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Oct 1, 2024 · Lower Pay. While CNAs provide essential care, the pay for this role is typically lower compared to other healthcare professions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNAs earn a mean annual wage of just over $36,000, while Registered Nurses earn around $89,000 (according to May 2022 data).
- The training courses to become a CNA are not free. If you wish to become a certified nursing assistant, you will need to complete a training course. The cost of this course can vary depending on the provider, but it is not free.
- You will not make a tremendous amount of money. One of the biggest disadvantages of being a CNA is that your salary is on the lower end of the pay scale for a career in healthcare.
- You will be performing a task that is not always fun. When evaluating the pros and cons of being a CNA you will need to take into consideration that you will be expected to do some dirty tasks.
- Your job is physically demanding. When you work as a CNA, you can expect your job to be extremely physicallydemanding. Every shift, you are required to move, lift, push and pull your patients.
- Overview
- What does a CNA do?
- 19 reasons to become a CNA
Certified nursing assistants provide direct care to patients with both minor and serious injuries and illnesses. As with many jobs in the medical field, the role of a CNA comes with several benefits. Knowing the reasons to become a CNA can help you make a career decision with greater ease.In this article, we explain the duties of a CNA and list 19 ...
A CNA is a nursing professional who provides basic care to a variety of patients. Here are some of their common duties:
•Gather medical supplies
•Groom and bathe patients
•Feed patients and monitor and record their food intake
•Check patients' vital signs
•Answer patient calls
1. Salary potential
CNAs make a national average salary of $42,965 per year. Your salary in this profession may vary based on your geographic location, experience level and employer. Keep in mind that it's an entry-level role with minimal requirements. Overall, there's plenty of room for growth as you gain experience in the role.Related: How Much Does a Certified Nursing Assistant Make?For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the link provided.
2. Employment opportunities
As a prospective CNA, you can expect to find many job opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nursing assistants can expect an employment growth of 5% through 2031. The BLS expects about 62,000 job openings for both nursing assistants and orderlies in the 2021-2031 decade. These job openings may come from employees changing careers or leaving the workforce altogether. Per the BLS, the demand for CNAs may continue to rise because of the need for healthcare services from an aging population.Related: How To Become a CNA (And Choose the Right State for You)
3. Help your community
As a CNA, you can make a positive impact on someone's life. CNAs help their patients with a variety of essential services, helping them with the daily tasks they can't do on their own. Some of these tasks may include dressing, eating or cooking. Helping patients with these necessary tasks can help them get through the day more easily and make you feel good knowing that you played a small part in it.Related: CNA to RN Programs: 6 Main Benefits and How To Apply
- Many nurses actually started off as CNAs. It’s definitely possible for many people to start working as a CNA right after high school or while they are still in college before deciding what career path they would like to take afterward.
- You get paid to learn. Being a newly certified nursing assistant gets you into the medical profession without having gone through years of training and several hundred thousand dollars in student loans.
- CNA salary is excellent. The average CNA salary starts at around $30,000 annually but can be as high as $40,000 or more depending on where you live and how much experience you have under your belt.
- The job market is growing. The need for healthcare services is increasing greatly due to the aging Baby Boomer population in America. Many CNAs decide to pursue additional training and become RNs which has opened up even more job opportunities being open for them as well.
- Opportunity to Make a Difference: CNAs provide patients and their families with essential services, performing the daily tasks patients cannot do or struggle to complete on their own, including dressing, bathing, cooking, eating, linen-changing, and getting in and out of bed.
- Opportunity to Specialize: Becoming a CNA provides opportunities to try nursing after a shorter training period and explore potential specialty areas. A CNA credential can open doors to educational programs and careers as registered nurses or advanced practice nurses, both of which offer specializations in areas such as acute care, gerontology, oncology, family practice, and pediatrics.
- Affordability: Because CNAs earn a certification rather than a degree, the financial commitment can be far lower. Online CNA training typically costs less than in-person programs, and some schools, organizations, and healthcare facilities offer free CNA classes.
- Job Stability: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects approximately 174,000 job openings for CNAs each year between 2019 and 2029. An aging population, along with a nationwide nursing shortage across all levels of nursing, translates to a high level of job stability throughout the end of the decade.
One of the biggest benefits of becoming a CNA is the short amount of time it takes to get fully trained and properly certified for this role. Though it varies depending on the requirements in your state and on the course itself, many CNA training programs only take four to 12 weeks to complete. This short training period allows you to start ...
People also ask
Is a Certified Nursing Assistant a good job?
Should you become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
Is being a CNA a good career choice?
Is a CNA career worth it?
Is a career in nursing worthwhile?
What are the pros and cons of a Certified Nursing Assistant?
If you’re thinking about a healthcare career, becoming a certified nursing assistant is a good option. This is especially true if you’re not quite sure if you’ll like working in healthcare. Getting a job as a patient care tech in a hospital can be a great way to give you first-hand experience on what it’s actually like working in a hospital setting.
