EIP CAREER SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2014 Employment Initiative Program... Opening the Door to Life’s Opportunities FASTEST GROWING CAREERS thru 2022 Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) What Education or Training would I Need? At the minimum, most CNA’s are required to have their high school diploma or equivalent. Many healthcare facilities provide on-the-job training for nursing assistants. You may also be required to attend and complete a training program once you are hired to t become certified. Lastly, you may have to shadow a senior worker in order to learn the skills you need and develop the ones that you possess. What Would I Do as a Certified Nursing Assistant? As a certified nursing assistant (CNA), you work with nurses and other hospital staff to assist patients with daily activities, such as dressing, grooming, bathing and eating. Depending on the patient, you may take vital signs, help move them or change their linens. Patient and compassionate bedside manner is required for when dealing with disgruntled or disoriented patients, as well as the physical strength to help support patients who need assistance with mobility. You also need to be aware of and practice safety protocols to avoid contamination, infection and injury. How Do I Become Certified? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the federal government requires nursing assistants to be licensed CNAs to work in nursing homes (www.bls.gov). Individual states have varying requirements for CNA certification and licensure, though most require you to complete at least a 75-hour training program and pass an examination to obtain licensure. You can check with your Maryland CNA Program or Nurse Aide Registry for specific state requirements. CNA exams are typically divided into written, clinical and physical sections. EIP Career Spotlight OCTOBER 2014 CREDITS Sources: Degreedirectory.org occupationalinfo.org; usnews.com uscollegesearch.org; Robin Reshwan, Collegial Services Photographs: 123RFcna stock photos Editing: Angela Dion Layout: Brenda Tyer What Salary Could I Earn? The BLS reported that as of May 2010 nursing aides, orderlies and attendants, a group that includes nursing assistants, earned a median salary of $24,010. The BLS noted that nationwide employment for this group was projected to increase 19% in the decade from 2008-2018, which is faster than average. Most job openings are predicted to be in nursing care facilities because the U.S. population continues to age and hospitals need to discharge patients at a faster rate. Start Your CNA Career If you're ready to take the first steps toward a certified nursing assistant job, learn about your education options. Explore certified nursing assistant schools in your area, and start your career on the right foot. HOC appreciates your feedback. To submit story ideas, get more information or suggest improvements, please email: [email protected] Do You Need Community Service Hours?  EIP classes count towards community service hours. For more information contact Angela Dion at (240) 627-9738 or via email: [email protected] The classes are FREE and available exclusively to HOC clients! Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) of Montgomery County 10400 Detrick Avenue Kensington, MD 20895 (240) 627-9400 http://www.hocmc.org website: www.hocmc/EIP.aspx visit us on: