Steps In Writing A Nursing Assistant Resume

Objective

It is important that you draft everything before you write it in your resume. A certified nursing assistant resume needs to have an objective. An objective is just a short summary of what your aim is in terms of creating the resume. If you look online for a sample resume you may find one with a resume objective like “I am experienced certified nursing assistant with 5 years of experience, seeking a certified nursing assistant position in a reputed health organization where I can apply my best clinical skills”. This is the kind of thing you should write, but be original and don’t just copy the CNA sample resume word for word.

Aptitude

There are a number of things that can go in the aptitude section of your CNA resume. For example you could include information about the following:

• Educational background
• Licenses you have received
• Voluntary certifications you earned

Remember that the person reading your resume is also reading a whole lot of other resumes as well. They will not have the time or inclination to look at a resume that is exactly the same as all of the others. The trick is to write a resume in such a way that you are original but that is at the same time still professional. This list of your aptitudes can be the eye catching moment that makes the reader interested.

Professional Expertise

In the next section you should highlight your professional expertise. What things are you really good at doing? This section will be easier to write if you have more work experience. Some CNA resume examples do not include this as a separate section but rather put it in with work experience. However if you are an accomplished CNA you need to take the time to highlight the tasks you are especially good at, particularly those tasks that you can perform without supervision, in your resume. A good nursing assistant resume will be one that is laid out in the best way to draw attention to your skills, which is why you cannot simply copy just any sample CNA resume you come across.

Work Experience

Like we said previously you need to include your work experience in your CNA resume. A good certified nursing assistant resume will include a fairly comprehensive list of the places you have worked in as well as what skills you learned there and what tasks you were responsible for performing. This is a great way to draw attention to your skills as a CNA in your resume.

Other Awards And Achievements

Good CNA resume usually include things such as:

• Above average graduation grade point average
• Admission to the Dean’s List
• Other honours

This is because these things can make you look really good to potential employers so you should not forget to include them if you have them. However it is not a big deal if you have no special awards or achievements. This is not compulsory for writing a resume. CNA resumes that have a something special like this are just more likely to be followed up with. This does depend of course on what the reader is looking for in the resume. Again, don’t just copy the many CNA resume examples that you can find online.

Future Goals In The Nursing Profession

It is a great idea to mention in your resume what your future goals are in the nursing profession as this will show that you are dedicated to the profession and that you are willing to do what it takes to upgrade your qualification and move on in the industry. Employers like to have CNAs on their staff who are willing to maybe later upgrade their qualifications and become LPNs or RNs. However this is not the main point of your nursing assistant resume so do not devote too much space and time to writing about where you want to be in the future. Keep your resume short and to the point so as not to bore the reader.

References

You should also list any references you have from previous jobs on your resume, especially from those jobs where you felt that you really did a great job. If you have had a bad experience at a previous job try not to include that employer in your list of references in your certified nursing assistant resume. You need to be able to present your prospective future employer with a list of people he or she can contact in order to find out a little bit more about work ethic and style. If you don’t have much space on your resume sometimes it is acceptable to put “References available on request” on CNA resumes as you will see in any sample CNA resume on the internet.

Creating A CNA Resume In Your Word Processing Program

Step 1

The first step to creating your resume on your computer is opening your word processing program. Most computers will have a word processing program available on them. The most common is Windows Microsoft Word, but there are other options as well. Basically it is a program that you can type text into. Once you have typed the text into the program you will be able to print it or save it for future editing or use. If you are new to using a computer it won’t take you long at all to figure out how your word processing program works, and once you have got the hang of it you are ready to get started with your CNA resume.

Step 2

The next step in writing your certified nursing assistant resume is to write four lines of text:

• Full name on the first line
• Address on the second line
• Telephone number on the third line
• Email address on the fourth line

You will see in resume examples that this information is in the middle of the page at the top. Highlight what you have written by dragging the mouse over the words. Then click on the “centre” button at the top of the screen so that these four lines of text will be moved to the middle where they will be a lot more obvious to the reader.

Step 3

These four lines of information are generally considered to be the most important part of resumes because without this information an employer who is interested in hiring you will not know how to contact you. Consequently it is important to make this information stand out. You can do this by underlining it or making it bold. Highlight the words by dragging your mouse over them. Then click on the bold icon (B) at the top of the screen, or the underline icon (a U which is underlined). You will see that this is a common thing to do when you look at any CNA sample resume. Make sure that this information s accurate so that you can be easily contacted.

Step 4

Now you have to write the education sections. Make sure that this is written to the left side of the page and not in the middle. Type the word “Education” and make it bold or underline it. Under this heading you should then write all of the schools you have attended, including your high school and the CNA program you attended. Make sure that you write the dates you attended these schools in your resume, and state what qualifications you earned once you left. This is an important part of CNA resumes. For formatting advice have a look at a CNA sample resume, but don’t copy exactly what it says, just use it as a basic guideline.

Step 5

The next heading you need to write is “Experience”. Write it in the exact same way that you wrote the “Education” heading. Now you need to make a list of all of the work experience you have as a CNA in your resume. Make this list a bullet point list. You will see that this is common in most resume examples. Make sure that you give the years that you worked at each of the places you list. If you left the place, say why you left. Make sure you include contact information. Keep it short and simple so that the person who reads your nursing assistant resume doesn’t get bored in the middle of reading the most important information.

Step 6

An important thing to include on your CNA resume s any community involvement you have taken part in. This can include things like:

• Church positions
• Volunteer experiences
• Any other way that you served your community

Even if it is not related to being a CNA, include it anyway. It makes you look good in your employers eyes and will increase your chances of getting a job. List this information in the same way that you have listed your education and experience as good CNA resumes always have a consistent pattern throughout. Don’t be shy. As you can tell from any CNA sample resume the point of a CNA resume is to sell yourself and make yourself seem as good as possible.

Step 7

Now you need to write a list of your skills in your resume. Again write a heading. This time the heading will be called “Skills. Under this you need to write all of your personal skills that you think will help you to be a great CNA. You can include things like:

• compassionate
• hard working
• detail oriented
• a multi-tasker

There are many different personality skills that would make you a great CNA, so be sure to include them all. Look for ideas online from the resume examples that you can find on the Internet, but remember not to just copy a CNA sample resume. It is better to be original.

Step 8

You will then have to save you resume. There should be a button in the top left hand corner that you can click on to find the save option. Make sure that give your resume a name that you will be able to recognise easily when you want to find it again. Reasons why you will want your nursing assistant resume include wanting to edit it because you have more experience and wanting to email it or print it out in order to apply for a job. If you do not take the time to save the CNA resume all of your hard work will be lost. If you exit the program without saving it will ask you if you want to save. Always click “Yes”.

Step 9

If you need to send a hardcopy of your resume to your prospective employers you will have to print the resume out. For this you will need a printer that is connected to your computer. Hold down the “ctrl” button and hit the “p” button at the same time. This will allow you to print your CNA resume. When you go to a job interview you should also take an additional copy of your resume with you just in case. This means that if you have to have your resume printed by someone else because you don’t have a printer you will have to make sure that you get more than one copy of your resume so that you can give it to all of the relevant people.

The post How To Write A CNA Resume appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

• It will gain you access to the stable and ever-expanding health care sector.
• It will open up new career paths for you in the future.
• It does not take a lot of time.

Eligibility Requirements

How Old Must You Be?

In order to apply for a certified nursing assistant license you do have to be at least 18 years of age. This holds true for all states in which the license is available and there is no point in applying if you are longer. Fortunately this is one of the requirements that you will have after time, so if you wait patiently you will soon be old enough.

The Competency Course

You will also have to pass a written competency course in order to get your CNA license. It is very important that you are well prepared for this course and that you work hard to pass it. The course includes a certain number of practical hours which you will have to complete under the close supervision of a qualified nurse.

High School Education

The nest thing that you will have to have is a high school diploma. You need to have completed high school or the equivalent thereof. You will have to submit your high school transcript when applying for entry into a license program. If you have attended any college courses in any subjects at all you will also have to provide those transcripts too so that the course you enrol in will be aware of your academic skill level.

How Good Is Your English?

A very important part of being a CNA involves speaking with patients on a regular basis. In fact this in some ways is the primary task that you will perform. As a result you will need to be fluent in English to make conversation easier if you want to get your CNA license.

