher, depending on the cost of the CNA program.”

Got a Health Care Job that you love? Please send e-mail with your experience to cnajobsamerica [.at.] gmail.com

 Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution