Free CNA Training

A Certified Nursing Assistant is an individual who is responsible for taking care of the patients in hospitals, clinics and other health-care facilities. The CNAs have to help patients perform their daily tasks as well as track their health condition on a regular basis. The duties of CNAs range from helping the patients with their daily tasks such as brushing teeth, bathing, combing hair, feeding and dressing to measuring and recording the patients vitals such as blood pressure, heart rate and so on. The CNAs also have to assist the doctors in preparing the patients for surgeries. They also have to ensure that they maintain cleanliness and hygiene.

CNAs also have to move the patients and ensure that they do this with great care without harming the patients CNAs also have to conduct several kinds of tests on the patients and collect their blood and urine samples. If you aspire to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you need to develop your interpersonal and communication skills as well as be calm and composed at all times to handle stressful situations. You also need to be a good team player. One needs to undergo the CNA training which may be available for free in certain cases.

Where is free CNA training available? 

You can look for reputed health-care facilities and medical institutes that offer free CNA training to candidates who can work as an intern in these settings. You need to first finish with the theoretical sessions so that you can attend the clinical or practical sessions later. The main aim of these free CNA training sessions is to help you develop your skills to carry out your duties as a CNA in a proper manner.

When you are working as an intern in the health-care setting, it also helps you to get acquainted and used to the medical environment. You can get the details of the free CNA training courses offered from various websites. You can also ask for help from other CNAs who have passed the CNA examination. Hospitals and clinics, vocational schools as well as online coaching classes offer the facility of free CNA training. Hospitals, clinics as well as nursing homes may require you to work with them post completion of the free CNA training.

There are also certain scholarship programs for CNAs that are available. These programs are usually funded by the Health Department of the various states. The entire cost for the CNA training as well as the certification exam is borne by the scholarship programs.

Duration of the free CNA classes 

The aim of the free CNA classes is to provide the best theoretical as well as practical knowledge to the CNA candidates. The free CNA classes provide information on job duties and responsibilities of CNAs as well as existing job opportunities.

There exists 2 kinds of free CNA classes – online as well as off-line classes. The duration of the free CNA classes will be different based on the type of health-care facility as well the state in which you are pursuing the free CNA training. Several hospitals and medical facilities offer free CNA training to candidates aspiring to become Certified Nursing Assistants.

If you wish to opt for the free CNA training classes, you can always pay a visit to the local nursing home and inquire about the free CNA training. There is a nurse aide registry in every state that has all the relevant information related to the CNA training and certification.

The free CNA training usually lasts for a couple of weeks – may be 4 to 6 weeks, if you opt for the full time CNA training course. There are also part time and weekend training classes available. In case of the part time or weekend CNA training classes, the duration will be a little longer as compared to the regular classes. After finishing the free CNA training, you will have to appear for the CNA certification exam and the health-care facility will give you the certification upon successfully clearing this exam. With the help of this CNA certification, you can apply for various nursing jobs to start your practice as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

How to apply for free CNA training? 

You can refer to different websites to obtain information about the free CNA training classes. Many hospitals, clinics and health-care facilities offer free CNA training to aspiring candidates. You can always call up these facilities and get details about the free CNA training. There are also many scholarship programs for CNAs. However, you need to check the eligibility criteria for the scholarship programs before applying for them.

Points to remember while applying for free CNA training 

• Get information from the State Nursing Board to make sure that the training program is an approved and accredited one.
• Generally most of the CNA programs offered are state-specific (except for the Red Cross CNA training program). Make sure that the free CNA training program that you are enrolling for allows you to practice as a CNA in your state.

CNA License and Registration

Obtaining the CNA License 

Candidates who aspire to become CNAs need to attend the CNA training course and then clear the CNA certification examination with a good score. You then need to register with the State Nursing Board to start practicing as a licensed CNA. These are some of the requirements to obtain the license for CNA.

