4 Tips to Succeed as a Certified Nursing Assistant

The healthcare community relies on many different dedicated professionals to care for patients in a professional, compassionate manner. To ensure this is done successfully, an important role is provided by certified nursing assistants (CNAs). 

A CNA is responsible for various different tasks, with it all amounting to supplying quality care for patients. Under the supervision of a nurse, CNAs can help with everything from a patient’s personal hygiene to updating patient records. 

If you aspire to be a CNA, there are several steps you need to take to be successful in this role. Below are four tips to keep in mind. 

1. Get certified 

There’s no walking into a CNA role. As the name implies, you first require certification before you can work as a certified nursing assistant. 

To do this, you will first need to complete a CNA course. The CNA courses from Aceso Institute of Health Professions supply you with the knowledge and skills needed to work in this field. Once the course is completed, you are then eligible to sit the state certification exam. 

Once you have been successful in gaining your certification, you can begin searching for a CNA position. 

2. Picking the right role

As you might expect, there are significant discrepancies in terms of pay for a CNA role. This is determined by two main factors: location and the facility you work in. 

Understandably, certain states and cities are going to offer a higher wage than others. Say nothing is holding you back from traveling across the country. For example, if you lived in Mississippi, there’s a chance of almost doubling your wage by working in California based on average salary statistics. 

More realistic is picking the facility. As an example, working in a hospital will generally earn you more than in a long-term care center. Yet this can also bring a more demanding and stressful work environment, so ensure you pick the right role for your needs. 

3. Develop your skills 

To be a CNA, there are certain abilities you require – including strong communication and time-management skills. However, even if you already possess these skills to a certain degree, there’s still plenty of room for development. 

This can be achieved from a practical point of view as tasks are completed. Also, consider asking your peers questions. There’s no harm in going this route, and it can be a valuable experience where you learn how to work in a more efficient, productive way.

4. Continue your education 

If you have a passion for healthcare and want to progress in your career, it’s important you continue to stay educated. This will ensure you remain up-to-date about all of the latest or modified healthcare procedures. 

You could do this by enrolling at a local university on a part-time basis. However, if you don’t have enough spare time to do this, you might consider attending a seminar or conference as a refresher for your healthcare knowledge.

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