Many are interested in pursuing a nursing career, but not all are really determined that this is what they want. If this is the case with you, consider a job as a Certified Nurse's Assistant as your first step. It's cheap to take the course training required to be a CNA, it generally only takes a few weeks, and a job as a CNA will give you a front-row seat to what registered nurses do for a living every day.
In most states, there are private courses which teach the basic skills required to be a certified nurses assistant. These courses usually run from around $250 to $500.
Once the student completes the course, he then undergoes criminal background check and then proceeds to take an exam at a testing center. The CNA school can either administer the test itself or provide the student with the necessary details on how and where he can take the test. The test will have a written portion where the examinee will have to answer several questions related to this field, as well as a practical type where the student will demonstrate the basic skills he or she learned in patient care.
CNAs work under the direction of registered nurses. The patients they care for may be elderly, paralyzed, mentally handicapped, or physically dependent in some other way. CNAs also do a lot of grunt work including emptying bedpans, cleaning and bathing patients, getting them dressed and into their wheelchairs, even feeding them if needed.
CNA jobs are easy to come by although they don't necessarily pay well, ranging from $7 to $15, depending on your state and length of service. CNAs are needed in most health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, hospices, and even in prisons and special schools.
Many registered nurses began their careers as Certified Nurse's Assistants. A lot of nursing students work part time as CNAs while they are in nursing school. Plus, they are able to make valuable connections in the health care field and get references from their employers.
One big advantage of being a CNA first before continuing to become a registered nurse is that you can witness first hand what it is that RNs actually do. A nursing career is not for everyone, and it's better to be sure about this first before making the final decision. A nurse would have to exhibit the utmost patience and compassion, and certainly the job is not for the weak of stomach.
Those who want to experience working in the health care field before signing up for a nursing career will find a CNA job as an ideal first step. In fact, being a nursing assistant and caring for patients without the added responsibilities of being an RN has become such a good decision for some that they decide not to pursue further studies after all.
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