CNA Registration

The CNA candidates need to register themselves with two types of databases – the federal database (which is at the national level) and the state database. There is a National Council which is formed by all the state nursing boards. This National Council is responsible for the administration and compilation procedures of the registration details of the candidates. Members of around sixty state boards make up the National Council. The National Council performs a variety of duties, and it is also responsible for maintaining a personnel registry that contains all the important details of the Certified Nursing Assistants. The National Council also sets certain rules and regulations which the CNAs need to adhere to.

Requirements for CNA License 

Upon completion of the CNA training course, the CNA candidates need to appear for the CNA exam that consists of the written or theoretical test as well as the clinical or practical test. There are certain licensing requirements for CNAs which are as follows:

• Age: The CNA applicant should be minimum 18 years of age.
• Competency: The competency factor is based on the successful attempt of the written or theoretical test. The CNA candidates then have to undergo 40 hours of practical or clinical training. They have to train under the guidance and supervision of senior trained nurses.
• Education: The CNA candidates need to complete their high school education before they enroll for the CNA training course. At times, the candidates may also be required to submit a transcript. 
• English proficiency: The CNA candidates need to be good in their communication and be fluent with English. 

Following are the steps to obtain the CNA License: 

• You need to get the application form from the concerned licensing authority and then get it notarized. The applicant should fill up the application form and submit it to the State Licensing Office.
• Get details about the Verification of Training form so as to ensure that the school that you have passed out from is accredited.
• Submit the proofs for the background verification as well as the medical tests. You may also be required to submit a fingerprint card to the Public Safety Department.
• You need to then get an approval of the application form.
• Further, check for the fee for licensing, which varies according to the state.
• Remember never to follow up on your own with the State Nursing Board regarding your application. You will be notified regarding the application status from their end.  

How to keep your CNA License active 

The nursing assistants at various levels find a place in the database of the National Council. All matters relating to the education and certification of CNA candidates are administered by the National Council. If the nursing assistants are found to be wrong or erring, then the state nursing board has all the right to take necessary disciplinary action against these nursing assistants. The state nursing board needs to inform the National Council accordingly about the action taken. The National Council then takes charge of the situation. A thorough investigation may be carried out against the erring nursing assistant to check as to what went wrong and what needs to be done.

The course of the disciplinary action also depends upon the degree or level of mistake. If the mistake is quite minor, then the disciplinary action may just be limited to an informal meeting explaining the issues to the erring nursing assistant and warning them not to repeat the mistake. If the degree of mistake is quite high, then the disciplinary body may get involved in the matter. The license of the CNAs may be at times revoked. The disciplinary body may also disclose all the facts related to the disciplinary action to the public.

Thus, in order to keep the CNA License active, the CNAs at all times must ensure that their record is clean. There are various kinds of rules and regulations laid down by both – the National Council as well as the Federal Board, which need to be adhered to by all the CNAs. There are a set of rules related to abuse as well as fraud issues pertaining to healthcare as well as health insurance that need to be taken note of.

There is also a tracking system that is available to get all the important information related to license approvals, decisions regarding licensing, affiliation as well as certification and the employment history of the CNAs. This tracking system serves a great deal in helping the National Council keep a strict watch on all the nursing assistants.

Renewal and Verification of the CNA License 

The CNAs need to renew their CNA License on an annual basis. A renewal fee will be charged for this purpose. Some states also require the CNAs to continue their education for the purpose of renewal of the CNA License. You need to check all the requirements for licensing with the local licensing authority.

Just holding the CNA License is not sufficient. You also need to check for the validity of the license and verify the same. The process for verification of the CNA License is same as the renewal procedure. While applying for any jobs, you need to ensure that you are carrying a valid CNA License.

Duration of CNA Programs

When you are aspiring to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you need to apply for the CNA training programs. You may be concerned about the duration of the CNA courses. It is a general assumption that since the CNA courses are medical courses, they may be quite lengthy. But this is not true.

It's a fact that for becoming a nurse or a doctor, you need to put in long hours of study and need to wait for several years to get the degree. You need to obtain detailed knowledge about the healthcare and medical field and pass all the difficult examinations before you can actually start practicing as a nurse or a doctor. However, to in order to become a CNA, you actually don't need so many years. Just a simple training course is sufficient to get the CNA certification.

