What does a Certified Nursing Assistant do?
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can be found working wherever people need care. This is typically in a hospital or other medical institution. CNAs are responsible for providing assistance and medical care to a wide variety of patients. While most of the decisions are made by the doctor, a CNA typically provides a majority of a patients treatments and care during their visit. CNAs report to a Registered Nurse, Licensed Practitioner or other Licensed Vocational Nurse. Most CNAs will go on to finish their nursing degree and become Certified Nurses.
A bachelor's degree is not required to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. But a secondary certification is required by all employers. This certification covers primary nursing and caregiving practices. This education can be obtained at community colleges, vocational schools, and technical schools. Working with sick and older adults requires a strong sense of compassion. Candidates should have a genuine interest in helping others.
- Bath and dress patients
- Serve meals and assist with feeding
- Take and record vital signs
- Ensure bedridden patients are regularly turned
- Distribute and change bedpans
- Assist patients with mobility
- Respond to patients summonsing
- Check patients for worsening conditions or further injury
- Some medical education a plus
- Secondary Certification
- 2 years experience in a caregiving role
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Can follow directions exactingly
- Capable of moving and standing for 12hr shifts
- Ability to regularly lift 75+ lbs
- Willingness to work nights weekends and holidays
- Ability to pass a background check
How much does a Certified Nursing Assistant make?
Base Pay
Additional Pay
$38,640
/ yrCertified Nursing Assistant Career Path
Learn how to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Certified Nursing Assistant Insights
Medical Solutions“My recruiter was the best and incredibly responsive and very kind even with my questions.”
Aspen Hills Healthcare Center“best reason to work here is the staff are always helpful and nice to work with.”
Medustrial Healthcare Staffing Service“One of the best things is you can make your own schedule and the companies we work with are great!”
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital“Love working here and this place is just the best honestly pay is decent and work experience is fast paced”
Five Star Senior Living“Staff was overall nice and one of the best senior living centers I have seen in our area”
Heritage Operations Group“When I first started working there everything was great and everyone worked as a family.”
CrownHills Enterprises“This job can find you good jobs and you work with good people outside the agency.”
VA Health“The FEDERAL VA is the best place to work as a CNA as far as salary and work load.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of certified nursing assistants
The typical day of a certified nursing assistant includes taking patients' vital signs, assisting with personal hygiene, and moving, turning, or transporting patients. They may also clean patient rooms, change linens, and stock medical supplies. A certified nursing assistant works under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
One advantage of being a certified nursing assistant is having the opportunity to help others. Nursing assistants may also use their knowledge and experience in this job to help them move upward into a role as a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse as they get more education.
The average salary of certified nursing assistants is around $38,640 a year. The highest-paid nursing assistants work for the government. Hospitals are the next highest paying industry for this job. Experience and education play major factors in determining your wages as a nursing assistant.
Working as a certified nursing assistant can be physically challenging, as these professionals spend long hours on their feet and often help to physically turn or move patients. Another challenge of this job is dealing with potentially difficult patients. If you're considering becoming a certified nursing assistant, conflict resolution skills are crucial.