CNA Licensing Exam

The license exam is divided into two parts, namely:

• The Clinical Exam, and
• The Theoretical Exam

Both of these exams are essential to getting your certified nursing assistant license and you will not be able to qualify as a CNA if you have not passed both aspects. This is just the way it is.

In the clinical exam you will have to demonstrate that you have learned everything that you were required to earn during your practical training. You will be examined in a clinical setting and you will have to show that you know how to perform a number of tasks that you will be required to perform on a daily basis once you are a CNA. There are a few things to keep in mind during this part of the exam. The first thing is that you should not panic. Stay calm and do your best. You also need to remember that the examiner will be watching everything that you do, so concentrate hard and stay focused during the test. If you have prepared properly then this part of the license exam should be no trouble for you at all.

Once you have done the clinical exam you will need to write the theoretical exam. DO NOT attempt this exam unless you are sure you can pass it. A good way to determine whether or not you are ready is to look for sample questions online and keep on answering them until you get them right most of the time. Be well prepared.

Steps In Getting Your License

Step 1

The first thing that you will have to do is to get hold of the application form from the CNA license authority and then send it to the State Licensing Office. You will have to have your application form notarized before sending it off.

Step 2

You will then have to verify the training that you have undergone by completing the verification of training form. This is to check that the school or program you attended was accredited. If it was not accredited you will not get your license.

Step 3

To the Department of Public Safety you will have to submit a fingerprint card and a background check. You will also have to pass the required health check to ensure that you are fit and able.

Step 4

You will then have to sit back and wait to see if your application for your CNA license has been approved or not. This may take a while and there is nothing you can do to speed up the process, so patience is required at this point.

Step 5

You will have to pay a licensing fee in order to get your license, so make sure that you get this money together. The actual amount you will have to pay varies depending on the state you are in, so find out this information early

Step 6

Remember that you will be sent notification regarding your application. It is not a good idea to call the State Board of Nursing to check on the progress of your application.

CNA License Renewal

So now that you have your CNA license you will need to keep it updated. The license you are given will only be valid for a very limited time. You will need to find out all about license renewal for your particular state as this can also vary from state to state. In most states your license will have an expiration date and certified nursing assistant license renewal will have to occur about once a year. There is usually a fee involved, but again, the fee for license renewal depends on the state in which you are working as a CNA. These amounts can vary quite drastically so make sure you know well ahead of time exactly how much money you will have to get together to renew your license. In addition to the fee you may also have to provide proof of continuing education for your CNA license renewal in some states. Continuing education comes in the form of training programs that you have to complete in order to keep your knowledge of the field updated. This is very important and when it is made compulsory it means that the general standard of CNA service in that state is at a higher level. Find out how much continuing education, if any, you will have to do for your license renewal, and then do it with a smile on your face because it is very beneficial. Some states inform CNAs of CNA license renewal dates and requirements, but some states require that you check the information for yourself.

CNA License Verification

In order to practice as a CNA you will not only have to have a license, but you will also need to have a license that is valid. It is your responsibility to check the validity of your license, and the method that you go through to determine CNA license verification is very similar to that used in the previous section for renewing your license. There are a lot of factors involved in license verification, it is also suggested that you get your hands on the original copy of your CNA license as this is the copy containing the official seal of the state board of nursing and will therefore be the most convincing document you will have to prove that you have a certified nursing assistant license. Some steps in license verification are:

• Go to the Nurse’s Aide Registry and type in the name of your state to get the telephone number you need.
• Some states have an online CNA license verification system, so check your state’s registry site for this.
• If you decide to actually visit the registry office make sure that you take all information such as your licensing number with you.
• There is a fee to pay in order to get license verification, but again this varies from state to state.
• You can then have the license mailed or emailed to you, but the hardcopy option is definitely the best.
• There are also independent organisations through which you can get license verification.

Transferring Your License To Another State

If you want to start working in a different state you will have to transfer your CNA license from your current state to that other state in order to continue practicing as a CNA. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when doing this.

Some states have a reciprocity policy which means that they automatically accept licenses from other states without any trouble at all. This is true for states where the licensing procedures and coursework are very similar. All you will have to do if reciprocity is indeed practiced is to submit your employment proofs, social security number, educational proofs as well as background check. The license will still have to be transferred, but in many cases you will be able to start working while you wait for the transfer to go through, and thereby not waste any precious time.

If the state does not practice reciprocity you will have to write the clinical and theoretical examinations for that state in order to get a certified nursing assistant license that is valid for that state in particular. This is very important, and one of the first things that you will have to do before moving to another state is to find out what the license transference policies are so that you will actually be able to work once you are there. Once the license has been transferred it may take a while for it to actually get to you so you need to be patient and wait it out.

Suspension Of Your License

In some cases you may get your CNA license suspended. This is of course not ideal, and hopefully you will never be placed in this situation, but it is worth mentioning the procedures and so on here so that you are prepared for all outcomes.

The suspension of your license can be initiated by either the person or company you are employed by, or the State Board of Nursing. A complaint will need to be made about you to the State Board of Nursing and this will initiate an investigation into your actions as a CNA. Once the investigation is concluded it will be decided that either you were in the wrong or you were not. If you are deemed to be in the wrong, your CNA license will be suspended. The CNA in question will have to attend a hearing. In some cases, if the offense is particularly bad, the CNA may also be fined or even have their license permanently removed.

When applying for a job it looks bad to have on your record the information that your license was previously suspended. If you want to keep your credibility as a CNA you will have to do everything in your power to keep your certified nursing assistant license in good standing. If you do not this could affect you in a variety of extremely negative ways which you should avoid at all costs. Ensuring that your license has no blemishes in its history, and keeping your education up to date, are two of the best ways to keep your license in good standing.

Now that you have all of the information required should be well informed regarding your CNA license and how to get it. The facts above are fairly exhaustive and if you follow the suggestions and steps laid out in this article you will have no trouble at all getting your license. Becoming a CNA allows you to later progress to becoming an LPN and perhaps even an RN in the future so this qualification can be used as the first stepping stone in your nursing career.

The post Getting Your CNA License appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Average CNA Salary Figures

Let’s consider first the national averages for certified nursing assistant salary. These of course are not a true reflection of what you can expect to earn in each individual state and city, but it does serve as a basic outline of what you are getting into with a nursing assistant job. The average hourly rate is about $8.37 to $14.34. CNAs can expect to earn an overtime CNA salary of around $7.93 to $21.54 an hour. In some instances CNAs are eligible for a bonus of anything between $0.00 and $810. This makes the average nursing assistant salary for a year around $17,555 to $31,988.

This however is not a conclusive analysis of a CNA salary. There are a number of factors that can affect CNA pay. These include things like:

• The employer that you end up working for
• The specific industry in which you choose to work as a CNA
• Your gender
• What level of CNA education you have managed to earn thus far
• The exact location that you work in as different cities and different states pay a different certified nursing assistant salary

We will have a look at each of these factors in more detail later on in the article. If you are thinking about becoming a CNA based on the salary that you hope to earn you will need to have a close look at all of the different aspects that play a part in affecting the salary that you stand a chance of earning in your particular area. There are places where you can earn a very good CNA salary if you know where to look.

Certified Nursing Assistant Salary by Industry

Different places will pay you a different salary. For example, a nursing home will pay about $8.52 – $13.81 an hour, while healthcare pays around $8.58 – $14.47 an hour. Long-term care and rehabilitation come with a CNA pay of around $8.51 – $13.83, a hospital will pay around $8.87 – $14.99, and in home health care you can expect about $8.18 – $14.46.

As you can see there are a number of different industries that you can work in as a CNA. The CNA pay for each industry is also not bad. When it comes to finding work as a CNA there really is something for everyone as there are a wide variety of different options to choose form in terms of the location that you would most like to work in as a CNA. This allows you to choose a job based on the CNA salary as well as on the actual job that you would like to have and the location where you would like to work. As you can see there is a pay range in this regard, so you cannot be completely sure about how much you will earn in each industry, however the numbers given here are a fairly good indication of the certified nursing assistant salary that you can expect to earn.

CNA Salary By Gender

Gender also has a significant effect on your CNA pay:

Women

• Women make up 90% of the people employed as CNAs
• Women earn an hourly rate of $9.32 – $12.23

Men

• Men make up only 10% of the people employed as CNAs
• However, men earn a slightly higher hourly rate of $9.51 – $12.46

Unfortunately there still seem to be slight gender differences in the field of nursing, and these even affect the CNA salary that you can expect to earn. Men are fewer in number when t comes to this career, but at the same time they earn slightly more money. This is something that is slowly starting to equalise, however so for now you will just have to accept the inequalities as given.

