If you want to step into and develop a career in the healthcare world, one way to do so is by becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Indeed, if you desire to make an impact in society, this might be the right career for you. You can choose to focus on it or use it as a route to other areas you like within the field of medicine.
A CNA provides a wide array of services and can work in different environments. To help you understand what it takes, this article explores all you need to know as a potential candidate.
Read on to learn more about a certified nursing assistant and why you might be interested in becoming one. Enjoy reading!
Who Is A Certified Nursing Assistant?
A certified nursing assistant provides healthcare services to patients to help them go about daily living with less pain and struggles attributable to sicknesses. Their places of work include hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities that provide healthcare services to patients. In most cases, they work under other medical officers, such as registered nurses. While their duties are many, CNAs often help patients do the following:
- Get dressed
- Eat and ensure safety
- Bathe and care for personal hygiene
- Measure vital signs
- Move safely from one place to another
Due to the nature of their work, CNAs are, arguably, the primary caregivers to patients. While their work can sometimes be emotional, depending on the nature of the patients they are attending to, the job is also rewarding in many ways.
You can, therefore, take it up as a job and do it comfortably. All you need is to be, at least, 18 years of age although you can even start at 16 or 17 years in some states. Further, the minimum education is a certificate examination and a few necessary tests to get licensed. With that, you’ll be good to start practicing.
Depending on where you live or would like to practice, you might have to get recertified often to remain a CNA. Thankfully, there are many ways you can use to prepare, so you pass your tests.
One method is to register and do a certified nursing assistant practice test to get a picture of what your actual tests will involve. Most importantly, practice tests will help you deal with anxiety and improve your learning. You can find a free CNA practice test online to hone your knowledge before taking the actual one.
Why Choose To Become A Certified Nursing Assistant?
Interested in becoming a CNA? Here are the reasons that might help you make a decision and consider pursuing a career path in this niche:
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It Takes Just A Few Months To Become A CNA
Unlike other careers in the medical field that often take years, becoming a CNA can take just three months. To get your certification, you will be required to attend classes for between 4 to 12 weeks, including some hours of experience. You can choose to acquire more skills later, but all you need to become a CNA is the ability to perform all basic activities well.
The most valuable clinical skills you need include the ability to deliver personal care, control infections, and take vital signs. All these and others, plus the knowledge of patient rights, will make you eligible to work as a CNA.
Note, however, that these requirements can vary from one state to another, but the fact remains that it takes a relatively short time to become a CNA compared to other careers in the healthcare or medical field.
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The Cost of Training and Getting Started Is Affordable
Unlike other careers that require you to undergo expensive training, becoming a CNA is affordable. The average cost is about $1,300 with a few additional costs that you can manage. All you need is not a degree, but just certification. Apart from training and certification, you will also incur registration costs. With these, you are ready to start practicing.
If you cannot raise the fees you need for training, there are financial options you can use to facilitate your training. For instance, funded aid programs are available to help people looking to train as CNAs. You can, therefore, use such avenues to mitigate the training costs, so you complete your training and start working without incurring debts.
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Demand for CNA Skills Is Growing Every Year
The demand for CNA services has been on an upward trend, and the growth will increase over the coming years by, at least, 9% according to the US labor statistics. Moreover, the demand for CNA services is higher than that for almost all other careers. Such is the case in other parts of the world, and there are no signs of negative change anytime soon.
The market trends for CNA services imply that once you become one, you are almost sure of a job. No matter where you live or would like to practice, you will get a position shortly after completing your training and getting the necessary certification. So, if job security is one of your considerations, then being a CNA is one of the best options.
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Great Salary and Employment Growth Options
Labor statistics indicate that CNAs earn good salaries right from entry to senior levels although there might be slight variations for various reasons. Career growth in the field is also one of the smoothest compared to others.
Further, CNAs work with different patients whose conditions change. Such encounters daily mean that what you face daily will be different, so issues of boredom or monotony will never affect you.
Whether you work in your state or city, each day as a CNA will be a new day with unique experiences. Ask anyone in any other profession that is not in the medical field, and you will learn that boredom is a major issue. As a CNA, you will not have such a case. You will enjoy your work provided you have the passion for serving people.
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It Is Easy To Transition Into Other Jobs
You can use a CNA position as a stepping stone to other careers in the medical field. With daily interaction with doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, it is easy for you to transition to other career paths within the niche. You can choose a nurse or a doctor to mentor you and facilitate your transition to another career within the field. For instance, you can become a registered nurse, a nursing home administrator, a nurse educator, geriatric care manager or licensed practical nurse, among others.
Even if you opt to be a CNA for the rest of your life, the skills you gain will be helpful in your life in many ways. You will learn how to stay healthy and treat various illnesses. With such knowledge, you can help your family members, friends, and many other people struggling to live healthy lives.
Conclusion
Working as a CNA is one way to join the healthcare industry. It is a beginner-friendly course you can use as your stepping stone to something else. You can also do it full-time for the rest of your life as it is still a rewarding profession worth trying. Further, unlike other jobs, you do not need a degree to become a CNA. You only need training and certification to start working.
This article has explained what a CNA is and why it might be a good option for you to choose if you want to serve in community healthcare or the medical field. Register with a reputable school, undergo your training, do practice tests, and identify the best place that will give you a chance to offer you services and enjoy a rewarding career as a CNA. All the best!
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).