Q: Can you become a CNA in high school?

Yes, you can become a CNA in high school. Many schools offer accredited nursing assistant programs to help you complete the requirements for becoming a CNA while still in high school. These schools provide the necessary courses to prepare for and pass the CNA exam.

Q: How much do nursing assistants make per hour?

Nursing assistants make $15.00 an hour, on average. The average pay range for a nursing assistant varies by as much as $4.57. Factors such as certification, education, location, and prior job experience have a marginal impact on earning potential.

Q: How much does it cost to get CNA certified?

It costs $1,400 to get a CNA certified, on average. However, it can range from $600 to $2,000. The tuition cost varies largely from school to school and is based on geographic location and other factors. Tuition is generally not the only cost of CNA training.

Q: Is it hard to become a CNA?

No, it is not hard to become a CNA. To become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) does not require a bachelor's or even an associate's degree. To begin a CNA program requires only a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and the program can be completed in as little as 2 to 3 months.

Question 1

Nurse Tech vs. CNA

Accepted Answer

A nurse tech is someone who has advanced medical training in performing certain procedures, while a CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) is a trained and certified healthcare professional that assists nurses.

Question 2

Nurse Technician vs. CNA

Accepted Answer

A nurse technician performs the duties of a CNA but is also trained to perform some basic medical duties such as EKG readings and phlebotomy, while a CNA performs basic patient-care duties.

Question 3

At what age can you become a CNA?

Accepted Answer

You can become a CNA at the age of 18, however, the specific age requirements to become a CNA can vary depending on the country you live in and the nursing program you pursue.

In addition, there are also some states that allow 16-year-olds to become CNAs, however, these individuals still need the proper education, which makes it more likely that they will become professional CNAs at the age of 18. It is worth noting that you must attend a nursing school program for an associate's degree in order to become a CNA. This takes two years.

Question 4

Can you become a CNA in high school?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can become a CNA in high school. Many schools offer accredited nursing assistant programs to help you complete the requirements for becoming a CNA while still in high school. These schools provide the necessary courses to prepare for and pass the CNA exam.

Question 5

Can you become a CNA with a felony?

Accepted Answer

No, in most states you can not become a CNA if you have a felony on your record. This might vary depending on which particular state you are trying to become a CNA in. In general, though having a felony conviction on your record is most likely going to mean that you are ineligible for CNA certification.

Question 6

How long does it take to become a certified nursing assistant?

Accepted Answer

It takes 1 to 2 years to become a certified nursing assistant. To become a certified nursing assistant you must complete a state-approved training program. These programs are generally found at local community colleges, high schools, vocational or technical schools, or local hospitals.

Question 7

How much do nursing assistants make per hour?

Accepted Answer

Nursing assistants make $15.00 an hour, on average. The average pay range for a nursing assistant varies by as much as $4.57. Factors such as certification, education, location, and prior job experience have a marginal impact on earning potential.

Question 8

How much does it cost to get CNA certified?

Accepted Answer

It costs $1,400 to get a CNA certified, on average. However, it can range from $600 to $2,000. The tuition cost varies largely from school to school and is based on geographic location and other factors. Tuition is generally not the only cost of CNA training.

Question 9

Is it hard to become a CNA?

Accepted Answer

No, it is not hard to become a CNA. To become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) does not require a bachelor's or even an associate's degree. To begin a CNA program requires only a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and the program can be completed in as little as 2 to 3 months.

Question 10

What are the pros and cons of being a CNA?

Accepted Answer

There are many pros and cons to being a CNA, including job opportunities, stress levels, and burnout. Here is a guide that breaks down the pros and cons of being a CNA:

Pros:

As a CNA, you get to help people. This is often cited as a top pro of the nursing profession. CNAs provide critical care and medical assistance to people in their most vulnerable physical states. This is a sensitive job that takes skills and compassion to perform.
Patients are extremely grateful for the services CNAs provide. This can lead to a CNA feeling very fulfilled.
CNAs are in high demand. CNAs are in demand in nearly every part of the country. It is extremely rare for a qualified CNA to be out of work.
CNAs also have many choices regarding where they want to live. CNAs don't have to feel tied down to one location because there are jobs for them wherever they want to move.
Flexible schedules. In general, CNAs have a lot of flexibility regarding their work schedules. CNAs can often choose whether to work full-time, part-time, or on-call.
And veteran CNAs perhaps have the most choice regarding scheduling because seniority is often at play when CNA schedules are created.

Question 11

What is the difference between LNA and CNA?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between an LNA and CNA is that an LPN provides a higher level of patient care than a CNA. The differences between a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and a certified nursing assistant (CNA) reflect differences in educational / certification requirements, job duties, and salary.

Question 12

What is the fastest way to become a CNA?

Accepted Answer

The best and fastest way to become certified as a CNA is by becoming a part of a Consolidated Nurse Aid School in your local area. Consolidated nurse aid schools provide fast-track certification options with smaller class sizes and multilingual tutors to give each applicant the best chance at completing their certification.