CNAs are not engaged in hard core medical duties. Instead they work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) to assist the patients in the hospitals and clinics in their healthcare daily routine. The requirements of CNAs is growing with time due to a rise in the medical care needs. The aging population is also growing, and hence there is a lot of work load and pressure on the CNAs. CNA is a para-medical career that aims at reducing the burden on the Registered Nurses (RNs) in carrying out the medical duties.

The responsibilities of the CNAs range from helping the patients do their daily tasks to measuring the patients' vitals. The daily tasks may include bathing, combing hair, dressing and feeding as well as moving the patients. The CNAs also need to measure and record the vitals of the patients such as their blood pressure, sugar levels, heart rate and so on. Although the duties of the CNAs are related to medical and healthcare, they do not need to possess total knowledge and information about the health-care division. The CNAs just need to develop certain skills that will help them in taking care of the patients in a proper manner.

In order to sit for the CNA certification test, the candidates need to enroll for the CNA training programs that are recognized by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission. The programs can also be accredited by the state's health department. It is important that the course is a recognized one, or else your CNA application will stand void.

Length of CNA training programs 

According to the U.S. federal law, it is necessary for the CNA candidates to go through a 75 hours of training. Out of these 75 hours, 51 hours are focused on theoretical or classroom study while the remaining 24 hours focus on practical or clinical skills training. The training requires around 8 weeks to be completed successfully.

In certain states, the minimum number of the hours spent on the CNA training tends to differ. Sometimes, the training hours are more than what is required by the federal law and in these cases, the CNA training program will extend for a greater duration, in that particular state.

The duration of the CNA programs also tend to vary depending upon the place, the institutes, as well as the amount of hours that you spend on training on a daily basis. If you are enrolling for online programs, the length of such programs may stretch up to 4 months as the courses are generally conducted on a part time basis.

There are many institutes which offer the CNA programs that are likely to be completed within a period of 3 weeks. However, in such cases, the amount of hours that you need to give in for the CNA training on a daily basis will be more. When you enroll for such courses, it is necessary that you are sincere and are ready for additional amount of effort required to successfully complete the CNA program.

In a CNA training program, you need to give in 8 hours on a daily basis for 4 days in a week. This completes the compulsory requirement of 75 hours within a period of 10 days. 3 days out of the 10 should be reserved for the clinical training. Majority of nursing colleges and schools provide a clinical duty of 8 hours and you need to fulfill this requirement to obtain the certification.

There is also a time period alloted for the CNA practice test which is usually three days. The CNA program is likely to be completed within a period of three weeks. Once the CNA program is successfully completed, you can apply for the CNA final examination to get the certification.

Certain nursing schools also have the facility of flexible CNA training programs. These programs may be conducted on a part time basis. Some CNA training programs also allow you more amount of hours for in-depth study and practice. Depending on the type of programs you choose, the duration of the CNA programs may range from 6 to 8 weeks. In case you choose to specialize in a certain field such as Cardiology, Pediatric or any other field, then the duration of the CNA program may extend by up to a week's time.

So, if you are really passionate about being a Certified Nursing Assistant and help the patients in hospitals and clinics, then irrespective of the duration of CNA programs, you must enroll for CNA certification.

CNA Training Schools

CNAs play a major role in the medical and health-care industry. It is the responsibility of the CNAs to take care of the patients in the hospitals and clinics and help them perform their day-to-day activities. The CNAs also have to assist Registered Nurses, Doctors as well as Surgeons.

A CNA career offers a rewarding career option, which is recession proof. You need to enroll for the CNA training program if you wish to become a CNA. There are various training institutions and community colleges that offer the CNA training program to candidates.

