Becoming a certified nursing assistant requires a lot less time and money than becoming a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse.  Depending on the state that you live in, it can take anywhere from two or three weeks up to 3 to 6 months.  It may even take as little as two weeks in certain states to receive the necessary training to take the certification exam.  That compares very favorably to the 1 to 4 years necessary to get in nursing degree.  Once an individual has received training necessary and passes a written and clinical test, they will receive their certification and can immediately find a rewarding and satisfying position at a local hospital, clinic, or nursing home.  The training required to become a CNA is extensive in spite of its brevity.

The certificate ensures that the individual has been properly educated in all aspects of their potential job duties.  The requirements of a certified nursing assistant may include keeping a patient's bed and room clean as well as taking their vital signs and helping with their physical and oral hygiene.  They may also be required to help the patients at mealtimes and to report on the overall condition of the individuals in their care.  Certified nursing assistants will also receive training in emergency medical procedures such as CPR and in caring for the overall safety of both the facility and the patients.  Since many of patients under the care of a nursing assistant require close monitoring and supervision, it is necessary for these individuals to have excellent communication skills and possess a great attention to detail.

Before getting their certification, students will generally undergo about 16 hours of clinical training that will help them to gain hands on experience.  Once they have received their certification, these students will be able to find employment in a variety of health care facilities, including hospitals, clinics, hospices, urgent care centers, and nursing homes.  While many nursing professionals wait until after they have finished their schooling to find a career, it is possible to find employment as a certified nursing assistant before furthering their education to become a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.  Certified nursing assistants are in high demand in facilities all over the country.

Once an individual has been certified as a nursing assistant, they can expect to make $20,000 to $30,000 a year depending on the facility that they work in and their experience level.  As with most careers, the longer an individual works there the more they can expect to make.  A great number of the certified nursing assistants employed today are college aged and intend to become a full fledged nurse later on in their career.  Becoming a certified nursing assistant is also an excellent career in and of itself.  The difference that these individuals can make in the lives of their patients is nothing short of astonishing.  Regardless of what a person's future plans are, getting certified as a nursing assistant means having a career that is important and that pays well.