The CNA Career Ladder

A career ladder is a well organized plan or strategy to advance your career and move up in sequence with respect to the job positions that you hold in an organization. This is a recent trend that has been followed in the nursing industry. With the help of a career ladder, the CNAs can grab better opportunities and improve the quality of their life in terms of professional, financial and educational aspects.

The CNA career ladder is thus a ladder that CNAs can climb by pursuing higher education and equipping themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills so that they can progress in their health care career. The CNA career ladder is a type of performance appraisal system for CNAs. Step by step, the CNAs can advance their career and grab the best opportunities in the medical and health care field with the help of the CNA career ladder.

What is the CNA Career Ladder? 

CNA career ladder is a means by which CNAs with advanced skills and good performance can progress in their career. They can pursue higher studies in the field of nursing or medicine. The CNAs need to equip themselves with all the necessary knowledge and essential skills and demonstrate the same to their superiors to be able to jump up to the next job level. Organizations having a good hierarchical system do have such CNA career ladder programs which help the CNAs rise up the hierarchy.

There are certain important and essential characteristics that you need to possess in order to climb up the CNA career ladder. Responsibilities and duties at different organization position are also clearly defined which the CNAs need to be aware of and prepare themselves accordingly. The CNAs need to live up to the demands and expectations of the various job roles and only then can they advance their career and earn higher salaries.

CNA Career Ladder Goals 

CNAs need to show a lot of passion and devotion to the work they are doing. The goal of the CNA career ladder program in to encourage communication and involvement of the nursing assistants. It also leads to an improvement in the working environment. The CNAs are accurately evaluated in terms of their knowledge and skills. It is for the overall progress of the CNAs as well as the healthcare facility.

Eligibility Criteria for the CNA Career Ladder Program 

You need to hold the license for CNA in order to be eligible for the CNA career ladder program. You need to be regular in your attendance and serve continuously for a period of 6 months in the CNA career ladder program. There will also be a criminal background check done, which you need to clear. Beside this, the CNAs need to be very hard working and devoted to their work. They need to follow the instruction given to them by the senior nurses and doctors properly and put in their best while doing their duties.

Advantages of the CNA Career Ladder 

1. As the CNA career ladder program helps CNAs to develop the necessary theoretical as well as practical knowledge and develop advanced skills, it helps in building confidence and morale of the CNAs.

2. If the CNAs put in their best, they tend to receive good appreciation for the same, thus making them satisfied and happy with their performance.

3. Learning new skills and more knowledge about the medical field will help the CNAs rise up the hierarchy in the nursing profession.

4. The CNAs get to brush their skills while handling and taking care of the patients.

5. CNAs can make themselves aware of the various job requirements at different levels and prepare themselves accordingly.

The CNA Career Ladder Hierarchy 

The hierarchy of the CNA career ladder starts from being a CNA 1 to finally becoming RN (Registered Nurse). Let us take a look at the different levels in this hierarchy and the job responsibilities: 

• CNA 1 is an entry level position in the medical or nursing field. These individuals are responsible for daily care of the patients in hospitals and clinics. The nursing assistants have to help the patients with their day-to-day tasks such as bathing, feeding, dressing and moving. Measuring and recording the patients vitals is also an important duty. They need to report these important details to the senior nurses and doctors on time. 
• PCA (Patient Care Assistant) is responsible for all the duties performed by CNAs. However, they also train and assist doctors in dementia care, sub acute care and so on. 
• PCT (Patient Care Technician) is responsible for taking care of the patients directly. They may work in long term healthcare facilities, hospitals or other healthcare facilities. 
• LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) usually work under the guidance and supervision of Registered Nurse (RN). LPNs are responsible for duties like collecting blood and urine samples of the patients, carrying out tests in the laboratory, cleaning medical equipment and so on. 
• RN (Registered Nurse) is the highest ranking position in the nursing field. The RN has to control and supervise the tasks of the subordinates. They effectively take care of the patients and communicate with their family members to make them aware of the medical condition. They also provide mental and emotional support to the patients. 

Thus, CNAs who aspire to grow in their medical career can opt for the CNA career ladder program. They can gain all the necessary knowledge and experience in this program and advance their career.