CNA Training Schools 

CNA training schools are institutes or places that offer the CNA trainings and teach you all the aspects related to health-care as well as the basic principles of nursing. These training schools help you get ready for the CNA certification so that you can become a Certified Nursing Assistant. There are a wide range of options of training schools available for you to choose from. Some of the most common training schools are mentioned below:

• Community Schools and Colleges: These are one of the most common training schools for CNA. The advantage of community colleges is that they are easy to locate in absolutely any part of the state. So, you can choose a community schools or college according to the state for your CNA training.
• Vocational Training Schools: The vocational schools offer a fast track method of CNA training. This helps you to complete the CNA program in a short span of time and get started with your CNA career much before your competitors.
• On-line CNA programs: Online CNA training programs are a great option for individuals who want to pursue the CNA training without any interference in their daily routine. Online training programs give you the flexibility to choose a time to study as per your convenience. Also, the costs are low when you go in for online programs. You can continue with your day-to-day routine and at the same time study the course-work online, whenever it best suits you. 

Eligibility criteria to enroll for the course 

You need to fulfill certain eligibility criteria to enroll for the CNA training program. You need to be minimum 18 years of age when you are enrolling for the training program. You also need to hold a high school diploma or GED or be a graduate in any discipline to enroll for the CNA training program.

Training for CNA

The duration of most of the CNA training programs is for around 3 months. The training program is divided into 50 hours of theoretical sessions and 100 hours of practical training. The theory sessions cover important aspects of the duties and responsibilities of being a CNA such as helping the patients with their daily activities like combing hair, bathing, dressing, feeding, walking, as well as moving in and out of bed. The CNAs will also learn how to maintain hygiene, help patient do their regular exercise and take their medicines as and when necessary.

The theory sessions conducted in the CNA training schools also covers and train you on soft skills such as communication skills and leadership qualities. Many a times the CNA acts as an important link between the patient and the doctor. The doctor cannot always give a lot of time to every patient and hence the CNAs need to effectively communicate with the patients as well as the doctors. The CNA needs to talk to the doctor about the medical condition of the patient and communicate about the doctor's advice and suggestions to the patient.

The practical sessions,on the other hand, are aimed at brushing your on-the-job or practical skills. In the practical sessions of the CNA training schools, you will learn how to measure and record the patients' vitals such as blood pressure, body temperature and heart rate. You will undergo training to assist doctors and surgeons while doing surgery and operation.

There are several educational institutes like schools, colleges as well as universities, that offer CNA training courses. There are also various health-care facilities like hospitals and clinics that offer these training programs for free. However, these health-care facilities need you to sign a bond with them stating that you will work with them after finishing your course and getting the CNA certificate.

It is important here to remember that before you choose any CNA program, check for its credibility and select a course that is an accredited one. You can check for the course registration either with the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing and Education. This ensures that the course that you are enrolling for is authentic and a quality course.

Certificate for CNA 

To get the maximum benefit of the CNA training, you need to apply for CNA certification exam. This exam consists of a written test as well as a practical exam to test your overall ability to become a CNA. It is necessary to clear both the written as well as the practical sections in order to obtain your certificate for CNA. Generally, 3 attempts are allowed for this exam.

Once you successfully complete you CNA training with a registered school, and pass your certification exam, you can get registered with the state nurse aide registry and can pursue your career as Certified Nursing Assistant in that state.

CNA Certification Programs

Each stage in the career of a nursing student is recognized by the respective certificate that is approved by the state or is nationally approved as far as Registered Nurses (RNs) are concerned. The certification for CNA is one such certification and happens to be one of the first certifications. The certificate is an important credential that proves that the nursing assistants meet the criteria for nursing practice. The CNA certificate needs to be renewed at regular intervals as mentioned by the state. The renewal of the CNA certificate indicates that the respective CNA has been actively involved in the nursing practice for a given period of time and has shown the necessary competencies required in the nursing profession. Once the nursing assistants obtain the CNA certificate, they become eligible for applying for CNA licensure.

CNA Certification Programs

In order to obtain the CNA certificate, one needs to successfully attend and complete the nursing aide classes or programs which are also referred to as CNA certification programs. The CNA certification programs provide technical as well as practical training and knowledge to the CNA candidates. The technical part of these certificate programs focus on the theoretical aspects of nursing, while the practical part focuses on the clinical aspects of the nursing profession.

