Like much of the healthcare establishment, the need for nursing support workers is growing as healthcare providers struggle to meet increased demand while controlling rising costs. Nursing aides and assistants, also called orderlies and hospital attendants, assist nurses and other health care professionals in their daily tasks.
While their duties vary depending on the type of facility in which they work, their experience, and their educational background, nursing aides of all kinds play a vital role in the healthcare community. It's a starring role as well: there are almost twice as many nursing aides as Licensed Practical Nurses; almost 1.5 million workers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008:
- 42% of CNAs worked in nursing care facilities, like 24-hour nursing homes or geriatric outpatient centers.
- 27% of CNAs worked in public and private hospitals.
- 10% of CNAs worked in community care facilities for the elderly, like retirement homes.
- 3% of CNAs administered to patients' needs during home visits, through home care nursing services.
- 3% of CNAs were employed by employment service companies like temp agencies.
Source: Bureau of Labor StatisticsSupervised by the nurses they assist, nursing aides care for patients in many different ways: they are often responsible to ensure that patients and nursing home residents are as comfortable as circumstances allow. They often help patients with the simple daily chores that illness or injury have made more difficult, such as eating, bathing, and dressing. In many facilities, patients with disabled mobility rely on nursing aides to get around; to therapy sessions, the cafeteria, or for a Sunday walk through the garden.
Because of the nature of their work and the patients they care for, nursing assistants often develop positive relationships with their charges. For those interested in service-based careers, nurse assisting can be a tender, fulfilling opportunity to minister to the needs of the ill, the injured, and the elderly.
Nursing aides are required by Federal law to complete a Certified Nursing Assistant program, which includes 75 hours of state-approved training and a competency test. These programs generally can be completed in a matter of days or weeks, either free through the employing facility or through a 3rd party educator or organization. In many states, CNA programs can be completed online, so check with your state's nursing board.
For many people who do not have the educational or experiential background required to become a RN or LPN, a career as a nursing aide can be an excellent way to begin a healthcare career: because of their close daily proximity to RNs and LPNs, nursing aides and assistants have a uniquely relevant work experience conducive to eventually pursuing the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN, and becoming a nurse.
CNA Career Opportunities
Job opportunities for qualified nursing aides are excellent as healthcare providers seek to meet increasing demand with finite resources. Because they are capable of many of the same care-giving tasks as nurses, nursing aides, assistants, and orderlies are often a low-cost alternative to other, more educated healthcare professionals.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,469,800 working nursing aides in 2008. By 2018, that figure is expected to grow to 1,745,800 – that's a 19% increase of 276,000 new jobs. Compare that to the expected 8.2% growth rate of the civilian workforce over the same period.
Source: Bureau of Labor StatisticsAccording to the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a project of the Department of Labor's Education and Training Administration, real demand for qualified CNAs will surpass even that healthy 19% growth rate. There are expected to be 422,300 job openings from 2008-2018: that includes the 276,000 new jobs added as demand increases AND positions vacated by retirement, career change, or early termination.
CNA Earnings
Earnings for CNAs vary by experience, location, and educational achievement. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wages for nursing aides in 2008 were $11.46. The middle 50% of the field made between $9.71 and $13.76 an hour, while the bottom 10% earned less than $8.34 and the top 10% earned more than $15.97 an hour.
Source: Bureau of Labor StatisticsCNA Skills and Abilities
Nursing aides are sometimes responsible for chores that some find unpleasant, like dressing wounds or emptying bedpans. It is important that they are sympathetic, patient, and kind. The unfortunate reality that some of those they care for will die means that nursing aides should also be emotionally durable.
Because of the importance of their daily tasks to the patients they care for, it is important that nursing aides and orderlies are dependable, arriving at work on time and reliable throughout the work day. CNAs are often responsible for the needs of many patients at once, so those with good organizational skills and a work ethics will be successful.
CNAs should be in reasonably good health, as their prospective employers may ask them to take a physical examination. Many employers also regularly perform criminal background checks, because of CNAs' access to the helpless.
Many CNAs work in 24-hour nursing care facilities, so those nursing aides who are willing to work nontraditional schedules and late hours will have the best opportunities.
CNA Educational Benefits
All nursing aides are required to complete their CNA certification; any further education is optional. Many nursing aides continue their formal education and eventually become RNs or LPNs. Other career-minded CNAs may seek certificates that better qualify them for jobs in specialized facilities. Continued formal education can qualify CNAs for better pay, but discuss that with your employer before beginning any nurse assisting programs.
According to the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), 55% of CNAs aged 25 to 44 have a high school diploma, GED, or less. 37% have some college, including certificate, diploma, and associate's degree-awarding programs, and 7% have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: Bureau of Labor StatisticsCNA Programs Online
Many states let nursing aides earn their CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) distinction online. Online CNA programs can be an affordable, attractive prospect to students who also work full-time, but make sure your state's nursing board will accept an online CNA degree. But remember, many employers hire untrained nursing assistants and train them at their facilities, usually at no cost to the prospective employee, so a little research goes a long way.
Career-minded nursing assistants can earn specializations online through certificates like geriatric or pediatric care. As with all educational decisions, do your research when picking a certificate program. Make sure the offering institution is accredited and reputable.
CNA Qualification and Advancement
Nursing aides and assistants may eventually want to become RNs or LPNs, and their work experience and academic background make them a strong candidate for ASN- and BSN-level LPN and RN programs.
Additional Information
The National Association of Health Care Assistants maintains a Web site at http://www.nahcacares.org.
The National Network of Career Nursing Assistants maintains a Web site at http://www.cna-network.org.