Top 10 Reasons to Opt for a CNA Career

Once you become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you can start working in a hospital, clinic or any other healthcare facility. You should have a strong passion and desire to help the patients in the hospitals and clinics. You need to have a lot of patience as well as perseverance in order to handle your responsibilities well. Other than your educational qualifications, you need to show the willingness to serve the patients who need care and support.

The career of a CNA is a lucrative one and is also very challenging. There is a great demand for CNAs in the healthcare industry. You can start your career in the nursing field as a CNA, and then grab several other bigger and better career advancement opportunities. As a Certified Nursing Assistant, you get a chance to help the sick and elderly patients and hence contribute towards the society. You simply need to hold a high school diploma or a GED, to apply for the CNA training.

Following are some of the reasons why you should opt for a CNA career:

Top 10 Reasons to Opt for a CNA Career 

1. Rapid growth and good career advancement options: There is a high growth in the aging or the elderly population, and hence the demand for CNAs is also rising with time. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a rise of 18% in the job opportunities for Certified Nursing Assistants by 2018. There are also several career advancement options available after you become a CNA. By gaining sufficient experience and pursuing higher education, you can advance your career as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

2. Many working options: Once you become a CNA, you get a chance to work in various kinds of settings. You may work in nursing homes, assisted living centers, day care centers or rehabilitation centers. Hospice, hospitals, clinics and long term health care facilities are other working alternatives. You have the liberty to choose the medical facility where you wish to work. Besides having a choice in the working alternatives, you also have a choice to decide your working hours.

3. Handsome pay: You get to earn great money once you become a CNA, as the pay packages are quite high. The salary range for CNAs is between $8 to $15 an hour. Based upon the type of healthcare set up, your salaries will tend to vary. Your experience counts a lot in terms of deciding your salary – greater the experience, higher will be the salary. According to the BLS, the average salary for CNAs ranges between $20,000 and $24,000 per annum. Usually, the CNAs get an hourly wage of around $10 to $12. Other than the salary, there are many other benefits offered to CNAs such as medical insurance, financial aid in the form of scholarships, paid leaves and overtime opportunities.

4. Good job security and career outlook: If you are dedicated and passionate about your CNA career, then the job outlook is really bright. There is tremendous growth opportunity in this field of nursing. If your employer notices that you are really hard working and dedicated, then you will get quick promotions in your work and also higher salaries. There is huge demand but lack of supply for CNAs. Thus, good job security as well as a bright employment outlook give you enough reasons to choose a career as a CNA.

5. Gain valuable experience: When you start working as a CNA, you get to master the theoretical knowledge as well as the practical and clinical skills required in the profession of nursing. You gain valuable experience while helping the patients. Once you develop all the necessary knowledge and skills of a CNA, it becomes easier for you to grasp the knowledge of other advanced medical programs and progress your career in the medical field.

6. Earn respect: Once you become a CNA professional, you tend to earn a lot of respect. As a CNA, you can also perform tests in the laboratory and administer medications for the patients. Once you demonstrate your passion and willingness to help the needy patients and serve the society, you automatically earn the respect that you deserve. This, in turn, gives you a sense of pride and contentment.

7. Be a part of the healthcare industry: Once you become a CNA, you are stepping in to become a part of the medical and healthcare field. You work under the supervision of senior nurses as well as doctors. You can build on this knowledge and experience to take your career in the medical field to new heights.

8. Part time or full time jobs available: Once you get a certification for CNA, you can decide whether you want to work on an hourly basis or go in for the full time option. If you are married or have some other important responsibilities to shoulder, you can always work part time and take care of your other responsibilities. Thus, the job of a CNA allows flexibility in your job which is a great advantage.

9. Serving the society: Another important aspect of a CNA career is that it gives you the opportunity to serve the society. By providing help and assistance to the sick and elderly patients, you are contributing indirectly towards the welfare of the society. This in turn, it wins you a lot of respect as well as admiration from people and gives you satisfaction.

10. Satisfaction and pride: Being a CNA, your duties and responsibilities revolve around helping the patients who need love, care and support. Many a times, you have to act like a friend to the patients and cheer them up so that they can face the difficult times. This will bring contentment to you and make you proud.