A certified nursing assistant or nurse aide (CNA), assists patients of all ages with daily activities, maintains patient hygiene and serves a vital role on the healthcare team. They work under a licensed nurse’s supervision, and because they closely care for patients throughout each day, they play a key role in their lives as well as keep the nurse up to date on vital information about the patients’ conditions. So, where can nursing assistants fulfill these types of duties in the healthcare field? Check out six different job opportunities below.
Where can a certified nurse assistant (CNA) work?
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Long-term care facilities – This is usually where a CNA will start their career. There is a high demand for these facilities and it’s usually a great starting point for CNAs to gain experience.
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Home healthcare agencies – The patient ratio is less than a long-term facility, so it’s not as stressful. It’s one of the more popular jobs out there for CNAs, however, it may take some time before a patient is allocated to you, which means you may want to work in other facilities while you wait.
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Assisted living facilities – Many CNAs work here to help people with their daily routines. This is not overly time consuming or acute, because most of your patients will still be reasonably independent. It is a rewarding job to get into and there are numerous listings for vacancies.
Hospitals – The competition is fierce for CNAs in hospitals because of the choice of hours and benefits. A good way to get your foot in the door is to volunteer at a hospital first. You’ll also gain a lot of knowledge from some of the best trained nurses in the field.- Hospice – Hospice CNAs not only provide palliative care for their patients, but also offer emotional support to their family members. They can sometimes work in facilities or go to patients’ homes. This can be a tough job for when the patient passes away, but it can be rewarding knowing you provided comforting care during their time in hospice.
- Correctional institutions – This job is similar to working in a long-term facility. CNAs still work under the supervision of a certified nurse and provide help with self-care tasks, such as feeding and dressing, taking vital signs and documenting the inmate’s history as their primary caregiver.
Pima Medical’s Nursing Assistant program is approximately six weeks long, which can get you working in the healthcare field quickly. To learn more about the program, visit the program online.
(Updated from February 2021)
