Are you considering pivoting into a career in the healthcare industry but need help deciding which career to pursue? Perhaps becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA), also known as a certified nurse aide, could be the answer. But what’s it like being a CNA, and is it the right career for you? We’ll look at the profession from it being a faster way to enter the healthcare sector and the exciting workplace locations where you can find potential employment… to the physical demands of the role.
One thing is sure, training to become a certified nursing assistant can help you pursue a new career with as little as four weeks of training. So soon, you could be applying for entry-level jobs in the medical profession and a potential springboard toward potential future career advancement with continued education and experience.
Learn more about Training Direct’s Nurse Aide (CNA) Training Program here!
Pros and cons of being a CNA
Every career has its ups and downs. However, for many healthcare professionals who have entered the industry by becoming a CNA first… the benefits may outweigh the negatives. But what exactly are the pros and cons of being a CNA, how hard is the role, and is being a CNA going to be for you?
Pros of being a CNA
So, what are the perks of becoming a CNA? What makes the role appealing for people like you looking to join the healthcare sector and flourish in providing care and aid to people in need?
- Job stability
For starters, becoming a certified nursing assistant is a vocation that benefits growth in employment demand. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected the overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is set to grow by 4% between 2022 and 2032, which is as fast as average for all occupations.1 As our population continues to age, skilled healthcare professionals will be needed to provide care in healthcare settings.
- Fast-track training
One of the most advantageous benefits of becoming a CNA is the speed at which you can train and pursue certification. Due to the nature of the role, you can quickly learn about being a CNA through accelerated certified nursing assistant learning programs. Completing your training in less than a month could see you challenging your state’s CNA certification exam and pursuing entry-level jobs as soon as you’ve passed and met the state’s requirements in order to become certified.
- Hands-on career that allows you to make a difference
The role involves close interactions with both your fellow healthcare professionals and the patients you attend to. This level of engagement makes the role of a CNA intensely rewarding, mainly because you provide first-hand support and reassurance to patients and colleagues alike.
- Variety of workplace settings
Another highly appealing aspect of being a CNA is the variety of medical settings you can soon find yourself working in. You might think certified nursing assistants work primarily in hospitals, but you could seek employment in rehabilitation clinics, home healthcare organizations, long-term residential care facilities, and nursing homes. As a CNA, you can also dedicate your career to working in the healthcare sector you are most passionate about.
Cons of being a CNA
Being a certified nursing assistant can be an enormously rewarding role. Although, it’s also important to recognize the potential downsides when balancing the pros and cons of being a CNA. These can include:
- Irregular hours
As with most public healthcare facilities, the industry operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Being frontline healthcare professionals, CNAs can be called upon to work day, night, and weekend shifts – so the hours can vary and this may be viewed as a drawback. However, work schedules can often allow you to rotate your shifts around family and external obligations to suit you. Additionally, you can also choose to work as a CNA at a facility that may allow you to schedule work to fit with your other commitments.
- Being a CNA is physically demanding
With the tasks and duties carried out as a nurse aide, it’s essential to recognize the hands-on nature of the role, which can make it physically demanding. You may find yourself on your feet for most of your shift during your rounds or when transporting patients, which can be tiring. Despite this, many CNAs credit this to helping keep them fit, and it certainly beats doing a boring desk job five days a week.
- Entry-level role
Due to the more advanced qualifications of other medical professionals, such as licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), and doctors, the role of a CNA is viewed as entry-level, and the salary is often lower. Interestingly, many LPNs and RNs can actually start their careers as CNAs. This is because becoming a CNA provides a quick pathway in the healthcare industry, and with continued education and experience, it can become a launch pad for further career advancement. After all, we all have to start somewhere, right?
Is being a CNA hard?
It’s important to acknowledge being a CNA can be physically and emotionally challenging and often demands a mix of resilience, patience, and stamina. However the positives can outweigh any perceived negatives. You may also have the added benefit of working with like-minded dedicated individuals in the workplace. So, no matter what medical facility you decide to join as a CNA, the benefits of becoming part of a team dedicated to supporting patients can help you overcome challenges you may face.
Is being a CNA for you?
Choosing to pursue a career as a nurse aide provides a wonderful opportunity to positively impact the lives of people needing medical care and treatment. Whether you pursue a career providing high-quality care as a CNA or use it as a stepping-stone to more advanced nursing or medical vocations, training to become a CNA could open a world of possibilities to provide a vital service within your local community.
Getting started with your CNA training with Training Direct
If the thought of being a CNA excites you, speak to Training Direct today. Our dedicated team of knowledgeable instructors in the nurse aide training program are here to help prepare you to challenge Connecticut’s CNA certification exam and your future CNA career.
Here at Training Direct, we combine expert classroom-based learning and hands-on clinical training, and you can choose to train to become a CNA at either of our campus locations:
Training Direct has determined that its Nurse Aide program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for certification in the State of Connecticut only. No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district or US territory in regards to certification requirements.
Training Direct encourages all graduates to pursue applicable certification, however, Training Direct makes no promises of a student’s or graduate’s outcome on a certification exam or their ability to gain recognition from a professional registry. Additional fees and requirements may apply in order to pursue certification and are the responsibility of the student.
Sources:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nursing Assistants and Orderlies, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursing-assistants.htm#tab-6