As you can see both men and women stand a good chance of earning a decent salary if they are willing to go through the training and certification process needed in order to work in this field. There are a lot of advantages to working as a CNA and the CNA pay that you will then be eligible for is definitely one of the more persuasive aspects of being a CNA.

Nursing Assistant Salary By Employer

There are a number of different employers that offer work for CNAs, each of whom pay a slightly different CNA salary. Let us consider some of those employers now:

If you work for HCR Manor Care Inc you can expect a certified nursing assistant salary of about $8.93 – $12.61 an hour while those CNAs employed by Kindred Healthcare can expect CNA pay of around $8.79 – $13.66 an hour. At Golden Living Centers you can get a salary of about $8.73 – $14.06, at Life Care Centers of America you can expect to earn around $8.63 – $13.38, and when you work for Home Health and Hospice Care the average CNA pay is approximately $8.07 – $12.79. Those CNAs working for NHC Healthcare can expect a certified nursing assistant salary of about $7.54 – $13.09, while hose working at Maxim Healthcare Services Inc. can earn in the region of $8.05 – $15.00 an hour. At Nursing Centers you can earn about $8.06 – $12.76, at Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. you can earn about $8.64 – $13.03 and at HCR – ManorCare you can earn about $9.52 – $13.22.

The average CNA salary for hose working at Genesis Healthcare Corporation is in the region of $9.46 – $15.45 an hour, while those who are employed by Comfort Keepers can earn an average pay of about $8.04 – $10.34. At Emeritus, Assisted Living you can earn around $8.69 – $11.13 an hour while the average salary at Memorial Hospital is about $7.93 – $17.25. Those CNAs choosing to work at Care Centers can earn something like $9.17 – $14.30 an hour and those who work at Kindred Hospital can expect a certified nursing assistant salary of around $9.20 – $15.89 an hour. At The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society you can earn $8.86 – $12.85, at the Brightstar Healthcare LLC you can earn $9.06 – $12.48, at Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital you can earn $8.68 – $15.55, and at Sava Senior Care you can earn $7.80 – $13.51, which are all fairly good rates of CNA pay. For those CNAs employed by Sunbridge Care and Rehab the average CNA salary is around $7.96 – $14.88, and those working for Home Instead Senior Home Care can expect an average pay in the region of $7.44 – $13.09. At the Uhs-Pruitt Corporation CNAs get paid around $7.32 – $11.40, at Autumn Care they get about $8.21 – $12.59, at Bayada Nurses Inc they get approximately $8.10 – $13.18, and the average pay for Heath Nursing Care Center is around $7.15 – $13.69.

Working for Extendicare Health Services Incorporated gets you a salary of around $8.08 – $12.73 an hour and working at Lifecare Center should earn you something in the region of $8.69 – $15.05. Those working at Select Specialty Hospitals can earn a salary of about $10.07 – $16.34 and at Visiting Angels, Inc. you can earn around $7.70 – $12.28.

How Your Degree Affects Your Salary

Your level of education can have a significant effect on your CNA salary. Let us consider the effects that the most basic degrees can have on your pay:

• If you have an Associate’s Degree you can earn about $8.70 – $14.79 an hour
• If you have a Bachelor’s Degree you can earn about $8.41 – $14.45 an hour
• If you only have a GED or High School Diploma you can earn about $8.23 – $14.74 an hour
• If you have a High School Diploma you can earn around $8.18 – $14.96 an hour
• If you have a Certificate (Cert), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) you can earn about $8.65 – $14.42 an hour

As you can see it is better to get as high a qualification as you possibly can in order to stand a chance of earning a higher CNA salary. The higher your CNA pay the happier you are likely to be in your chosen career as a CNA. However if possible you should not base your entire decision about which qualification program to be involved in on the salary that you can earn. You should choose the program that will make you the happiest and that suits your needs and schedule better than the other programs that are available out there. Although the amount of money that you can expect to earn has to be one of your considerations, it should not be your primary consideration and you should think about which degree program to do carefully before making your final decision in this very important matter.

Cities That Pay The Most

As mentioned previously your location can affect how much you can expect to earn as a CNA. A nursing assistant salary can differ quite significantly from city to city. If you know which city you plan to work in once you are a qualified CNA you should take a bit of time to find out what the CNA pay options are for that city. There are definitely state differences to consider but what some people don’t realise is how much a salary can differ from city to city within the same state, so this is a consideration that you absolutely have to take into account when deciding where you plan to work as a CNA. The facts and figures are available online as well as from other sources, so look into the details carefully before making your final decision about where you want to work as a certified nursing assistant.

If you want to stand a chance of earning the highest nursing assistant salary possible you should try to get a job in one of the following cities:

• St. Paul, Minnesota
• San Francisco, California
• Seattle, Washington
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Washington, District of Columbia
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Phoenix, Arizona
• San Jose, California
• Fort Myers, Florida
• Allentown, Pennsylvania
• Sacramento, California
• Denver, Colorado
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Portland, Oregon
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Portland, Maine
• Mesa, Arizona
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Providence, Rhode Island

Those are all of the facts, figures and statistics for a salary that are currently available. With this information in mind you are now equipped to decide if becoming a CNA is the right thing for you. It should also help those who have already made this choice to decide where they will work in order to benefit from the best CNA possible. This is not a decision that should be made lightly or flippantly and requires a lot of thought as it will affect your future career options.

The post What Can A Certified Nursing Assistant Earn? appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Over the years, nursing has expanded just as the medical fraternity has, in that the varying types of nurses these days just about equal that of the varying types of doctors around in their specializing fields. These days there are nurses for every medical field, just about, and students can choose to specialize at a very early stage in the career as it may come as a more lucrative option (albeit with its own unique challenges), as the more rare the field (and specialized the qualification) the higher the earnings will be.

Examples of the variety in the Nursing field are: Clinical Nurse Specialists (nurses who work more with nursing staff than patients), Nurse Practitioner (often specializes in certain areas such as Gerontology and Paediatrics), Neonatal Nurse (they care for ill or premature infants), Psychiatric Nurse and the Orthopaedic Nurse (they mostly work with Arthritic sufferers and diabetics). Of course you then have your more familiar Registered Nurses, LPN’s and CNA’s which you may find in hospitals or general health care facilities.

For Nursing Aids though, their expertise remains within a set parameter and do not expand beyond it, with their primary concern being that of the patient and everything pertaining to their specific needs from a purely primary care giving perspective, providing comfort and assistance.

The Duties Of A Certified Nursing Assistant

To distinguish Certified Nursing Assistant’s from all other Registered Nurses, specialized or otherwise, here is a summarized list of duties they’re typically tasked with performing.

• Monitoring patients and recording any changes.

• Ensuring that all changes or developments are reported to their supervising nurse.

• Infection control – maintaining good personal hygiene as well as maintaining patient hygiene, including bathing residents and ensuring that things like hair and nail care as well as brushing the patients teeth are seen to.

• Monitoring and emptying catheter bags.

• Assisting patients with toilet visits – those who cannot do so on their own accord.

• Intermittent checking of vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and respiration – as well as specific care with regard to patients who need constant monitoring (usually post operations).

• Recording food and fluid intake as well as feeding the residents and ensuring that water is always available.

• Maintaining a clean and sanitized working environment (falling under infection control as well).

• Ensuring that beds are clean and dry.

• Assisting patients by transporting or escorting them to the appropriate department for treatment or testing.

• Administering some prescribed medication (under a supervisors guidance) and nutritional supplements.

• Assisting incapacitated patients by turning them to prevent bedsores as well as providing necessary massages or therapy to patients who’ve temporarily lost movement – it ensures that there’s a necessary blood flow to certain extremities to aid in the healing process.

So for prospective, certified nursing assistant jobs can be sought at any facility requiring basic nursing under the appropriate and applicable supervision (usually by an RN or LPN). The CNA training program typically takes from six to twelve weeks to complete and includes subjects like Anatomy, First Aid, Sanitation and Primary patient care. Newly Certified Nurse Assistants can expect competency tests and/or “updates” every few years to maintain a certain standard of service and to even improve on it.

