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Key Takeaways
- To become a CNA, you’ll need to earn a high school diploma or GED® and complete state-approved training before obtaining licensure.
- Nursing assistants need strong communication skills, along with physical stamina, patience and empathy.
- The median annual wage for certified nursing assistants is $38,200.
- Most CNAs work in hospitals and nursing facilities.
As a certified nursing assistant (CNA), you can enjoy a hands-on healthcare career that doesn’t require a nursing degree. This role often appeals to current and future nursing students who want to gain professional experience.
If you’re wondering how to become a CNA, which skills nursing assistants need and what career prospects look like for CNAs, we’ve got you covered.
A nursing assistant’s job requires hard work, compassion, patience and grit. Keep reading to learn more about this career and find out the steps to get started as a CNA.
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What Do Nursing Assistants Do?
Certified nursing assistants are also known as nursing aides, patient care assistants and state-tested nursing assistants, among other titles. These professionals provide care and support for patients under the supervision of licensed healthcare providers.
Role and Responsibilities
Nursing assistants take on basic patient care tasks so licensed nurses can focus on higher-level nursing functions. CNAs fill a complex and vital role in the healthcare system.
Much of a CNA’s routine revolves around helping patients with daily living activities like eating, bathing, dressing, exercising and using the toilet. Nursing assistants also track and report health changes and provide companionship and emotional support to patients.
Other responsibilities for nursing assistants may include repositioning bedridden patients, dispensing medication and collecting specimens. They often clean rooms and change bed linens. Communication with patients, families and medical staff is another key part of CNAs’ duties.
Work Environment
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about one-third of the country’s more than 1.4 million nursing assistants work in nursing care facilities. Hospitals employ about another one-third of these professionals. Eldercare facilities are the next-largest employer, followed by home healthcare services and government agencies.
CNAs form an important part of integrated healthcare teams, working alongside doctors, nurses, orderlies and physical therapists. Nursing assistants are needed around the clock and throughout the year. Many CNAs work outside of typical business hours, including nights, weekends and holidays, and some nursing assistants work part time.
Nursing assistants fulfill a strenuous and sometimes hazardous role. The BLS notes that these professionals have one of the nation’s highest rates of work-related illnesses and injuries. Along with physically demanding tasks like lifting and moving patients, CNAs may face biological, chemical and psychosocial risks.
CNAs may come into contact with biohazards like bodily fluids, as well as dangerous drugs and chemicals. They may also experience physical and verbal aggression from patients, along with high stress and overwork.
Required Skills for CNAs
A CNA should possess all of the following skills.
Communication
Nursing assistants provide an important line of communication between patients and healthcare personnel. They need strong listening skills, good verbal recall and the ability to convey medical information in layperson’s terms and vice versa.
Empathy
CNAs regularly care for people who are struggling or suffering due to illness or injury. A compassionate attitude can help nursing assistants provide meaningful care.
Patience
A nursing assistant’s job can sometimes be stressful, repetitive and tedious. These professionals need a patient outlook to stay calm and focused.
Physical Fitness
Nursing assistants need strength, dexterity and stamina for daily tasks like lifting and moving patients. According to the BLS, CNAs spend more than 80% of the workday on their feet.
How to Become a CNA
Follow the below steps to kickstart your CNA career.
Earn an Education
Before completing job training, nursing assistants need a high school diploma or GED certificate. Aspiring CNAs can find state-approved training programs through providers like high schools, community colleges and nursing homes.
Training programs help prepare CNAs to practice safely and effectively. These programs’ curriculums cover emergency procedures and basic nursing practices, teaching students to feed, bathe, groom and position patients.
CNA training programs emphasize dignity and self-determination for patients. Learners study aging-related topics, including cognitive impairment and end-of-life care.
Federal law stipulates a minimum of 75 instruction hours for CNAs, including at least 16 hours of clinical training. However, some states require up to 175 training hours and up to 100 clinical hours.
Obtain Nursing Assistant Licensure or Certification
Rules for how to become a CNA vary by state, and not all states use the CNA title. Other official designations include state-tested nursing assistant and patient care assistant.
To obtain your CNA license, you’ll need to pass a certification test after completing a state-approved training program. Many states use the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program exam, and others administer their own exams. Tests may include written, oral and clinical sections.
Check with your local state board of nursing to learn more about how to become a CNA in your state.
Consider Additional Certifications
In some states, CNAs can also become certified medication aides or certified medication assistants (MA-Cs). This credential allows nursing assistants to dispense certain medications, potentially creating more job opportunities.
Each state sets its own requirements for MA-C certification. In many cases, candidates must be qualified CNAs with a minimum amount of relevant work experience. Other common requirements include a training course, clinical practice hours, an exam and continuing education.
Nursing Assistant Salary and Job Outlook
Let’s be frank: Being a CNA is not a high-paying job. According to the BLS, nursing assistants earn a median annual salary of $38,200. This falls below the national median of $48,060 for all occupations.
For individuals who care deeply about the profession or who plan to use their CNA experience to kick off a registered nursing career, a CNA job can provide steady, satisfying work. The BLS projects a job growth of 4% (about average) for nursing assistants from 2022 to 2032.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About How To Become a CNA
Is becoming a CNA hard?
Although training can be challenging, becoming a CNA requires less preparation than many healthcare professions. For example, nursing assistant training programs may provide as little as 75 hours of training, while registered nursing programs take two to four years to complete.
Is being a CNA worth it?
Being a CNA can mean long hours, hard work and a relatively high risk of injury. Still, for many nursing assistants, the fulfillment that comes from improving their patients’ lives can make the job worth it. This role can also help prepare you for a career as a registered nurse.
Who pays CNAs the highest?
According to the BLS, nursing assistants who work in dental offices make an average of $57,450 a year, and those employed at junior colleges earn an annual salary of $54,820. However, these industries hire comparatively few CNAs. Among sectors with high rates of CNA employment, federal, local and state governments pay the most: an average of $48,580 a year.
