If you’ve always wanted to join the rapidly growing healthcare field but lack experience, one way to get your foot in the door is by becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). In addition to coming from all walks of life and educational backgrounds, CNAs serve in a wide variety of healthcare settings – including home care. If you are passionate about helping others while working in a virtually recession-proof industry, here’s why working as a CNA could be far more rewarding than any job you’ve ever had before.
What Does a CNA Do?
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a professional caregiver trained to help clients maintain their hygiene and health in their chosen place of residence. CNAs assist clients in many ways, starting with daily functions such as dressing, bathing, food shopping, preparing healthy meals, or providing companionship.
CNAs sometimes also take a patient’s vital signs or give them medicine under the direction of a licensed nurse. They can even help with planning for doctor’s appointments or coordinating transportation.
Additional CNA duties may include:
- Grocery shopping
- Light housekeeping
- Reporting to supervision about a client’s health status
- Help organize a client’s schedule
- Coordinate care with therapists, doctors, and other medical professionals
Some CNAs work with clients who have developmental or intellectual disabilities to help create a behavior plan and teach self-care skills, for instance, doing laundry or paying bills.
CNAs also work in many different healthcare settings, including private residences, hospitals, assisted living communities, medical clinics, and nursing homes.
What Do CNAs Love About Their Jobs?
Using home care as an example, the positives of working as a CNA include:
Instant gratification
For starters, you’ll feel instant gratification knowing that you’re making a difference in the lives of others. As a CNA, you’ll develop personal relationships with your clients and experience a sense of accomplishment that can only come with knowing that you are enhancing another human being’s quality of life.
Flexible scheduling
As a home caregiver, you’ll be able to pick and choose your own hours. This makes for a great career for any person at any stage of life, notably for those with young children. Whether you’re in the middle of pursuing a higher degree or raising a family, a career as a CNA offers many rewards and opportunities, including a healthy work/life balance.
Supports independent lifestyles
When an older adult doesn’t have any reliable family caregivers to look after them, moving into a care facility is a distinct possibility. Your efforts will allow them to live comfortably and independently in their home. Seniors who remain independent tend to be happier, healthier, and even live longer than those who aren’t.
Career enrichment
As CNA, personal development also matters. A career in the healthcare field will allow you to grow on both a personal and professional level. Through a supportive and nurturing environment, there are many different options each caregiver will experience, which then allows them to choose a specific path for career advancement.
Job security
According to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations – including home care – is expected to grow 15 percent over the next decade. Even during an economic recession, the demand for CNAs will only continue to rise. That means you will be able to take advantage of a strong job market for many years to come.
Resume builder
Being a CNA also allows you to specialize your skills. Through home care, you can either focus on adult care or pediatrics while building a resume working within a specialty you enjoy. Whether you love assisting new parents bringing their infant home for the first time or an aging adult with complex medical needs, becoming a CNA puts you on the right career path to success.
Pursue Your Career Dreams at Senior1Care in Fort Wayne, IN
Are you interested in becoming a CNA but aren’t sure how to get started? At Senior1Care, our Legacy CNA Training program operates in two Indiana locations – Carmel and Mishawaka. We are proud that our graduates have consistently earned the highest pass rate in Indiana.
If you already are a CNA, Senior1Care would also love to hear from you. Due to our expanding client load, we are now seeking qualified individuals to fill several caregiving positions at our Fort Wayne, IN, location. We offer our employees a fast-paced, positive work environment where input is valued, and hard work rewarded. Whether you’re an aide, nurse, therapist, social worker, or another type of healthcare professional, we’ve got the job you need! To learn more about career opportunities with Senior1Care in Fort Wayne, IN, please visit us today by clicking here now.