Typical shifts last around seven and a half hours with either an hour long break or a divided thirty minute and two fifteen minute breaks. They get paid by the hour and an entry level CNA can expect a starting wage of about ten dollars an hour (depending on their location and employment facility).

Qualified certified Nursing Aids are very much in demand, and according to the National Bureau of Statistics, that demand will only increase in the next few years. Needless to say though, there’s plenty of availability of certified nursing assistant jobs within the nursing sector as a whole.

Regions Of Employment

Since the role of a certified Nurse Aid is not a specialized one, CNA’s are thus employable at just about every facility which requires nursing care. In any classifieds or online searches you’ll find plenty of companies in need of qualified CNA’s. Usually though, the governing factor motivating people to become Nurse Assistants are personal reasons (though that is changing). Some people are spurned on by the need to take care of a loved one and looking to provide special care, whereas others are looking to climb the ladder of the nursing field with views to greater things. Of course there will always be a limit to what the CNA may be paid, which is another reason to pursue higher education. Location may be another mitigating factor in the search for employment; if a change of state is on the cards then qualified CNA’s should note any change to the nursing regulations (some states do differ from others in this regard – and in extreme cases, Certified Nurse Assistants may be required to complete additional classes or undergo an additional state sanctioned final exam to earn certification in that respective state. Of course governing and hiring bodies are aware of this apparent discrepancy and may be willing to make allowances in particular cases. All these aspects are usually sorted prior to taking the CNA program as students invariably have an inkling as to where they will eventually end up.

Some institutions have a clause in their contract so that those studying under their custodianship or through their official bursary have to then work for the company for a pre-agreed upon period. The downside of this is that you will not have any choices as to your employment and will be tied to a certain company for a set few years, fulfilling a certain bargain. The upside though is that it offers stable job security and that the issue of any job search will be of no concern to you. This means that you’re guaranteed work and by association are guaranteed some invaluable experience.

Requirements For Certified Nursing Assistants

If you’re reading this then you must surely know by now what it takes to be a Certified Nursing Assistant and that the CNA job is not just any service but is essential to the wellbeing of patients. Although all you need to qualify in order to study to be a CNA is a High School diploma or GED equivalency, and that it doesn’t realistically require anyone with prior experience in the health care field, the prerequisites of this job is way more. When you consider what it really takes to conduct yourself in this demanding job, selflessly with compassion and often subservience, it’s obvious that it takes one who possesses something special. Thus, any employer will no doubt have to assess their prospective employee thoroughly to assure themselves that they are the right person for the role.

The Need For Certified Nurses

As mentioned above, the demand for nurses is quite high, but don’t let this statistic fool you into thinking it’s a relatively easy route to acquire money and job security, you have to have what it takes to survive the arena. Seeking and finding employment should not be a problem, but sometimes it’s locating the right fit that is most taxing. CNA’s are typically empathetic and tolerant people (they have to be) but you still need to find an area of employment that suits you, whether that be the rigors of a city hospital or the quieter, though no less demanding, confines of a nursing home/long term care facility or clinic.

Since the government has finally woken to the need of the health care sector and subsequently has vowed to throw more support behind it. There’s been something of a knock on effect in that if the general health of society improves, more people will live longer, but then that leads to an increase in the elderly populace in need of special health care – meaning the greater need for Nurses (Caring for the elderly is the primary area in which CNA’s are required), a problem that’s already on our hands.

Slim respite is that nursing training programs are filling up with a decent amount of competition for placement, which has also increased the popularity of the online programs. The bottom line is that there are thousands of Nursing Assistant job opportunities available within the medical fraternity and healthcare sector.

The post Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Often you’ll hear that the Nursing Aid is the bottom rung on the nursing ladder, and it largely is. That bottom rung though is filled with many of its own unique challenges and the nature of the work is relentless in its demands of the person tasked with performing them. It’s for this reason that anyone considering pursuing a career in nursing should be completely aware of all that comes with the position. It has been known that there are some people who study and go through the apprenticeships earning their certification, licensure or registration, and still find the going too tough. It’s a case of being prepared till a certain point as training can only equip you so much, but once you find yourself in the heat of things, working the hospital or care facility floor, things can take on a whole new complexion and push you to your limits.

Finding people that are capable of doing the work is rare, but it’s an even more uncommon occurrence to find people who are capable and willing to do the work.

Here we take a look at what it takes of the person to do the job as well as the actual CNA job description. Firstly though, we look at a few of the considerations one needs to make prior to any thoughts or inclinations toward a Nursing assistant course.

The CNA Course Requirements

• Educational requirements: There are a number of universities and colleges offering courses for prospective Nursing Aid certification programs, even a great number of CNA online programs. Every course will require the student to possess a high school diploma or GED equivalency. There’s a slight divergence between various states where credit-hours are concerned, but each student can expect the CNA course to last from six to twelve weeks. The respective Departments of Health or Nursing Aid Registry of each state will carry the exact requirements pertaining to their region. The final Exam should consist of two main parts, namely the written test and the practical Skills test. The written side of things of course looks at the scope of knowledge of each prospective nurse, while the clinical Skills test is a veritable trial to judge the students competency in performing certain tasks and putting their acquired knowledge into practice. Once certification has been earned and your name entered into the states CNA registry, some states may require you to undergo/enter constant competency and perhaps enhancement programs on a fairly regular basis. Although CNA’s have become a mainstay in the health care team, many look at it as a stepping stone to more in-depth courses and a vital checkpoint on the road toward being a full Registered Nurse, and perhaps even earning their degree, masters or doctorate.

• Physical requirements: Nurses are expected to be of sound mind and body; they’ll be required to lift objects/patients, push gurneys/wheelchairs and assist people who have trouble walking on their own, thus they need to have a general semblance of decent-to-good fitness. Bear in mind that CNA’s will be required to be on their feet for great parts of the day, standing and walking as they care for residents.

• Individual requirements: the Certified Nursing Assistant job is a demanding one that often requires them to seek reward in the little things as it can often be a thankless toil. Those who are Nursing Aids, or are looking to be one, are invariably immensely selfless people who are very direct in their ways with a good dose of compassion. The work can not only be taxing on the body, but on the mind as well, as they will need strong scruples to handle the really intense and unpredictable situations. Needless to say the qualities required of the person doing the caregiving is special indeed, and as we’ll find out, apart from the physically (as in bodily) messes they have to deal with on a daily basis, there’s also the other human element to consider, that of “handling” patients’ loved ones and communicating with both them and their own superiors (which, in any given hospital, could well be just about everyone on staff, baring other CNA’s of course).

The Certified Nursing Assistant Job Description

As one can expect, when looking at the core subjects of the CNA training, which should include Anatomy, Primary care, First Aid, Communication skills and Computer literacy, the actual CNA job description covers quite a variety of tasks. Although CNA’s will not be doing any diagnosing or unsupervised patient treatments, their roles are still quite specified. A couple of hugely important aspects of the job are cleanliness (personal as well as surrounding hygiene) and safety. Safety issues can often stem from the little details as they can often be a predetermining factor in maintaining a certain level of comfort for the patient one is attending. This of course includes being attentive to the residents requirements and desires as they try to ensure the optimum comfort for all concerned. Details in these regards can also be a major stumbling block for those doing the clinical final skills test.

The following is a list of CNA duties also expected of any Nurse Aid:

• Taking vitals, like the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure and temperature. The frequency at which the vitals should be taken will be dictated by the specific nature of the patient and their condition. For instance, vitals might be taken on routine checks by the CNA as they do their rounds during a shift, or the patient’s condition – due to their illness or a medical procedure they’ve been through – may require constant monitoring.

• Assisting patients with every day activities (for the patients that are unable to carry out their normal undertakings like post-operation residents, elders or terminally ill)). This falls under Primary care and includes duties like washing patients (which may involve brushing their teeth, shaving, combing their hair and dressing them). Also included in this role is feeding residents who are unable to, and supplying them with water if needs be. Some patients who need assistance with going to the toilet will also require the aid of the CNA.

• Acquiring and relaying lab samples and reports that do not require specified laboratory staff (this may also be at the discretion of the CNA’s supervisor).

• Informing and assisting patients with prescribed medical equipment for their treatment – this may include instructing the patients loved ones as well if the patient is being discharged. Included in this area of aid is helping patients and transporting them from one department to another for tests or procedures and treatments.

