Becoming a nursing assistant is really a calling to many individuals. It takes a special person and a specific type of personality to be attracted to the nursing assistant profession. You are a huge part of patient care and for many people that can be a draw, though it does have its challenges. You are there to assist your patients with their most basic and fundamental needs, and you are the right hand to the nursing staff at your chosen medical facility. You need to know what it takes to be compassionate, patient, helpful, and discreet as you will help patients with needs that they are used to handling on their own.
To get the call and decide that a profession as a nursing assistant is an excellent first stepand an important one at that! For some, a career as a nursing assistant is a final destination and one in which they center their working life around. However there are many individuals who chose to become a nursing assistant on their road to becoming a registered nurse. Perhaps they are not ready to travel the long road to a role as a registered nurse or they are at a point in their life where they need to start working as they pursue the schooling. Nursing school can not only be a huge financial burden, but also a rather large commitment taking time away from other aspects of the life. Whatever your chosen path is as you enter into the world of the nursing assistant role, know that what you are getting into can be extremely rewarding and at times rather demanding as well.
Most individuals who pursue a career as a nursing assistant will need to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) as this is highly desirable. It can be possible to become a nursing assistant without education in certain facilities, but the majority of them require that an individual be a CNA to be hired. This can mean longevity and a more desirable salary, and is definitely a requirement for those who wish to pursue a more involved nursing profession. Whether you chose to make your long-term career goals as a nursing assistant or it is a stop along the way towards becoming a registered nurse, its important to understand the role, responsibilities, and requirements for a CNA.
Being a nursing assistant can bring great satisfaction to an individuals life and can provide great comfort to those around you. You will be depended on by the nursing staff for which you serve, as well as the patients which you care for. You can find great fulfillment through your commitment and your tasks in patient care and can learn some excellent lifelong skills in the process. Within the chapters of this book we will look at what it takes to be an excellent nursing assistant, what the expectations and responsibilities are, how you can go about becoming a CNA, and finally what such a profession can mean in your life.