If you’re exploring healthcare careers, particularly in nursing, you’ve likely encountered the term “CNA.” But What Does A Cna Do in the medical field, and how does this role compare to other nursing professions?
CNA stands for “Certified Nursing Assistant.” It’s an essential entry-level healthcare position providing crucial assistance to patients and nurses alike. From helping patients with daily activities like moving, bathing, and eating, to managing medical supplies and documenting patient information, CNAs are hands-on caregivers who significantly contribute to positive patient outcomes. While a CNA isn’t a nurse, this role serves as an excellent starting point for many aspiring nurses, offering invaluable experience in patient care and the healthcare environment.
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This article will delve into the specifics of what a CNA does, the steps to becoming a CNA, the necessary qualities for success in this role, and insights into CNA salaries and job prospects. For more detailed information about this career path or to discover nursing programs and certifications, reach out to our admissions advisors at National University for personalized guidance. We also encourage you to explore other nursing and healthcare careers, such as becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), to find the best fit for your interests and career aspirations.
Core Responsibilities of a CNA: Duties and Tasks
As a CNA, your primary role is to deliver basic care and support to patients under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN) or another healthcare professional. This encompasses a broad spectrum of duties. Here are some common responsibilities you might encounter as a certified nursing assistant:
- Responding to patient calls and ensuring their comfort and well-being.
- Monitoring and recording patients’ vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, and pulse.
- Maintaining cleanliness and sterilization of medical tools and equipment.
- Relaying patient concerns and questions to the nursing staff.
- Assisting patients with personal care activities including dressing, bathing, and grooming.
- Adhering to strict safety regulations and protocols.
- Upholding patient confidentiality and practicing professional ethics.
- Organizing and replenishing medical supplies.
- Supporting patients’ nutritional and hydration needs.
- Ensuring patients are clean and comfortable, attending to their hygiene.
- Assisting with patient mobility, such as helping them move between beds and wheelchairs.
Steps to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant
Becoming a CNA is an accessible entry point into healthcare, as it doesn’t typically require a bachelor’s or master’s degree. In fact, a high school diploma or equivalent is generally the only educational prerequisite. However, becoming a certified nursing assistant involves rigorous testing to ensure competency in various critical areas, including patient care, hygiene standards, privacy protocols, ethical conduct, technical clinical skills, and other essential abilities.
If formal degrees aren’t mandatory, how do aspiring CNAs gain the necessary skills and knowledge? The answer lies in the numerous CNA training programs available in most states. These programs are designed to be completed relatively quickly, often within four to eight weeks. For those aiming to advance their healthcare careers beyond a CNA role, such as becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree is a strategic step to prepare for more complex responsibilities in the future.
Let’s explore the educational requirements, the certification exam, and the content covered in CNA training in more detail.
Educational Requirements for CNAs
It may be surprising to learn that there isn’t a degree requirement to become a CNA. Some states allow enrollment in CNA training programs with just a high school diploma or even while participating in a high school CNA program.
The minimal educational requirements compared to many other healthcare careers make the CNA role appealing as an entry-level option for individuals interested in nursing or healthcare. However, despite the less stringent educational demands, aspiring CNAs are held to high standards and must demonstrate their knowledge through rigorous testing. Candidates must successfully pass both a written and a practical, hands-on exam to prove their competence and become certified.
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CNA Certification and Exam Requirements
CNA certification exams are managed at the state level, leading to variations in rules and regulations based on location. For instance, the California Department of Public Health provides a list of California CNA testing vendors and offers comprehensive information about CNA training programs, applications, renewals, and state/federal requirements.
Most states mandate that CNAs pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination. This exam is used in 17 jurisdictions across the US, listed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The NNAAP consists of two main parts: a written knowledge test and a clinical skills evaluation. Let’s examine these components of the NNAAP in more detail, and consider whether CNAs can specialize in specific patient care areas.
Certification: Written Exam
According to Prometric, a test preparation company, the written part of the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam includes “70 multiple-choice questions, with 10 of these being unscored items used for statistical analysis.” Credentia, which administers the exam in California, offers a practice NNAAP written exam for candidates in California.
Alongside the clinical skills portion, the written exam evaluates candidates in three core knowledge areas: Physical Care Skills (e.g., dressing patients, data collection), Psychosocial Care Skills (addressing patients’ emotional needs), and the Role of the Nurse Aide (covering ethics and patient rights). This written exam is also available in an oral format and is offered in both English and Spanish.
Certification: Clinical Skills Exam
The clinical skills (hands-on) exam for CNA certification assesses proficiency in five basic nursing assistant skills, such as measuring and recording vital signs, proper handwashing techniques, and assisting with patient mobility. Mometrix indicates that this section “is composed of 60 multiple-choice items and 10 reading comprehension (word recognition) items.” You can access a practice NNAAP exam here, or explore California CNA test preparation resources provided by Credentia.
Can You Specialize as a CNA?
While CNA is an entry-level position, opportunities may exist for certified nursing assistants to gain focused experience in specialized areas. CNALicense.org identifies the top five specialization areas for CNAs in 2022 as cardiology, pediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatry, and home care. However, it’s important to note that specializing may require further education, such as earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) to access more advanced roles within these fields.