• Infection control. There are very stringent procedures and protocols that every CNA is required to follow to maintain sanitation and prevent the transmission of any diseases or bacteria. Since Nursing Aids are constantly dealing with patients, practically always with hands-on assistance, the chances of spreading germs and infection is greatly increased (hospitals are known to be very unhygienic as the fight for infection control is an everyday battle). This category is also very prevalent in ensuring that the Nurse assistant themselves is protected against infection and illness.

• Monitoring patients. As a CNA, you’ll be required to be very attentive to the needs of the residents and to log and report on any changes. This will be included in the duties of all CNA’s – the ability to “read” patients and identify certain signs or indicators of certain conditions, like symptoms of low blood pressure. The primary concern for the CNA, in this instance, is the well-being of their patient/s, even if this means protecting them from themselves.

• Recording patients statistics in their respective files – this will comprise the patients physical condition or attributes, like their weight and height, as well as logging and recording their medical history (crucial to this aspect of the job is ensuring that factors like allergies and chronic illnesses, as well as medication that the patient may already be taking, is well noted and recorded).

• Under the correct supervision, some CNA’s may also be allowed to administer medication, like blood transfusions or inserting IVs.

• If requested or required, some CNA’s may be required to administer some basic massage therapy for patients who are laid up and unable to exercise sufficiently, or have temporarily lost mobility (accident victims)

From this list it’s easy to see that the CNA’s job description covers a wide range of things, but for those looking for even more detail, you can simply have a look at some of the CNA practice tests online. In the test you’ll find a number of atypical (for most of us) scenarios that the Certified Nurse Assistant may find themselves in. these scenarios will include instances where they will be required to make certain fundamental decision’s based upon their training in dealing with unruly patients or those with mental illness. Some patients may suffer from temporary mental illness or perhaps Alzheimer’s, in which case they’ll have to handle patients with the utmost care. This applies to those who are experiencing grief as well, whether due to the loss of a loved one or the receiving of news that the patient themself is suffering from a terminal illness.

Included in the CNA job duties is the ability to deal with sometimes awkward scenarios, like finding patients roaming the hallways unattended and assisting them to where they want or need to be, as well as how to handle patients suffering from certain illnesses like Cancer for instance.

The Consummate Care Giver

In addition to all the clinical responsibilities of the CNA, communication and comfort are major aspects as well. Being a good Nurse Aid means ensuring that all the patient’s needs are taken care of, and in the case of comfort, that even some basic factors are seen to that will make their life easier. Factors such as maintaining a clean and comfortable living space for the residents and ensuring that their bedding remains clean and dry, and that user equipment is at hand – like making sure that the call button or TV remote is close at hand.

Communication is a vital cog in the healthcare wheel; if certain information is not relayed timeously or at all, lives could be lost or permanently harmed. So part of the Nursing Assistant job description is maintaining a solid and open communication link through all channels; be it via Nurse to patient or CNA to superior or replacement staff. For instance, it’s essential that necessary patient information is transferred across shifts so as to maintain a seamless change, ensuring that patients receive the best care.

It’s clear to see that the Certified Nursing assistant needs to be a very special kind of person (as one can state for every nurse), to not only be compassionate, but also empathetic to the patients cause. The Nurse Aid may find themselves helping someone who is experiencing, veritably the worst days of their lives, so supporting them through this intense time is an unparalleled duty, and essential to the process of healing.

The post Knowing The CNA Job Description appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Becoming a CNA means completing a course, either at a college or community college, and then working under a doctor or registered nurse to see to the basic needs of every patient. As a CNA, you will have a lot of duties, some of which may include practical work while others may include administrative work. You need to be prepared though, for just about anything. Whether you attend a community college or a technical school to compete your qualification, there are some skills that you will learn at college and some skills that will need to be based on your common sense.

A really good CNA is able to look at the environment in which they work and determine, intuitively, what needs to be done. This is not easy, especially in a hospital where there is a lot of running around and seeming chaos, but it a good CNA is one that keeps their head in the game and gets the work done.

The Working Environment

A CNA may have to work at any time of the day or night depending on the shifts required, but many of them do not work more than a standard 40 hour week. Depending on the environment, a CNA may be called upon to work with just one patient for a few days, such as in a hospital, or with a patient for a few years, such as in a nursing home. They will need to assist patients with walking and dressing, often having to physically exert themselves in instances where the patient cannot.

As a CNA, you may need to care for those who cannot care for themselves, and this means bathing patients, helping them eat, escorting them to the bathroom and helping them get dressed. In some cases, where the patient cannot move at all, the CNA will have to collect the patient’s bedpan and even give them sponge baths. You may have to empty catheter bags, collect specimens and samples and even clean wounds. Basically, any job that qualifies as caring for the patient needs to be done by the CNA and sometimes this is a little grisly, such as when infected wounds need to be bandaged and re-bandaged.

The working environment obviously differs depending on where you choose to work, and some of the workplaces can include: hospitals and short term care centers, long term care centers, prisons and schools and even community centers.

Why Choose To Become A CNA?

A CNA is a specialised worker who has a nursing qualification from a community college. This means that there is not much need for years of study in this field, but for many who cannot afford to go to college, it is a great stepping stone to becoming a Licensed Practicing Nurse or a Registered Nurse. Depending on the state you live in, you may have to complete your qualification and then still do clinical hours to become a CNA, but this depends also on the place you work. The federal government has regulated these hours to an extent.

As a CNA, your scope of practice and responsibilities will not be as much as a registered nurse for example, and the hourly rate of pay will reflect this. This is why so many CNAs choose to work and study at the same time. However, being a CNA comes with its own rewards, not the least of which includes making a big difference to people’s lives. You will find as a CNA that not only will you meet many people, but you will also see many people develop and grow, and this is a reward in itself.

What Is A Scope Of Practice?

The term scope of practice is used to refer to the tasks that a CNA needs to complete on a daily basis in order to do their job. If you know your scope of practice, then you know what to aspire to, which is why so many institutions insist on goal setting sessions for their staff. However, just because you know your scope of practice does not mean you know how to complete the tasks assigned to you. This is why it is vital for a CNA to determine what they should be doing and why.

Knowing your scope of practice will protect both the CNA and their patient, and in some cases, the employer too. If there are any errors on the part of the CNA, the patient is protected based on the scope of work given to the CNA and vice versa. If a CNA does something that is not in their scope of work, the hospital is within their rights to dismiss them or at least issue them with a warning.

The scope of practice for a CNA includes tasks such as:

• Basic daily patient care – this includes doing all of the things for your patient that they cannot do themselves. These tasks are classified as ADLs or activities of daily living and are called this because they need to be done daily. This includes activities such as bathing, eating and dressing, but also smaller things such as grooming. You may be surprised to see how many patients who are bound to their beds want to do small things to feel normal, such as putting on makeup or attending to their hair.

• Movement – a CNA will need to assist with bed transfers, mobility and even ambulation depending on the patients they have been assigned to. This does involve special training which those CNAs will receive in their education.

• Exercises – a CNA may have to, as part of their daily routine, assist patients in exercising, especially when they are bound to their beds. This can include giving Range of Motion exercises that assist them in keeping their blood flowing and their muscles in use, as well as providing massages with the same objectives. They will also learn about skin care for the bedridden as well as the basic anatomy and nutrition requirements.

The scope of work does depend on where the CNA is employed. In a hospital where there are emergency situations constantly, there is a need for CNAs who can cope with the stress and the pressure. In an old age home however, there won’t be any dramatic situations and so the CNA will need to help those in the home with their basic daily activities.

To become proficient as a CNA, you will have to go through training within your workplace, and this training is also something that the falls into the scope of practice. For some CNAs working in specialised facilities, there is a need to complete training so that they can do their jobs better. Some of this training may include:

• Mental health – dealing with those patients who have mental deficiencies or mental health problems is not the same as dealing with someone who is bed ridden. In this case, the CNA will have to have endless patience to be able to determine what the patient needs and how they can give it to them. In some cases, the patients will be unable to communicate well or at all, and if this is the case, some intuition may be needed.

• Specialist facilities – a CNA may sometimes work in a hospital or institution where the patients have special needs, such as Parkinson’s Disease or other mobility limiting afflictions. In this case, they need to do all of the daily activities mentioned above, while also assisting the patient with any other activities.

