Becoming a CNA (Certified Nurses Assistant) is a fast path to a medical career that offers stability and flexibility. CNAs are the front line in patient care for today's rapidly growing medical field. If you're interested in the nursing field, but not sure which career path to take, becoming a CNA has a short training period and will give you the chance to "test drive" a nursing career.
CNAs provide direct patient care, both medical and non-medical. They are typically supervised by registered nurses and often assist LPN nurses in a hospital setting. A CNA's work duties may include:
CNAs work in a variety of settings including hospitals, outpatient facilities, long term care facilities, clinics and in home care. CNAs are often given patient duties that are undesirable to other hospital staff. Home health nurses aides typically work independently with little direct supervision.