Why Earn Your Nursing Assistant Diploma?
Are you a caring person who wants to help others? Are you emotionally stable? Do you have a desire to start a better career? If you answered 'yes' to these questions then you might enjoy a career as a nursing assistant. Most nursing assistant programs are certificates, which train you to be licensed in the state you intend to work in. Thus, nursing assistants are often called CNAs (Certified Nurse Assistants). Other programs prepare you to transfer into other nursing programs such as a Registered Nurse (RN) program.
Career Possibilities
Occupational Outlook
Several job opportunities are available upon completion of the program: nursing assistant, nurse's aide, and home health aide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov, the occupation of nursing assistant (of which nurse's aide is included in) is projected to grow faster than average. The occupation of home health aide is projected to grow much faster than the average occupation.
Salary Information
According to Salary.com, the average nursing assistant (and nurse's aide) earns $25,414 annually as of July 2007 reportings. The average entry-level home care aide (home health aide) earns $20,021 annually.
Degree Specifics
Coursework Requirements
In addition to lecture courses, some programs require you to attend clinical activities at healthcare facilities. The following list of courses represents typical courses you will encounter in a nursing assistant program:
- Basic Nursing Assistant
- CPR
- Home-Health Aide Theory
- Infection Control
- Hospital Nursing Assistant
- Introduction to Healthcare
- Body Structure and Function
Skills You Will Learn
When you apply what you have learned in the nursing assistant program, you benefit not only yourself by obtaining employment, but you also benefit those who need it most-your patients. Nursing assistant programs teach you the following skills:
- Know the safe, correct, and current implementation of nursing duties
- Communicate effectively with patients, patients' families, and other healthcare personnel.
- Act in an ethical manner when dealing with all patients