The students who enroll for the CNA certification programs need to attend the theory as well as practical sessions conducted in the facility. After gaining sufficient knowledge and hands on experience, the students can apply for the CNA exam. The CNA certification exam is conducted by the state and once the students clear this exam, they can obtain the CNA certificate.

The CNA certification programs cover a wide range of topics such as anatomy and physiology, scientific aspects, patient care and safety precautions, diet and nutrition, medical terminologies, health related education, population education and so on.

In the practical or clinical sessions, the students get a chance to get trained on all the clinical duties that are supposed to be performed by a CNA. The senior Registered Nurses are present during the training sessions to guide the candidates.

While studying the certified CNA certification program, the candidates acquire all the nursing skills which are evaluated in the examination. The exam also has 2 sections – one is technical while the other is the practical section. In the technical section, the students need to answer a set of multiple choice questions that are taught in the theory classes. The practical section of the exam tests the clinical abilities and requires the candidates to perform any 5 clinical procedures. The result of the CNA certification exam is usually out in a period of one month.

Eligibility Criteria for CNA Certification Programs

• The candidate needs to be minimum 18 years of age 
• The candidate should hold a high school diploma or an equivalent test certificate for GED (general educational development) 
• The candidate needs to undergo a medical/fitness and background check and present a proof of the same 
• The candidate also needs to submit a proof for latest vaccination

There are 2 options available to attend the CNA certification programs – either online or off-line. Even online programs are a good option to go in for when you have less time to attend regular classes. Online CNA programs offer online study material, lectures, videos as well as interactive sessions as well as some practical tests.

The fee structure of the CNA certification programs vary according to the state. The costs are usually affordable. For anyone who cannot afford to pay for the CNA certification program fees, there are financial aids available by way of sponsorship or at times a scholarship. However, there are certain prerequisites and procedures to apply for the financial aid and you need to fulfill the same in order to get the required financial assistance.

Job responsibilities after completing the CNA Certification Program

Once you obtain the CNA certificate, you can start your practice as a CNA under the supervision and guidance of doctors and Registered Nurses. It is the duty of the CNA to help and assist the doctors and senior nurses in the medical procedures.

CNAs perform various tasks while helping the patients in the hospitals or health care facilities. The CNAs have to take care of the patients on a daily basis and help the patients do their daily tasks like bathing, combing hair, dressing and feeding. They also have to move and position the patients as per the need. They have to change linens and keep the patient's room neat and tidy.

The CNAs are also trained in the CNA certification program to take the vitals of the patients. So, CNAs should be able to measure and record the blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar levels and body temperature of the patients. They need to monitor the health condition of the patients and report the same to the doctors.

All these responsibilities are well taken care of in the CNA certification programs. The CNA certification program is the first step to begin your career in the medical or nursing field; which later opens a world of opportunities to you. Once you become a CNA, you can advance your career to become a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) or a RN (Registered Nurse). You can also opt for higher education in the same nursing field. Higher education along with relevant experience adds great value to your career in the field of medicine. The number of job opportunities for a CNA are endless and hence it is becoming an increasingly popular career choice among youngsters.

Advantages of the CNA Certification Programs

• The CNA certification signifies that you are well qualified and have all the required competencies for the nursing practice. 
• Holding the CNA certificate is an indication of being active in practicing as a nursing assistant. 
• The CNA certificate proves that the candidate has specialized knowledge as well as skills. 
• The CNA certificate is a key to better and bigger career opportunities. 
• The CNA certification helps candidates advance their career and earn great salaries. 
• The CNA certificate helps the candidate get a formal recognition at their workplace.

CNA to LPN Programs

CNA to LPN Transition

CNAs as well as LPNs work under the guidance and supervision of a Registered Nurse, however, LPNs have a greater responsibility to shoulder and they also receive higher wages as compared to CNAs. The difference in the salary of CNA as well as LPN can be around $13,000. There are several online programs that help bridge the gap between a CNA and LPN. You need to already be a Certified Nursing Assistant in order to be able to apply for these online CNA to LPN bridge courses. The best advantages of these online programs is that you can choose a time as per your convenience to study these programs without affecting your daily work routine.

