Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) – Career and Education Profile

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Certified nursing assistants play a vital role in patient care, ensuring that even the smallest tasks are completed to help every patient get the help he or she needs as quickly as possible.

Job Responsibilities

As a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, your role in a medical facility will be to serve in a “first responder” type of role. Your tasks could include things like recording vital signs, taking patient history notes, assisting with personal hygiene tasks, feeding patients, running errands for nurses, checking medical equipment to ensure it is working properly, cleaning patient rooms, and providing companionship. It is also your job to alert a doctor or nurse if a patient needs immediate attention.

Salary and Career Options

According to reports, certified nursing assistants make an average salary of between $24,729 and $29,887 annually, depending on where you work. You will also earn more money if you are experienced in the field or go through additional training classes. Becoming a certified nursing assistant is a great stepping stone for becoming an LPN or RN.

Educational Requirements

Training as a certified nursing assistant only takes six to twelve weeks, depending no your program of choice, making it one of the fastest ways to begin working in the nursing field. You’ll also receive hands-on training from your employer, as every facility is different. Some of the classes you’ll take include learning nursing assistant skills like triage, emergency first aid, CPR, nutrition, anatomy, and basic nursing skills. Once you go through these classes, you can take the certification exam, which is typically administered by your school in conjunction with the National Association for Home Care. Certification requirements vary from state to state, and you may have to take classes annually to remain certified as a nursing assistant.

LPN to RN College Programs

With some additional schooling, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can become a registered nurse (RN), opening doors to more job opportunities and higher salaries. The following is a list of schools with the best online LPN to RN degree programs offered by accredited colleges. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

LPN to RN (BSN)	Indiana State University—ISU’s LPN to BSN degree program is the only online LPN to RN training program in the United States. LPNs and LVNs who complete this program can earn their NLNAC-approved Bachelor of Science degree in nursing entirely online. Upon completion, graduates should meet all of the prerequisites for becoming an RN. Read an in-depth review of Indiana State University.
LPN to RN LPN to ADN LPN to BSN	The College Network—Earn your LPN to RN (ADN) degree completely online with no campus attendance and no wait list. Learn from the convenience of home at your own pace, and earn an NLNAC-accredited associate’s degree in less time and for less money than traditional campus programs. Read an in-depth review of The College Network.
	Select a subject and degree level, then click "Find My Degree" to browse 100+ online nursing schools offering relevant accredited programs.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Education MSN in Nurse Informatics MSN in Nurse Management	Walden University—Founded in 1970, Walden University is dedicated to providing education for a higher purpose. The Nursing School confers degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s level, which provides further study in health informatics, nursing education, and nursing leadership/management. Walden is one of the biggest providers of online master and doctorate programs with over a hundred degrees offered at each level.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing (MSN) MSN in Adult Health RN to MSN in Nurse Education Accelerated RN to MSN	South University—South University’s College of Nursing offers numerous degree programs for aspiring nurses. Those looking for a BSN degree can enter into the RN to BSN and complete it within 18 months. South also offers the following master’s degree-level programs: MS in Nursing (MSN), MSN in adult health nurse practitioning, MSN in nurse education, and an accelerated RN to MSN.
RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Administration MSN in Nurse Education	Kaplan University—Kaplan University’s RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs feature curriculums that provide registered nurses with the tools to graduate with BSN and MSN degrees. The MSNs in Nurse Administration or Nurse Education feature curriculums that teach methods in management and education in order to prepare students for leadership and educator positions with in the nursing field.