Why Getting a CNA Job is Such a Good Idea

Taking a CNA job can be both challenging and rewarding for any individual. Before you can become a CNA, you must go through 6-12 weeks of training for certification, where you’ll learn everything from bathing patients to distributing meds and meals, to rotating patients in their beds in order to prevent bed sores.

The short duration of the training period is one of the things that entice people to work in the field. A CNA job can help you gain experience the healthcare field without spending loads of money for training as a registered nurse. This way, you don't end up stuck in a job that you don’t have the passion for, and you save several thousand dollars in student loans in the process.

Many CNA's work with patients who are recovering from surgery. You may also have to work with the elderly or with children, which is one of the most rewarding aspects of a CNA job. Terminally ill patients are another challenge, requiring really special care and consideration.

A CNA job will pay approximately $8.57 to $10.72 per hour if you’re just starting. This works out to about $20,200 per annum. As you gain more experience you can earn between $10.49 and $14.46 per hour or just over $30,000 per year.

You can also earn some incredible bonuses, especially if you have less experience in the field, according to median income analysis. Areas with high costs of living, such as in California or New York City, tend to pay at the higher end of the salary scale. Most CNA job positions also offer health insurance and retirement benefits.

Another good reason to take a CNA position is that it offers job security. While other industries were forced to downsize their operations and personnel during the economic downturn that started in 2008, healthcare was one of the few industries that actually showed job growth. Over two thousand CNA positions are currently empty. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, 28 percent more CNA job positions will open in the near future.

Chances are you will enjoy your CNA job, no matter what type of patients you end up working with. It can be a precursor to becoming a Registered Nurse, which in turn can lead to a specialist nursing job, for example working with geriatric patients as a Gerontological Practitioner. Having a CNA job is a very good thing, especially for people who enjoy helping others.