Essential Qualities and Skills for CNAs
The CNA role is physically and emotionally demanding, often placing individuals in high-pressure situations. It requires composure, professionalism, and the ability to remain calm even in stressful environments. CNAs must also be adept at making diverse patients feel comfortable and at ease during what can be intimidating or stressful healthcare experiences.
These demands call for caring individuals with high levels of empathy, excellent communication abilities, and strong interpersonal skills. Here are additional qualities and skills that are crucial for a CNA’s success:
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Reliability and responsibility
- Patience and compassion
- Physical stamina
- Willingness to assist with personal care tasks like bathing and lifting patients
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Basic understanding of medical terminology
CNA vs. Medical Assistant (MA): Key Differences
We’ve defined what a CNA is, outlined their typical duties and necessary attributes. Now, it’s important to distinguish this role from that of a Medical Assistant (MA).
According to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), “Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties.” Administrative tasks for MAs include processing insurance paperwork, arranging hospital admissions, managing phone calls, and assisting with billing and bookkeeping. Clinical duties, on the other hand, may involve preparing patients for examinations, wound care and dressing changes, conducting basic lab tests, and assisting physicians during patient exams.
While there’s some overlap in clinical duties between CNAs and MAs, the primary distinction is that CNAs focus solely on clinical tasks, particularly direct patient care such as mobility and hygiene assistance. There are also differences in salary expectations. Salary.com indicates that MAs in the United States earn an average annual salary of around $43,307. Similar to CNAs, MAs typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and must meet state-specific certification requirements, but a bachelor’s or master’s degree is not required.
Diverse Work Environments for Certified Nursing Assistants
Certified nursing assistants are vital across various healthcare settings, from nursing homes and Alzheimer’s care facilities to hospital pediatric units. This broad demand provides CNAs with diverse work opportunities, interacting directly with patients facing illness or injury, as well as collaborating with nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Typical workplaces for CNAs include:
- Ambulatory healthcare services (same-day care centers), such as dialysis centers
- Assisted living facilities and communities
- Home healthcare services, involving patient care in their residences
- Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) and rehabilitation centers
- Public, private, and community hospitals, including children’s and veterans’ hospitals
CNA Salary and Job Outlook: What to Expect
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) offers detailed data on earnings, job growth, and other career metrics. According to the BLS, nursing assistants (including CNAs) had a median salary of $38,130 per year as of May 2023. Salaries can be higher in top-paying industries, states, and for certain employers, as ranked by the BLS and Indeed.
Top Industries for CNA Salaries:
- Government Organizations — $43,410
- State, Local, and Private Hospitals — $38,920
- Skilled Nursing Facilities — $37,780
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly — $37,230
- Home Healthcare Services — $35,350
Top States for CNA Salaries:
- Alaska — $62,003 per year
- Oregon — $59,494 per year
- Washington — $53,539 per year
- Vermont — $54,523 per year
- Hawaii — $52,516 per year
The BLS also notes that the top 10% of earners in this profession can make over $48,780 annually. Furthermore, the CNA role often serves as a stepping stone to advanced nursing and healthcare careers, such as radiation therapy, which boasts a median annual salary of approximately $98,300 based on BLS data. We will discuss the progression from CNA to other nursing roles in the following section.
Looking ahead, the BLS projects a 4% job growth rate for CNAs through 2033, aligning with the average national growth rate for all occupations.
Career Advancement: From CNA to Other Nursing Roles
As previously mentioned, CNA positions are excellent starting points, providing essential experience and preparation for more specialized nursing careers. But how does one transition from a CNA to a registered nurse or other advanced roles?
The first step is to determine your desired nursing specialty, as this will dictate the necessary degree requirements and educational investment. For example, becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) generally requires a bachelor’s degree or higher, while advanced roles like Nurse Anesthetist often necessitate a master’s degree at minimum.
Whether you aim for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in nursing, National University’s flexible four-week course structure and online learning options can facilitate efficient program completion. Consider exploring our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program as a starting point.
In addition to the appropriate education, licensure and certifications are crucial and vary by state. For example, in California, becoming a licensed RN requires passing the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX). The California Board of Registered Nursing (CBRN) provides detailed steps and criteria for RN licensure.
Finally, ongoing professional development is essential. Maintaining current skills and knowledge requires fulfilling continuing education requirements, which differ by state. For instance, the CBRN mandates that “Registered nurses in California must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years… to maintain an active license.”
Continuing education not only meets professional requirements in California and many other states but also enhances career prospects and opens doors to diverse nursing specialties, including pediatrics, immunology, public health, cardiology, mental health, and rehabilitation. Planning for continuing education and professional development is a vital step in any chosen nursing path.
Become a CNA and Advance Your Nursing Career with National University
National University offers a variety of accredited nursing programs for undergraduate and graduate students, including flexible online options designed for transfer, international, military, and adult learners. Our nursing degree programs include the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctorate of Nursing Practice, and Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate, as well as specialized certificates like the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate. Whether you are starting your healthcare journey or are an experienced nurse seeking continuing education in California, our programs are designed to enhance your skills and advance your expertise.
Make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives. Begin your academic journey today. Contact our admissions office or apply online through our secure portal.