CNA to LPN Online Programs 

Majority of the nursing programs that are offered online concentrate on a variety of courses that provide explanation regarding several aspects related to the nursing profession. The CNA to LPN bridge online programs teach candidates how to take care of and handle different patients. They also teach the candidates how to diagnose various types of disorders and diseases as well communicate them in an effective manner to the patients who are suffering from the same. As CNAs are not allowed to oversee or diagnose the patients directly, the course features and content of the CNA to LPN bridge program may be quite new for the CNAs to learn.

There are different options available online to complete the LPN program. Certain LPN online programs may require the CNAs to choose from a broad spectrum of courses while other LPN online programs may simply require the CNAs to complete a given set of courses. There is also a practical aspect involved in the courses. Some of the practical LPN sessions can be completed online while other sessions require the candidates to be present at the practical sessions personally so that their skills for handling the patients can be evaluated. Though the structure of the online LPN programs may vary, they provide the same education and are sufficient to clear the LPN examination.

In case an individual wishes to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, he/she needs to be well familiar with the various body parts, tissues, systems and organs. Hence, an anatomy course is an important part of the training program to become a LPN. Lectures that are provided online give theoretical knowledge on anatomy while the laboratory sessions help candidates get hands-on experience.

Understanding different behavioral patterns and cognitive processes of several patients is also an important aspect of becoming a LPN. Hence, psychology programs are also offered to CNAs who wish to become LPNs. It helps the candidates, after they become LPNs, to understand the mental condition of the patients and be empathetic towards them. It helps them to take care of them in a better manner as they are able to understand their situation in a better way.

Computers have become an essential element in most of the jobs today. Hence, the LPN programs also offer computer classes to be aware of the usage of computer. The computer classes help you be efficient in using various types of software for compiling data, formulating different statistics, as well as conduct online search on various diseases and their treatments to gain more information. The online LPN programs also train the CNAs on different soft skills such as improving their communication skills as well as leadership qualities, so that they can serve the patients in a better way.

CNA to LPN Certificate Programs 

The duration of CNA to LPN certificate programs typically lasts one year. The certification course covers a range of subjects that are related to healthcare of the patients as well as the basic principles of nursing. Several community colleges as well as certain technical schools offer the CNA to LPN programs. Higher learning institutions also offer the CNA to LPN certificate programs.

It is essential for the CNAs who enroll for the LPN program to learn certain skills such as measuring and recording the patients' vitals, assisting the Registered Nurses and the doctors with different medical processes as well as be familiar with the procedure of administering injections. CNAs also have to complete a certain number of hours of practical training in hospitals and clinics to brush up their on-the-job skills.

Educational Prerequisites 

Candidates enrolling for the LPN program not only need to hold a high school diploma or GED but also need to be a Certified Nursing Assistant. A background check may also is carried out prior to enrolling for the LPN program.

Many a times, the number of seats available for such LPN programs are very limited and hence these courses tend to be competitive. Some LPN courses may also have one year of relevant experience as the eligibility criteria for enrolling for the program. Candidates also need to possess CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certification to be eligible for admission to the LPN program.

Course Topics 

The CNA to LPN bridge programs offer education on several aspects related to healthcare and nursing. They combine online or classroom training with supervised practical and clinical experience. The different subjects covered in the LPN programs include: 

• Nursing fundamentals 
• Nutrition Anatomy 
• Physiology 
• Wound care and infection control 
• Nursing ethics 
• Special needs nursing 

As the aging population is on the rise, the employment outlook for LPNs is quite bright. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the LPN job opportunities are expected to grow by 21% till 2018. The salary earned by LPNs is also very good with the annual median salary being $41,260. Hence, LPN can be a good option for CNAs to advance in their career.

10 Essential Characteristics of a CNA

A career as a CNA is not only rewarding but also very challenging. If you wish to become a CNA, you need to have a strong desire and passion to serve the patients in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities. You need to work with devotion to help the patients who need your care and support.

