The hands-on and personable care found in certified nursing assistant work is one of the number one reasons why so many people have chosen the field. Certified nursing assistant careers are not easy by any means. To begin with, a CNA must be capable of walking, standing, and lifting for long hours. Most shifts are eight to twelve hours long and typically done on rotation of both day and night. Very few facilities offer set scheduling for only day or night shifts. Rotation schedules seem to work best because CNAs are less likely to get burned out and tired of the same routine. Most certified nursing assistant jobs offer good benefits including paid holidays and time off when needed. Some facilities also offer higher pay depending on a certified nursing assistant’s experience and background.
The certified nursing assistant employment requirements vary depending on the type of facility. For instance, a CNA in a hospital is required to perform more procedural and clinical tasks then one working at a nursing home where most of the medical care is done by a registered nurse or doctor. A certified nursing assistant salary also varies depending on the type of a facility. Homecare and hospice CNAs get paid more because part of the job requires travel to and from a patient’s location. Hospice care pays exceptionally well because very few medical providers can handle dealing with the frail condition of most patients. Terminal patients need extra emotional and physical support which can only be accomplished by a small fraction of medical personnel. Many times the emotional aspect of the field takes a greater toll then the physical.
Registered nurses and nursing assistants handle around 90% of the medical care of patients. Doctors have very little contact with patients other than during a surgery or while on rounds. The contact during surgery doesn’t really count because the patient is usually unconscious anyway. During rounds, most doctors only have a few minutes to spend with each patient so the rest of the care is dictated to the nursing staff. CNAs are especially important because they are responsible for maintaining the comfort of each patient. Assisting patients with basic tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, and maneuvering around a room may not seem that important unless you are the patient. The last thing most people want is to depend on someone else especially for the most private tasks like using a bathroom or dressing. A personal pride is quite important but being sick or recovering from a surgery places many people in a difficult position so the help of a certified nurse’s assistant is quite welcome and very often highly appreciated.
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