ALT-4 So you want to be a Cna Certified Nursing Assistant
The decision has been made, you have chosen to become a C.N.A (certified nursing assistant); now depending on the state in which you reside, the requirements may vary, but generally you will need to enroll at a local college, take the C.N.A course and become CPR certified.
I too had made the decision to become a C.N.A, and took the course at the community college here in Michigan, the course I took was an advanced course, therefore, what normally would take a semester to receive certification, I achieved in three weeks. The clinical part of the class was a breeze; perhaps, the reasoning for this was, because I had already been in the medical field for the prior four years as a home health aide. However, the bookwork was another story. We would go over 5 chapters a day, then when we came into class the following day we would be tested on those chapters, I would become panicked at times. However, I always made it through, and I am grateful for the support I had from my spouse, that I stuck with it to reach my goal, and finished the class with a 96%.
I chose to work in long term care, which would be nursing homes and the C.N.A class did not fully prepare me for this type of atmosphere. I have seen all too often, how family members would put their loved one in the nursing home, and that would be the end, they would never come back to visit, not even a phone call, until that loved one was in the final days of their life. I found this to be very heart wrenching, and to this day, I have not figured out how a person could so easily forget someone they love.
So, in order to maintain this profession, you have to have a very strong heart and a stomach of steel because, on a daily basis you will encounter the smell of urine, feces and vomit. Another trait that you will need is excellent body mechanics, this means the proper way to position your body when lifting a patient, if this is preformed incorrectly, and you may experience a pulled muscle or low back pain for several days at a time.
I have found that the most important characteristic, which one must have in this career, is a heart of gold that one must be genuine in their reasoning for becoming a C.N.A. There have been way too many times, I have worked with others who are clearly only there for a job or the money, they do not possess a sincere concern for the patients, and therefore, neglect and even abuse them. In my opinion, these types of individuals have no right to be in the medical field or near the patients.
I have always maintained the motto to treat my patients, as if they were my grandmother, grandfather, mother, etc., and have a conscious awareness that once the elderly are put into a nursing home their freedom and independence is a thing of the past. Their lives are now being dictated for them, from the time they must wake up in the morning, when they get to eat, nap and even get to take a shower. This can be very discomforting to your patients; I know it would be for me. There are times when the patient may not know how to deal with this new way of life, and become very angry and combative, try not to take this personally, just make sure they are safe and step out of the room and approach them at a later time.
You have to hold great levels of compassion for your patients, and remember that to them, you are part of their family now, it is your interactions with them daily, the stories and life experiences you share with them that may bring joy and happiness to their day.
Although I am no longer working as a C.N.A, I am now a medical assistant, I have no regrets, in fact, and the experience has taught me some valuable lessons in life and about people. My advice to you would be, if given the opportunity to experience a career day, which is where you shadow a C.N.A for a day, take it and make sure that this profession is really what you want to do. That you are able to handle the challenges and rewards that each day will present to you and always remember that you can make all the difference in the world to you patients by showing them kindness and compassion with a smile.