Question 13

Where do CNAs work?

Accepted Answer

CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) work in a variety of health facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, adult daycares, and long-term residential facilities.

Question 14

Why do you want to be a CNA?

Accepted Answer

You want to be a CNA for the following reasons:

Certified Nursing Assistants have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their patients. CNAs provide essential medical and general services to patients and their family members.
These services usually revolve around tasks that patients can not complete on their own because of an illness, injury, or other medical condition. CNAs help patients to eat, dress, groom, bathe, change bed sheets, and help patients move around and get in and out of bed.
CNAs have the opportunity to specialize. CNAs get the opportunity to be exposed to different forms of nursing.
This can open up different career paths in the nursing field and give CNAs the chance to specialize in a certain area and further their career with more education and training. This can ultimately lead to positions that have higher salaries.
CNA certification is affordable. Compared to medical degrees in nursing or medicine, CNA certifications are relatively cheap.
Online CNA programs are even less expensive than those that are in-person, and also give the student a chance for a flexible learning schedule. And even better, certain medical facilities, schools, and organizations offer free CNA training.
CNAs have great job stability. CNAs are in high demand as there has been a nursing shortage in the US for some years now.
An aging population has also added to the demand for CNAs. This also means CNAs don't have to feel tied down to their current location and are free to move just about anywhere in the country and find work.
CNAs have flexible schedules. Because of the large need for CNAs, many of them can choose work schedules to fit their personal needs.
This includes taking part-time roles, as well as full-time. There are also opportunities to work as needed, or to be on call. In addition, CNAs can also opt for the night or overnight shifts, if necessary.
The job has variety. CNAs rarely experience the same kind of working day twice.
They are exposed to several different patients and medical colleagues daily, and their tasks can change from one day to the next. This means their work life can remain feeling fresh and challenging.
CNAs work in a wide variety of medical environments. The demand for CNAs also translates to options of working in a variety of environments.
CNAs work in a variety of environments. Nursing care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, employ 37% of CNAs, followed by hospitals at 27%.
Other large employers of CNAs include continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly at 11%, home healthcare services at 5%, and government at 4%.

Question 15

How many vacation days do cnas have?

Accepted Answer

The number of vacation days CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) have can vary depending on their exact employer's policies, but typically it ranges from 7 to 14 days per year.

The exact amount of vacation days for a CNA can differ based on factors such as tenure and employment status. For instance, a full-time CNA might be entitled to more vacation days compared to a part-time worker. Similarly, a CNA who has been with the same employer for several years might accumulate more vacation days than someone who is brand new.

Question 16

What is a good starting salary for a Certified Nursing Assistant?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a certified nursing assistant is $24,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a certified nursing assistant in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for certified nursing assistants is $31,641, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a certified nursing assistant can vary by state.

Question 17

Do CNAs make good money?

Accepted Answer

Yes, CNAs make good money. If you consider the entry-level nature of being a CNA, the pay is definitely fair.

A CNA is similar to an STNA (state-tested nurses aide), and in general, they make a similar rate of pay. These positions are comparable to the entry-level position of a medical assistant or nurse. The average pay for a CNA is $25,000 a year, for a medical assistant is $40,0000, and for a nurse is $70,000.

The salary can range depending on where you work. Working for a small entity such as a nursing home will deliver less pay, while working for a hospital or government association will give you the opportunity to make a bit more money. In other words, a larger more networked facility will generally offer you a higher rate of pay than a small individual practice.

CNA salary can range depending on location and demand. Some areas have a larger need for a great number of hospital employees, while smaller suburban areas may need CNAs in a doctor's office or nursing home.

Question 18

How much do CNAs make an hour?

Accepted Answer

CNAs make $14.82 per hour, on average. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) is $14.82 per hour. However, there is some variability in how much a CNA has the potential to make, which can range from $14 to $18 an hour.

Question 19

What is the highest paid CNA?

Accepted Answer

The highest-paid CNA is an ICU nursing assistant, which earns an average of $20.50 an hour.

After ICU, the following are the top highest paid CNA positions.

Operating Room, Telemetry, Emergency Room, and Medicine and Surgery earn $20.00 an hour
Nursing care or rehabilitation facilities earn around $13.20 an hour
Nursing homes earn an average of $12.84 an hour
Government (e.g., VA hospital) earns around $18.97 an hour
Home health care specialist earns around $14.98 an hour

Question 20

What is the highest paying state for CNA?

Accepted Answer

The highest paying state for CNA is Alaska which averages $42,500 per year ($20.43 per hour). Alaska pays more for CNAs because the cost of living there is higher than in the continental United States because it's harder to transport goods.

Question 21

What is the starting salary for a nursing assistant?

Accepted Answer

The starting salary for a nursing assistant is $12 an hour ($23,400 a year). However, there is some variability in how much an entry-level nursing assistant has the potential to earn, which can range from $17,951 to $30,314 per year.