• Child care – dealing with children is not the same as dealing with adults. In many cases, the children are scared and feeling alone. This means that there is a need to emotionally bond with them, and make them feel more comfortable in the hospital or treatment facility. This is often difficult because of the patience required and the need to communicate on the child’s level.

• Prison facilities – even in a prison infirmary there is a need for a CNA. This specialist is often allocated the same tasks they would be in a hospital, but they are dealing with criminals, some of whom may be violent or have mental difficulties.

What Does It All Mean?

All things considered, the amount of duties that a CNA has to perform may seem very confusing. To deconstruct this is quite simple though. All of the CNA’s duties will be allocated by the facility they work in. Some of these activities may need to completed daily, while others will be long term duties that need to be carried out once a week or even once a month. The duties based on time limit include:

• Daily – on a daily basis, you will be expected to provide patient care based on needs. Some of the needs include eating, bathing and dressing, while with other patients, you may need to clean wounds and apply ointments on a daily basis, especially in the cases of burns or infections. Some of these duties may also be administrative, such as updating patient charts on a daily basis and checking for any deviations from the norm, which may include spikes in temperature, bed sores or any other afflictions the patients may be suffering from.

• Weekly – some of the weekly activities for a CNA include updating charts and giving out immunizations. They can also include clinic work and any other assignments from a registered nurse.

• Monthly – generally, a CNA will not have many monthly tasks to perform, but they may be asked to assist in stock take, or to help with reordering files and other administrative tasks, all of which are done on a monthly basis.

Some of the duties included here make the work of a CNA sound unappealing, but it is important to remember that with the day-to-day scope of work of a CNA, there is also a long term goal, or a bigger picture. For those CNAs who are willing to do this job, there is a lot of reward in the personal interactions and in seeing people grow and heal. There are also a lot of opportunities for development, and it is easier to become an LPN or RN once you have worked as a CNA.

Part of the scope of work of a CNA will include teaching others, so when you have a few years of experience on the job, expect to take other less experienced staff under your wing.

One thing that cannot be argued is that there is a real need for more CNAs, especially those who can competently do the job. Unfortunately though there is a lot of demand, there is not enough supply. Many who study to become CNAs quickly change careers when they see that the benefits are not as quick in coming as they may have thought. But this is a vital career and for some, a real calling. In many cases, a CNA will stay in their job for many years, based on the rewarding feeling of helping others.

Many CNAs are older and more experienced people who have attended a community college while engaged in another career path. This is because though the work is not easy and the payment is not the best, this is a more rewarding job than they may already hold. In these cases, the transition to becoming a CNA is quite easy, and the rewards may be more than just monetary.

For those who want to enter this field, it is important to note that your first job may not be an easy one. To complete your clinical hours you may be called upon to work in those hospitals that do not have enough resources, but this is all part of the joy of helping others.

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According to http://www.discovernursing.com, “HIV Nurses are trained to provide care for patients infected with AIDS, a deadly, incurable disease that attacks a patient’s immune system. These nurses help patients cope with and manage the different emotional and physical symptoms that come with having their disease. Many HIV/AIDS Nurses work in community or public health, educating at risk groups about safe sex and the dangers of sharing needles”. As a result we can see that there are multiple aspects involved in HIV /AIDS nursing. For one thing it is clear that you have to attend to the emotional and psychological well being of your patients in addition to simply providing them with healthcare services. In addition there is quite a strong focus on prevention in the field of HIV / AIDS. This involves attempts at preventing the spread of the disease before it becomes a serious problem. This is achieved through education and other community-based methods.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

There are a number of job duties that you would be required to perform as an HIV / AIDS nurse:

• Firstly you will be directly responsible for providing healthcare to patients with HIV/Aids on a daily basis.

• In addition to merely providing care to your patients, you will also be responsible for educating patients and their families about living with HIV/Aids safely and in the most optimal way.

• HIV / AIDS treatment is generally addressed from a multidisciplinary approach, which means that you will be working closely with other healthcare professionals.

• As an HIV / AIDS nurse you will be directly responsible for monitoring a patient’s condition on a continual and ongoing basis.

• It will also be your responsibility to refer a patient to other healthcare professionals if you think that it is necessary because you are unable to assist that patient any further.

• Last, but certainly not least, you will be responsible for ensuring terminally ill patients are as comfortable as possible.

Employment

There are a number of settings in which you are likely to find an HIV / AIDS nurse working. These include Hospitals, Home Health, and Community Care Centers, Physician’s office, Outpatient care clinics and Hospices. Essentially, as an HIV / AIDS nurse you will be able to work in any setting where patients suffering from HIV or AIDS are located.

HIV Nurse Requirements

The basic requirements for being an HIV nurse are as follows:

• Firstly you have to earn a Nursing Diploma, an Associate of Science in Nursing, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This must be done through an accredited school offering an approved program.

• Once you have earned your basic qualification you will be unable to practice as a nurse until you have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

• At this point you can start working as a registered nurse, which is highly recommended because of the experience you will develop in this way.

• Following that it is ideal that you receive two years of experience working in an HIV/AIDS related field, but this is not required.

• Next you must pass your AIDS Certified Registered Nurse exam (ACRN) in ordered to become an AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN).

Personality Traits

There are a number of personality traits that may be specifically useful when working with HIV / AIDS patients:

As an HIV / AIDS Nurse you need to be able to care for the patients, while leaving your feelings at work when you go home. There are many feelings that come up as an HIV / AIDS Nurse as the job is highly intensive from an emotional perspective. As a professional you will need to be able to separate your work life from your personal life adequately. Worrying about your patients while you are at home will only increase your chances of experiencing burnout. In addition you will find it challenging to deal with your personal problems as well.
As HIV / AIDS Nurse you must not judge the patients. Many people assume that the HIV patients knew they were exposing themselves to this disease, although this is not the case and all the patients deserve the same level of care as those who are dying from other terminal illnesses.

You will need to balance caring with a professional attitude as you show the patients compassion although not care to much to let it bother you personally.

Educational Requirements

In order to be an HIV nurse, you must be currently licensed as a registered nurse in the USA or hold an international equivalent nursing degree. This means that you need to meet the educational requirement of having completed an accredited nursing program that led to your ability to take and pass the NCLEX-RN examination. In addition to this you must also have a minimum of two years experience working in a HIV related area such as research, education or clinical practice. This second dimension is only strictly speaking required if you intend to become certified as an HIV nurse. It is highly recommended that you do so as this will greatly improve your employment opportunities. The AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) examination is sanctioned by the Association of Nurses in Aids Care (ANAC) and the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB). Certification is voluntary but highly valued and provides recognition of expertise in the area of HIV and AIDS. It also proves that the HIV/AIDS nurse has shown commitment and dedication to his/her career.

Licensure

To be an HIV nurse you must earn an RN license:

• Complete an RN training program through an accredited school
• Apply for licensure with your state board of nursing
• Once approved, apply to write the exam with Pearson VUE
• Pay the examination fee and set an exam date
• Study for the exam using the many resources provided online and by various nursing schools and nursing organizations
• Sit the exam
• On passing the exam your state board of nursing will send you your license which could take a few months after actually writing the test

How To Become An HIV Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

You can be an HIV nurse simply by meeting the training requirements that any RN has to go through. However you have the opportunity to advance your career in the area of HIV nursing by becoming certified in the profession. Certification can be achieved through taking the AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) examination. Preparation for this examination is offered at many schools as well as online. However your years of experience in HIV nursing will be the best form of preparation that you can possibly hope to find before taking the examination.

Source An Accredited Education Program

In order to become an HIV / AIDS nurse you need to attend an accredited training program. If the program that you attend is not accredited you will essentially be wasting both your time and your money as your qualification will not be taken seriously and will most probably not result in employment. Here are some schools for you to consider:

Vanderbilt University
School of Nursing
Godchaux Hall 207
461 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37240
615-322-3800
1-888-333-9192
http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/

University of California – San Francisco
School of Nursing
2 Koret Way, #N-511L
San Francisco, CA 94143
415-476-6702
http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/www/spec-anp.htm#cour

Hunter College of the City of New York
Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing
425 East 25th Street
New York, New York 10010
212-772-4000
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/nursing/admissions/graduate

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

There are a number of education options that you could choose in order to eventually become an HIV / AIDS nurse. One of the more popular options is to earn your associate’s degree which can be done by enrolling in any nursing school that offers the qualification. When applying, apply to at least three different schools to increase your chances. To graduate from the program you will need to meet all of the course requirements, including the theoretical and practical dimensions. When this is achieved, you will graduate with an associate’s degree that will allow you to sit the exam.

