4CNAs The Online Magazine
for Certified Nursing Assistants
The world may think you are only one person--But to one person, you may be their world.
Author Unknown.
 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
Main Site
CNA Information
Patient Care Technician
Home Health Aide
CNA classes and Salary Information
You can work in the medical field without becoming a nurse or doctor or entering into another career that requires a lot of education. If you are simply looking for an entry-level healthcare career, consider working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA).
CNA Classes
Before you can work as a CNA, it will be necessary to enroll in CNA classes. The classes will provide you with the knowledge and training you need to work effectively as a nursing assistant. You will need to sit for the state’s exam for certification upon completion of your training classes.
In order to be eligible to receive certification, you will need to attend training classes that have been approved in your state. CNA Classes often last for just a few weeks. Some classes are as short as four weeks in length. You cna search for cna classes at community colleges, technical schools, nursing schools and at nursing care facilities.
Your CNA course will provide you with both classroom and clinical training. The course will provide you with information on basic medical procedures. You will learn how to protect the dignity and privacy of a patient.
During your CNA training, you will learn to perform the duties of a nursing assistant safety and effectively. You will learn how to assistant patients with activities of daily living, record vital signs and prevent bed sores (just to name a few).
CNA Salary Information
The salary you earn as a CNA will vary depending on various factors. The state where you are employed will have an impact on your earnings. Some states pay higher wages for certified nursing assistants than others. The healthcare setting in which you can affect your salary depending on the current needs in your area.
You will earn a higher salary with more experience. If you have some area of specialization, you will also be able to earn a higher income. Most nursing assistants earn between $11 and $15 per hour. Of course, there are some nursing assistants who earn a higher wage and others who earn a lower rate of pay. Most nursing assistants will earn at least $22,000 per year for full-time work with some earning as high as $32,000 per year. Overall, you will earn a decent salary considering the fact that you will only need to spend a few weeks and a few hundred dollars on your training.
If you live in a state offering more than one level of certification for nursing assistant, you can earn a higher income by training for one of the other levels. If you ever feel as if your income is too low, you might want to consider advancing your career in the healthcare industry.
Part of your CNA salary will come in the form of a benefits package if you work for a facility offering benefits or if you work enough hours to receive such benefits. You might very well be able to receive health insurance coverage at no cost to you. Your employer might make it possible for you to access affordable healthcare coverage for your family.
Your benefits package as a CNA is likely to offer you some time for vacation and some time off for sick days. Many companies now refer to time off as paid time off rather than specifying if they are sick or vacation days. You can take time off as you need it as long as you do not use more time off than is available to you.
When working as a CNA, you might very well receive retirement benefits and even some life insurance coverage. Your benefits increase the value of your salary when working as a certified nursing assistant.
This is a guest post by Catherine Bynes. Catherine is a career/ educational blogger who passionately writes about how to become a CNA and how rewarding this career is for those who are interested in working in the medical field.
