| The basic entry point in to the healthcare industry | | | | are hallmarks of a successful healthcare |
| is becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. Unlike | | | | professional. |
| the doctors and the registered nurses who need | | | | What actually does a certified nursing assistant |
| to spend a minimum of 3 years or more to get | | | | do? |
| the necessary qualification to become a health | | | | A certified nursing assistant acts as an assistant |
| care industry professional, a certified nursing | | | | to a registered nurse or a qualified nurse. The |
| assistant can take up the profession after | | | | certified nursing assistant is the first person who |
| completing the basic schooling studies and a series | | | | interacts with the patient in the hospital, or a |
| of training sessions related to nursing. | | | | nursing home, and invariably will be the last person |
| Typically, the training session can last anywhere | | | | met by the patient before he or she leaves the |
| between 8 to 20 weeks, during which essential | | | | hospital as a person. |
| duties related to patient care, first aid, and such | | | | Normal duties of a certified nursing assistant |
| other essential things will be taught, both in theory | | | | include recording the problems of the patient, |
| and in practical classes. More than normal | | | | performing some basic and vital tests, extending |
| proficiency in mathematical skills will be an added | | | | all possible assistance to the patient to make him |
| advantage for a person having completed the high | | | | or her feel comfortable, maintaining records, |
| school courses, as the certified nursing assistant | | | | preparing the patient for the tests, administering |
| might be required to do some calculations while | | | | medication at frequent intervals, and updating the |
| providing medication to the patients. | | | | registered nurse about the developments in the |
| Before discussing more about the duties and | | | | patient's health. |
| responsibilities of a certified nursing assistant, it is | | | | The duties of a certified nursing assistant do not |
| essential to have a broad overview of the | | | | end with the normal duties mentioned above. It |
| healthcare industry and the special characteristics | | | | goes beyond these normal duties. They extend all |
| that the profession demands in the industry. | | | | services that are referred to as activities of daily |
| The job of a Certified Nursing Assistant is not | | | | living, depending upon the severity of the health |
| merely in the medical care industry, but it is | | | | condition. These duties include, but not just |
| related to the personal care industry. Why choose | | | | restricted to, bathing, toileting, shaving, and |
| this job in the healthcare profession? It is no | | | | feeding the patient. The duty also includes |
| doubt true that remuneration for the job is | | | | transferring the patient from one place to other |
| relatively less. But, the mental satisfaction one | | | | place or making positional adjustments such that |
| derives in extending a helping hand to the patients | | | | the patient does not feel bedsores. |
| and making an impact in their lives cannot be | | | | Being closer to the patient and extending all |
| explained in any simple terms, and can only be | | | | possible assistance to the patient during his or her |
| experienced. | | | | stay in the hospital and seeing the patient return |
| Compassion, helping tendency and | | | | to normalcy, completely cured of the ailment, will |
| service-mindedness are some of the additional | | | | be the most satisfying moment for any certified |
| qualities that a healthcare professional should | | | | nursing assistant. A sense of satisfaction, having |
| possess in addition to other qualities required to | | | | made an impact in the patient's life, will be most |
| become a professional. The mental strength, the | | | | rewarding feeling only a certified nursing assistant |
| patience and the dedication, as can be visualized in | | | | can experience the most. |
| the Lady with the Lamp - Florence Nightingale - | | | | |