As a CNA, you need to have certain skill sets that will make you successful in the nursing profession. Following are the 10 essential characteristics of a CNA:

1. Compassionate and Caring Nature: When you are in a medical or healthcare profession, then having a caring and compassionate nature becomes one of the indispensable traits that you need to possess. CNAs come in direct contact with the patients on a daily basis. Hence, CNAs need to be of a kind nature to help the patients with their problems.

As a CNA, it is your responsibility to take good care of the patients and listen to them properly if they need something. Showing your compassion will not only make the patients feel better and help them recover fast, but also take you a long way in your medical career. At times, you need to be strong to provide the patients the necessary mental and emotional support to help them in their recovery process.

2. Professional approach: The Certified Nursing Assistants are likely to work in a variety of settings like hospitals, clinics, adult or baby healthcare facilities. They may also require to assist elderly and sick patients or patients who are handicapped. Such patients are likely to be depressed and have lost all their hope of recovery. In such cases, the CNAs need to handle them in a very professional manner to make them feel better.

As a CNA, you are expected to remain calm and at your professional best at all times, even if the patient resort to verbal abuse or behave in an uncooperative manner. You need to follow a professional approach while handling the patients and make sure that you provide high quality care.

3. Hard Working: As a CNA, you are expected to be on your toes all the time. It involves a lot of hard work and dedication on your part. Helping the patients do their daily tasks (such as bathing, dressing, feeding and so on) as well as remembering to give the patients their medicines on time, staying awake during nights or by the patients' side is not an easy task. Your job as a CNA may demand a lot of patience and endurance to be successful in carrying out your duties.

4. Detail-oriented: As a CNA, your job requires you to be really sharp, attentive and detail-oriented. You need to measure and record the patients' vitals such as their blood pressure, blood sugar levels, body temperature and heart rate. This requires a lot of skill. You need to maintain records of these vitals for the doctors reference so that they can decide the course of treatment for the patients.

You also need to ensure that you give the patients the right dosage of medicines as prescribed by the doctor. You also need to note the changes in the health condition of the patients and their response to the treatment so that the further course of action can be decided upon. All these tasks require you to be extremely accurate and detail-oriented.

5. Physically fit: Your job as a CNA may demand a lot of physical endurance from your end. You need to be physically active and really fit to handle your duties and responsibilities as a CNA. You need to be constantly on your toes and work long hours. You also don't have the provision of taking several breaks during your working hours as you need to be by the patient's side most of the time. Thus, you need to be physically very fit.

6. Good Communication: As a CNA, you act as a link between the doctors, senior nurses and the patients. Your communication skills need to extremely good to pass on the right messages to the concerned persons. You have to communicate about the patient's illness to the friends and family members of the patients. It is important that you communicate this information to them in an appropriate manner.

When you are doing any medical procedure, you need to communicate it effectively to the patients in order to make them feel at ease.

7. Sound Judgment: As a CNA, you need to be aware of how to handle emergency situations. You should be in a position to take sound decisions in such situations as everything depends on you at that particular moment. Especially in the absence of doctors or registered nurses, it's your prime responsibility to make sound judgment of the patient's condition and decide what is best for the patient.

8. Adaptable by nature: As a Certified Nursing Assistant, you need to flexible and adaptable by nature. You should be comfortable to work in a variety of settings and under different circumstances.

9. Emotionally stable: As Certified Nursing Assistants, you need to provide mental and emotional support to the patients to help them recover fast. For this reason, you need to be emotionally strong and stable. The patients are passing through a difficult phase in their lives and it is your duty as a CNA to provide emotional support to them and help them be strong and hopeful.

10. Cheerful attitude: As a CNA, the environment that you will be working in will generally be very gloomy. With patients suffering from various kinds of diseases, the atmosphere can only be made a little happier if you have a cheerful attitude. You need to be happy all the time, display a positive attitude and remember to always wear a smile so that the patients feel happier when you are around. This cheerful attitude of yours will help them handle their bad days a little more comfortably.

These were some of the essential characteristics that CNAs need to possess in order to be successful in the nursing profession. So, if you possess the zeal to serve the patients and have all these characteristics, then the CNA career may be the right option for you.