A certified nursing assistant (CNA) provides care to patients at medical and health care facilities. As a nursing assistant, you may work directly with patients who are preparing for or recovering from medical procedures. Nursing assistants may also work in the home health care field and make up a critical part of the health care system.
A Career as a Nursing Assistant
Nursing assistants often perform the tasks necessary to prepare patients for various procedures at medical facilities, and they may also play a part in the patients' recovery process by providing them assistance with eating, walking, dressing, and other parts of their daily life. The ability to communicate with patients and staff is important, and an ability to remain calm and collected during emergencies is also necessary. If you are the type of person who enjoys helping people, then you should enjoy the nursing assistant career field.
Education Requirements for a Nursing Assistant Career
Most nursing assistants get started by attending nursing assistant schools which can last from several weeks to several months depending on how concentrated the nursing assistant school's program is and how much time you can devote to the program on a weekly basis. Many states require that students have a high school diploma or GED to attend certified nurse assistant schools, and in most cases the student has to pass a certification exam to work as a nursing assistant.
Nursing Assistant Salary Range and Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the nursing assistant career field should expand by up to 18 percent through 2018 as the boomer generation ages and needs medical care. The median annual salary for nursing assistants in 2009 was $24,040 and the top 10 percent earned about $33,970. Salary can vary depending on training, experience, and location.
Whether you're seeking an associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, University of Phoenix can help you reach your goal much sooner than you might expect. More>>
- B.S. in Health Administration/Long Term Care
- Doctor of Health Administration
- Master of Health Admin
- M.S. in Nursing/MBA/Health Care Management
- A.A. in Health Care Administration
- Master of Health in Administration/Health Care Education
- Master of Health in Admin - Gerontology
- B.S. in Health Administration - Emergency Management
- B.S. in Health Administration - Health Management
University of Phoenix makes higher education highly accessible. More>>
- BS in Health Administration - Health Management
- Master of Health Administration
- Master of Health in Administration/Education
- BS in Health Administration/Long Term Care
- BS in Health Administration - Emergency Management
- BS in Health Administration
- MS in Nursing/MBA/ Health Care Management
Earn an online degree that really matters from AIU Online. More>>
- Bachelor's of Business Administration in Healthcare Management
- MBA - Healthcare Administration
Get into a career you love with an online degree from Keiser College. More>>
- Medical Assisting, AS
Keiser University offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni. More>>
- Medical Assisting, AS
Don't Miss a Day of Your Future! More>>
- B.S. in Health Care Administration
South University offers excellence in education, online convenience, and more than 100 years of tradition. More>>
- Healthcare Management (BS)
- Business Administration (MBA) degree program in Healthcare Administration (MBA)
Earn a masters degree from the online university for business professionals worldwide. More>>
- MSc in International Management (Management of Health Systems)
Get the skills you need in Tech, Business, or Healthcare in as little as 9 months from Sanford-Brown College. More>>
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Assisting
- Anesthesia Technology
- Medical Assistant Bilingual
- Medical Assistant Specialist
- Medical Assistant (Day)
- Medical Assistant (Evening)