Obtain Your Licensure

The only license that is really required for this line of work is an RN license. However HIV / AIDS nurses can voluntarily seek to become certified. This involves taking an exam. IN order to qualify for the exam, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must possess a valid and current registered nurse license
• You must have a bachelor of science in nursing, associate degree in nursing or diploma in nursing
• You must have achieved a satisfactory passing score on the National Council for Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN)
• You must not have any restrictions barring practice from any nursing or health regulatory board
• You must have at least two years of HIV/AIDS-related practice experience in the form of clinical practice, research, education or management

Online/Distance Education Programs

There are a number of RN programs that offer training online. However it is very important that you ensure that the program you choose to enroll in is in fact accredited. In addition there is no way to escape the compulsory hands-on training that all nurses must achieve, so if the program does not make provisions for this dimension of your education, you should consider an alternative program. Online programs are more likely to be dishonest and offer a lower level of tuition than face-to-face programs, but this is not true in all cases and studying in this way is cheaper and more convenient.

HIV Nurse Job Outlook

The outlook for the nursing profession in general is extremely good at the moment, and there is an even higher demand for nurses who specialize in specific areas, such as HIV / AIDS. This indicates that, as professions go, this one is a good option to choose as the future looks stable. Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Earnings

The average salary for an HIV / AIDS Nurse is between $49,000 and $51,000 approximately. However there are many other similar job titles that you could hold as an HIV / AIDS Nurse so it is interesting to look at what similar nurses earn:

• As a Registered Nurse II you can expect to earn in the region of $55,000 a year
• As a public health informatics / GIS specialist you can expect to earn in the region of $47,000 a year
• As a community health nurse you can expect to earn in the region of $45,000 a year
• As a public health nurse you can expect to earn in the region of $46,000 a year
• As a public health nurse III you can expect to earn in the region of $54,000 a year

There are a number of factors that can affect a nurse’s salary These include the number of years of experience you have, what certifications you have (being an ACRA can lead to higher salaries), what region of the U.S. you live in, and whether you are working in a metropolitan or rural area. Advanced practice nurses (who are trained at the master’s level) also earn significantly higher salaries on average.

There are a number of benefits to entering this profession, not least of which is the fact that you will be able to play an important role in combating a very real and severe epidemic. It is important to note that although certification as an HIV nurse is not a requirement, it is highly recommended that you seek certification of this kind as it can significantly improve your chances of being employed within your chosen specialty in the nursing profession.

The post What You Need To Know About Being An HIV Nurse appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Many nurses say that they became travel nurses because they wanted to see more of the country and possibly even of overseas countries. According to them, travel nursing also encourages personal and professional growth as they are faced with different problems than what they normally face in a clinical or hospital situation.

What Exactly Is Travel Nursing?

Travel nursing is basically very similar to the old-fashioned “temp work” that has been done by administrative employees for many years. With the nursing shortage hitting all parts of the country and various segments of the nursing profession, managers of healthcare facilities are challenged to find personnel. This is very prevalent in the rural areas, and in areas which are rather out of the way, as they cannot attract sufficient full-time nurses and very often cannot afford to pay full-time nursing staff.

This has led to the advent of travel nursing, which essentially means that a nurse takes on an assignment for a specified amount of time, very often far from her home town. These assignments are generally awarded by agencies that specialize in travel nursing. The agency generally supplies the travel nurse with travel and housing and expenses, helps with required licensing, and provides benefits and payroll services.

Travel nurse assignments can last anything from 8 to 26 weeks, but can be renewed and lengthened should the need occur and the agency and client come to an agreement on this. Most assignments last between 8-13 weeks. Sometimes an agreement is made with the agency that allows the position to be converted to a full-time position should all parties agree on this.

Reasons To Consider Becoming A Travel Nurse

There are various reasons why one should consider doing travel nursing, and according to those that have done it and the experts, here are some of them:

Expand Your Skills And Knowledge Base

Travel nursing makes better nurses because no matter where the assignment, as a travel nurse, you would be constantly exposed to different ways of viewing nursing practice and will inevitably acquire new knowledge and skills that will add to what you have previously learned as well as adding to your curriculum vitae.

Travel nurses have access to a variety of assignments, from those in tiny rural clinics and hospitals where there are but a few beds and where a nurse is expected to be Jill-of-all-trades, to the most modern large hospitals and urban teaching centers where you will be able to specialize in the area of nursing that most interests you.

Each of these experiences will serve to challenge you and help you to grow as a nurse, as you could be learning the latest technique in negative-pressure wound therapy at one hospital one moment and teaching it to staff nurses unfamiliar with the technique at another hospital on the next assignment. This is the type of experience and growth that you may not have the opportunity to experience should you remain in one healthcare facility for many years.

Take Control Of Your Own Career

If you feel that you are getting nowhere in the position that you currently occupy, and are stagnating with no challenges, no hope of moving up in the ranks and too many hospital politics, then it may be time for a change. Travel nursing could offer you the opportunity for a change of scenery, the chance to experience some challenges and take control of your own career by deciding what assignments you want to take.

One of the greatest factors that travel nurses enjoy is the flexibility of the job, as they can change to a different practice setting, e.g. from a hospital-nurse setting to a skilled-nursing facility, a managed-care organization, or even an ambulatory care center. You can choose to work in a slow-paced facility with more patient-contact; a larger more modern, facility where you will have access to sophisticated, high-tech monitoring equipment; home-care, where you basically deal with a single patient one-on-one; or somewhere where you will be exposed to advanced, cutting-edge procedures. This way you can tailor your assignments according to what your personal preferences and professional goals are.

Financial Benefits

In most cases, those who do travel nursing find that the pay scales are comparable to and often better than most staff nursing positions. There are also many opportunities to earn bonuses for recruiting other travel-nurses, assignment completion, working during the Christmas Holidays, etc, depending on which agency you are signed with. This easily translates into earnings of between 10% and 15% more than a staff nurse.

There are also various attractive benefits linked to travel nursing, such as medical and dental insurance coverage, and once again, depending on the agency;

• Free housing
• Travel reimbursement or a travel allowance
• 401 (k) and matching contributions
• Free or low-cost continuing-education courses
• Licensure reimbursement
• Various types of insurance such as disability, life, and professional liability

Broaden Your Children’s Horizons

If you have been worrying about the fact that you have children and what will become of them, you can stop worrying, as most travel nursing recruiters are more than willing to accommodate just about any situation. Finding suitable accommodation for travel nurses with children is no problem for them, and this means that you could take your children, and even your spouse, with you on assignments, or at least some of them. This exposes your offspring to different parts of the country, different communities and different lifestyles, which is invaluable in forming a holistic world-view.

If you prefer to not move your children around, then it is possible to request assignments with an easy commute during the school-term and take on other longer, distance assignments during the school holidays, which solves the problem of giving the children something exciting and different to do and experience during holidays and still allows you to work and be with them at the same time. This is a definite win-win situation!

Travel nursing is a wonderful way to take you out of your comfort-zone and teach you what you can do. After a few days of orientation on each assignment you will be ready to draw on the confidence that your previous learning and experience has given you and find yourself fitting in just perfectly whilst learning many new things at the same time.

Who Can Become A Travel Nurse?

Although there are some positions available for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN/LVN) to do travel nursing, the positions more often than not call for a Registered Nurse (RN), so this could be an incentive for you as an LPN/LVN to study further and get your licensure as an RN.
There are various full-time and online programs available for LPNs to study to become RNs, including some fast-track programs that only take a few months to complete.

Travel With A Friend

Many travel nurses prefer to travel with a friend so that they do not feel so lonely on their assignments, and it is a wonderful way to travel and see the country with someone who can share your experiences. Depending on the skill set that you and your friend possess, and the needs of the hospital, this can often be arranged. There are even lots of husband and wife teams that travel together.

What About Licensing?

As per law, you are required to be licensed in each state in which you work, but his is not a problem if you decide to do travel nursing, as the agency will help you with this process. The process is not that difficult or onerous for those who already have licensure in the state in which they live. Your agency representative will be able to give you all the necessary information regarding licensure in the state in which you would like to practice, and will assist you with whatever you need to do to acquire said licensure.

