A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) job is one of the most gratifying and rewarding of all the positions in the medical field. CNA positions are available in many types of facilities. Usually, the CNA develops a closer relationship with the patient than the nurses and the physicians. They also become an important conduit to the loved ones of the patient. Families need someone they can trust for a true report of the patient’s condition. For that, they turn to the Certified Nursing Assistant.Â
CNAs have reported these 5 and many more benefits to this position.
1. Job Security
There is a high demand for CNAs in the healthcare field. The US population over 65 has grown 5% since 1980, raising the percentage of the elderly to 16% of the population. This is because of the:
- Baby Boomer generation aging into the senior population
- Â Life expectancy increases
- Seniors become healthier with exercise and better eating habits
- Other seniors have chronic diseases that need long-term care
2. Affordability of Certification
Nursing assistant certification requires fewer hours of training than an RN or LPN.
The required hours vary by state and are available at many colleges, technical schools, and even online. Once you have completed your training, the state requires you to pass a state certification exam.
3. Flexibility
Certified Nursing Assistants are in high demand as the geriatric population grows. There are nursing assistant jobs available in:
- Â hospitals,
- long-term care facilities
- assisted living facilities
- home health care companies,
- directly through families
Consider your personality to determine which type of organization you want to work for. If you prefer the more clinical side of the position, you might choose a hospital or long-term care facility. Try a home health care position or a position directly with a family if the personal bond with the patient is the part that you are looking forward to.
 4. Enriching and Rewarding Work Experience
Usually, the CNA has the closest relationship with the patient. The CNA will assist the patient with eating, cleaning, changing clothes, and perhaps mobility. Other patients will want you around for companionship. There are times when this job can be physically demanding and other times when it is mentally taxing. Alzheimer’s and dementia can adversely affect the patient’s personality and you will need to work through this difficulty. Patience and understanding are requirements. You may also be the contact person for the patient’s loved ones, especially if they are not local. Show kindness in dealing with them also.
 5. Ability to Make a Difference
CNA jobs offer an opportunity to be on the front line providing essential services. CNAs provide services that patients can no longer do themselves. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, CNAs were the only people many elderly people confined at home alone saw. They would pick up the patient’s medications, get groceries, cook, clean, and do whatever else needed doing. Many patients will tell the nursing assistant things they have not told their doctors or nurses, so the CNA becomes a go-to person for the health care team also.
Certified Nursing Assistants are a vital part of the healthcare system. They serve as a conduit from the patient to the families and the health care providers. Although the largest market is in elderly care, there are CNA positions available in other types of facilities like pediatric care. Nursing assistants provide companionship and care to their clients. It is a perfect role for anyone who has patience, compassion, and a desire to help others. At Cynamed CNA, we can help you find the position you are looking for. Find out more about CynaMed‘s job postings by calling us at 412-325-3420.