Question 22

Can a certified nursing assistant make 100k?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot make $100,000 per year as a certified nursing assistant. It is highly unlikely to earn over $100k because the average annual salary for a certified nursing assistant is $31,641. Even certified nursing assistants in higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $40,000 per year.

Question 23

Can a CNA work as a medical assistant?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a CNA can work as a medical assistant. This can be achieved through the medical assistant bridge program, which grants qualified CNAs the chance to enter the medical assistant field.

Question 24

Do CNAs get paid well?

Accepted Answer

No, CNAs do not get paid well. The national median annual salary for certified nursing assistants (CNA) is $30,830 a year or $14.82 per hour. Comparatively, the median annual salary for a registered nurse is $71,730 per year.

Question 25

Is a CNA the same as a medical assistant?

Accepted Answer

No, a CNA is not the same as a medical assistant. ACNA is a nursing role focused on assisting in patient care, while a medical assistant is mostly a clerical and administrative role. The two medical positions require different kinds of education, background, and skills.

Question 26

Is a certified nursing assistant a good job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being a certified nursing assistant is a good job. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) is a good job because it requires minimal training (8 to 12 weeks). CNA jobs are in demand. Once you become a CNA, there are many opportunities to move into more prestigious positions such as RN or LPN.

Question 27

How long is CNA training?

Accepted Answer

CNA training requires 75 hours of classroom and clinical training. Generally, out of the 75 total instruction hours, 16 of those are clinical hours, which includes hands-on training.

After completing these 75 hours of training, you must take and pass an exam before you can complete CNA training. The final exam includes both written and oral parts and a clinical examination. After passing the exam, you then must complete a competency evaluation. Once you pass that evaluation, you may begin working as a CNA.

Question 28

What percentage of Certified Nursing Assistants are female?

Accepted Answer

86.2% of certified nursing assistants are female in the United States. This is 0.8 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female certified nursing assistants has increased by 1.6 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 1,375,443 female certified nursing assistants in the U.S. and 220,199 male certified nursing assistants in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 1,595,642 people with the specific job title of certified nursing assistant and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 29

What does a cna do on a daily basis?

Accepted Answer

On a daily basis, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides basic care to patients by performing tasks such as feeding, bathing, dressing, and monitoring vital signs.

As a CNA, their primary role is to assist nursing staff with the care of patients. This typically involves a wide range of tasks. An average day might include helping patients with personal hygiene tasks such as showering, toileting, and brushing their teeth. They are also responsible for helping patients get dressed and assisting with mobility, either by helping them walk or by moving them from their bed to a wheelchair.

Question 30

Can a CNA work from home?

Accepted Answer

No, a CNA cannot work from home in most cases. A CNA is responsible for giving basic medical care to patients. They work under the supervision of senior nurses and doctors, performing tasks like monitoring a patient's vitals, changing wound dressings, and helping patients move around. CNAs may also help with a patient's grooming needs.

Question 31

How hard is it to become a CRNA?

Accepted Answer

It is very difficult to become a CRNA. CRNA school is one of the most difficult schools to get into and complete. Students must dedicate a tremendous amount of time to studying the concepts and principles of their programs.

Question 32

How many hours do CNAs work?

Accepted Answer

CNAs typically work around 40 hours per week. Most CNAs work shifts that are either 8 hours or 12 hours long. These shifts can be during the daytime, evening, or overnight depending on the location of where they work and their specific availability.

Question 33

How to reduce CNA burnout?

Accepted Answer

Reduce and manage stress, make time for yourself, and talk to others in order to reduce burnout as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). For a more detailed look at these strategies and others, reference this guide:

Reduce and manage stress. One of the most common reasons for CNA burnout is stress, so finding a way to manage this stress is extremely important. Taking breaks throughout your shift is helpful. Many hospitals may offer on-site counseling that can be beneficial in reducing stress. The most important thing is recognizing when you feel stress and planning ways to reduce it when that occurs.
Make time for yourself. Nurses work long shifts, and it can sometimes feel difficult to find time to do what you want, but make time for yourself, even if it's just something small like taking a bath or scheduling time with friends. Picking up a hobby can help with unwinding and leaving work at work.
Talk to others. Discussing your stress and burnout is a great way to help reduce it. This can be in a formal setting, such as what was mentioned earlier, but you can also find friends that allow you to "vent" with them. Finding a mentor at work can also be helpful in working through these feelings.
Exercise. Another great way to manage stress and reduce burnout is to exercise. Nurses work long, arduous hours and it may feel daunting to begin a new workout regime, but if you find something that works for you, it can be extremely helpful.

Question 34

Is CNA a good job?

Accepted Answer

No, a CNA is not a good job. Certified nursing assistants, or CNAs, often work 40+ hour weeks in stressful hospital environments and are not well-compensated.

According to a study from Pennsylvania's School of Nursing, nurses' unhappiness stems from stressful working conditions, staffing levels, and unsatisfactory benefits packages. This study was a sampling of nurses, not certified nurse assistants, who receive even fewer benefits and pay.

Frequently asked questions about certified nursing assistants

Questions about becoming a certified nursing assistant