What is a CNA? The title varies by state, but CNA commonly stands for Certified Nursing Assistant or Certified Nurse Aide. Some states use STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant) instead of CNA, but they are the same job. CNAs work under the direct supervision of LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses) or RNs (Registered Nurses) and assist patients or residents with daily living and healthcare activities.
What responsibilities does a CNA have? CNAs work with patients or residents, usually in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, helping with daily tasks such as grooming and personal hygiene, bedmaking, measuring vital signs, repositioning and ambulating, and end-of-life care and assisting the supervising nurse.
Where can CNAs work? Nursing facilities, urgent-care centers, hospitals, doctors’ offices—there are many options for employment once you are certified. Becoming a CNA can also be a great first step into the world of healthcare, from which you can complete home healthcare training or go on to become an LPN or RN. Your CNA status can also be transferred to different states from which you did not receive your initial certification.
What is the average salary for CNAs? The median annual wage was $29,660 according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They project the employment rate of CNAs will grow 8% from 2019 to 2029,[1] making it a secure job field.
How do you become a CNA? Each state holds its own requirements for certification. Most require that you complete an approved CNA program that includes both classroom and clinical instruction and pass a written and skills test. However, for state-specific requirements, the following websites are great places to start because they have general overviews for each state and provide links to each state’s relevant government website and/or testing website:
https://www.nursinglicensure.org/cna/nursing-assistant/
https://www.registerednursing.org/certified-nursing-assistant/certification/
Why does August Learning Solutions care about CNAs? We care about CNAs because they are an underappreciated but vital link to the compassionate care of loved ones. We provide affordable resources to help train these frontline workers by listening to the needs of instructors of future CNAs.
[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Nursing Assistants and Orderlies, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursing-assistants.htm (visited March 17, 2021).