What Does it Take to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant: An Ultimate Guide

A career as a nursing assistant can be ideal for you if you take pride in assisting others and are passionate about the medical field. Before deciding whether to become a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, it’s a terrific method to determine if the healthcare business is the appropriate fit for you.

Hospitals and other healthcare organizations are constantly looking for new and ambitious people due to the high turnover rate as nursing assistants transition to become nurses.

How to become a certified nursing assistant or CNA?

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are different from other nursing professionals because a college degree is not required. However, you must complete training to earn a postsecondary certificate or diploma that is not a degree.

Although some nursing enthusiasts have the experience and knowledge, they lack documentation and are not able to enter the workplace, which allows them to use a fake CNA certificate maker to be able to obtain the job.

However, to advance your career and educational background, everyone is encouraged to enroll in a state-approved training program, pass a state certification exam, and then receive their CNA credentials from the state. Here is the step-by-step guide for future CNAs to grow as a professional and find new opportunities.

Which are the educational requirements? 

You can become a nursing assistant relatively quickly because a college degree is not necessary for the position. You must first earn your high school diploma or GED if you haven’t previously.

While it may seem challenging, you’ve got to earn a GED if you want to become a certified nurse. For this, you can trigger your motivators and work hard to achieve your goals. You can buy a fake GED from any online store and aim to replace it with a real one. It will give you the required push and help you become a certified nurse.

The next step is to finish your nursing assistant training. These programs are typically accessible through hospitals or community colleges; the only prerequisite is a high school diploma or GED. Although they differ from state to state, the program may include age restrictions.

Although some states permit students to enroll in programs as young as 16, most require prospective nursing assistants to be 18 years old. In addition to learning the clinical abilities you will need to succeed in the position, you will receive at least 75 hours of classroom instruction while pursuing your nursing assistant training.

A nursing assistant student can finish the course in as little as four weeks without experience or prior training, while other states could demand a 16-week training program. Find out what training facilities and organizations are accessible by contacting your state’s health department or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

What professional Certifications are needed? 

Applicants must complete the state-issued competency exam to become CNA certified. The exam includes a multiple-choice portion, and you often must demonstrate your abilities in clinical situations.

You must generally complete 48 hours of continuing education every two years to keep your license, though your state board may provide you with the most recent requirements. Nursing education programs are evaluated and tracked by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) at all levels.

To be well prepared for any type of certification exam, numerous platforms offer free educational guides and materials for test-takers, such as Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI). For instance, you will be able to find a free HESI study guide by Career Employer, which will help you become well-prepared for the exams, providing you with an idea of the exam format.

The U.S. Department of Education oversees the accrediting process and keeps a database of certified institutions, even though the federal government does not directly participate at the accreditation level; learn more about CNA training.

Where to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant? 

Once your resume is prepared, look for open nursing assistant opportunities in your neighborhood. Use your freshly updated resume to apply, along with a cover letter that highlights your qualifications for the position.

Many businesses are available to nursing assistants, including long-term care institutions, hospices, hospitals, and clinics. A more specialized profession, like pediatrics in a hospital setting, is another option.

What Are the Roles & Duties of Certified Nursing Assistants?

Working under the direction of registered nursing professionals are certified nursing assistants. Patients who are frail, ill, injured, disabled, or otherwise unable to care for themselves are taken care of by them.

CNAs are frequently the healthcare providers that patients interact with. A CNA carries out several fundamental tasks that are crucial for the patient’s comfort and rehabilitation. Depending on the workplace, these tasks change.

The average salary of a nursing assistant

The pay for nursing assistants can vary depending on where they live or what sector of the economy they work in. For instance, nurses who work for home healthcare companies or senior living communities make less money each year than nursing assistants who work for government agencies or hospitals.

With a range of $7.25 to $27.75 per hour, the average nursing assistant’s salary in the country is $13.71 per hour. The field of nursing is in demand. CNA employment is anticipated to increase by 9% between 2018 and 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.

As current nursing assistants pursue more schooling to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses, the demand for nursing assistants will remain high (RNs). Additionally, nursing assistants will be required in long-term care institutions as the baby-boom population matures.

You might think about switching to a sector that pays better. Government entities or hospitals spend more annually than hospice or long-term care institutions. Additionally, you can continue your study to become an LPN eventually.