How To Find A Travel Nursing Agency

Before just jumping into travel nursing, it is important that you find a suitable agency, and there are some important factors that you should keep in mind when doing your research. Remember the reasons that you decided to do travel nursing, and make sure that the agency with which you sign up can provide and meet all those reasons. One of the easiest ways to find a good travel agency is to go to the travel nursing website, where you will find a list of agencies. Click on one of the banners to go directly to that agency’s website, where you can find out more and get all your questions answered.

Make a list of your expectations, what you want from travel nursing, and what your priorities are, and then find the agency that can offer most, if not all, of them. Your list should include some of the following:

• Excellent pay rates – money is not everything, but you should be paid according to your experience.

• Free Insurance – one of the benefits should be that you get free medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage for yourself, and also for dependents, should you have any.

• 401K with employer contribution – some agencies will pay 100% of your 401k, but some may only pay 50%; you will need to decide what priority this takes.

• Completion Bonus – competition between the agencies is fierce, and many of them offer a completion bonus for each assignment; this can make for some nice savings.

• Direct Pay – is it important to you that your salary be deposited in your bank account via an electronic transfer, or don’t you mind getting a check which you then need to either deposit or cash yourself?

• Travel Reimbursement – some companies will reimburse fully, whilst others offer a travel allowance, which would you prefer? Also check whether they only pay for your travel to and from the assignment or will also pay for any travel you have to do during the assignment, especially if it is a ling assignment.

• Continuing Education – this is important to any nurse, and it is important for you to check whether the travel nursing agency will pay for CPR, ACLS, and PALS if required for an assignment, and whether they offer any financial assistance for other further study, including CEUs.

Travel nursing offers two main benefits that are not available to nurses who practice as full-time nurses in one facility; being able to manage your own career how you see fit, and flexibility as to when and where you work.

Travel nursing will allow you to enjoy a flexibility and freedom that is not generally associated with a staff position; it allows you to take off between assignments to visit family or friends or go on holiday, with no limits on how long you can take off. You can also leave time between assignments to explore the area in which you have just been working more fully, or so that you can visit and take in the sights on the way to your next assignment.

Travel nursing with definitely test your mettle and draw on every bit of knowledge and experience that you have, but it will also offer the chance for growth, both professionally and personally. Becoming a Travel nurse will allow you to challenge your perceptions about yourself, your capabilities and abilities, and open yourself to new experiences along the way. Travel nursing will also allow you to make many memories that you would never have had the chance to make had you stayed in one place.

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A school nurse practitioner is a nurse who provides care to children and young adults at their school or college. As nursing specialties go, this one is slightly less intensive than most others, as it usually involves dealing with minor injuries and illnesses with a greater focus on overall well being rather than on emergency medical situations. Nurses who prefer to work under less pressure and who also enjoy working with young people are ideally suited for this line of work.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The following are usually considered to be the main duties of a school nurse practitioner:

• In addition to simply caring for individual children and students, school nurse practitioners are also responsible for developing an overarching health care plan for the entire institution.

• School nurse practitioners are responsible for ensuring that all other school staff are trained in dealing with common medical situations that may arise, such as first aid and first response skills, as well as how to deal with Epilepsy and asthma.

• They also tend to have an active role in educating students and teachers on different healthcare issues.

• School nurse practitioners do not only deal with physical ailments but are also responsible for providing help and support to any students who are suffering from mental health problems, such as depression or substance abuse disorders.

• A school nurse practitioner must also work closely with other Community Groups and Social Workers and refer the students under her care if and when necessary.

• Nutrition and exercise are closely linked to the health status of children, and it is therefore the school nurse practitioner’s job to educate parents and students on this aspect of their well being.

• Last but not least, the school nurse practitioner is responsible for testing hearing and eyesight and monitoring the weight and height of the children under her care.

Employment

School nurse practitioners are either employed full-time at a school, or are required to serve a number of schools in a specified geographic location. In cases where the nurse is a full-time employee, they will work out of an office within the school and be available at all times during the school day. If, on the other hand, they are required to serve a number of different schools, their visits will be intermittent (although they could follow a set schedule). Because school nurses tend to keep to school hours, they have more free time and a more convenient lifestyle than many other nursing professionals. In addition, depending on the school that they work in, they stand a higher chance of being employed in a well ventilated and lighted facility.

School Nurse Practitioner Requirements

There are a number of requirements that you need to meet in order to become a school nurse practitioner, but the main ones are as follows:

• You must have completed an RN training program and hold an RN license
• You must have a pediatric nurse qualification

Pediatric nurse practitioners are nurses who are specifically trained to care for the needs of babies, children and adolescents, which is why this qualification is essential for working in a school or college. Young people and children have different medical needs and are at risk for different medical conditions than adults or geriatrics, so it is essential that, before applying for positions in a school, that you have the necessary knowledge and qualifications for becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Personality Traits

Certain personality traits will make your job as a school nurse practitioner substantially easier:

• You need to have well-developed communication skills in order to effectively communicate with children as well as with adults

• You must have the ability to observe accurately and make decisions accordingly as mistakes can often be serious and even life-threatening when it comes to children

• You must be able to work with patients who are sometimes reluctant to cooperate, especially if you are working with teenagers in a high school

• You must be willing to work with a team as you will need to interact with other school employees as well as outside agencies

• You must be able to supervise others

• You must be emotionally stable and have a sympathetic disposition towards children

Educational Requirements

The educational path to becoming a school nurse practitioner is a fairly lengthy one as you are required to first earn a pediatric nurse practitioner qualification:

• Firstly you need to become a qualified Registered Nurse and receive several years of experience as one, preferably working with children in, for example, a pediatric ward.

• These programs are usually about two years in duration and earn you a Master’s Degree in Nursing.

• Once you have completed the pediatric nursing program, you must apply for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) certification exam and licensure in the state in which you wish to practice.

RN programs can vary in length from about 2 years to 4 years, depending on the qualification you pursue. By adding the pediatric nurse practitioner qualification you will need to devote 4 to 6 years of your life in total to meeting the educational requirements for this specialty.

Licensure

The only license that you really need in order to become a school nurse practitioner is your RN license. This process involves enrolling in an accredited RN training program. These programs can take 2 to 4 years to complete, depending on the type of qualification you plan to earn. A bachelor’s program will take 4 years to complete and provide you with more career advancement options than an associate’s degree or a diploma. However, an associate’s degree can take as a little as 2 years to complete while a diploma will take about 3 years. Completing a program and meeting all of the theory and clinical course requirements will make you eligible to apply for licensure with your State Board of Nursing. Once the board confirms that you meet the requirements for becoming licensed, you can set a date to write the NCLEX-RN, which is the national licensing exam for registered nurses in the US. Pearson VUE administers the exam for a fee of $200. Your results will be passed on to your State Board of Nursing. If you pass satisfactorily, you will receive licensure. Licensure must be renewed regularly, although the specific time periods and requirements for achieving this may differ depending on the state in which you are licensed in.

How To Become A School Nurse Practitioner

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

It is interesting to note that, because you need to hold a pediatric nurse practitioner qualification in order to be a school nurse practitioner, there is plenty of room for advancement in this line of work. The bottom line is that you will not be limited to working in schools and you will have the opportunity to branch out and expand your knowledge in the area of pediatric nursing specifically, if that is what you choose to do.
Continuing education credits with a focus on pediatric care will stand you in good stead and improve your career advancement opportunities in this line of work.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is important that the school through which you complete your pediatric nurse practitioner qualification is accredited. If it is not accredited, you may find yourself in a situation where the program that you invested so much time and money in is worth nothing. Some examples of schools you could consider attending are:

The Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Avenue Northeast
Washington, DC 20064
202-319-5000
cua.edu

University of California at San Francisco
400 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94122
415-476-2342
ucsf.edu

University of Virginia
202 Jeanette Lancaster Way
Charlottesville, VA 22903
434-924-0141
virginia.edu

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

As you have already noted, in order to be a school nurse practitioner you must hold a pediatric nurse practitioner qualification. This is, essentially, a master’s degree. However, earning an associate’s degree is a very useful first step in the process as this will allow you to receive an RN license, a requirement for entering a pediatric nurse practitioner program. Begin the process by noting all of the schools in your area offering associate’s degrees in nursing. Create a shortlist of the options that are most closely aligned with your personal needs. Apply for at least 3 different schools in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Each school will have its own application procedures that you should take careful note of. Choose the best school from among those that accept you and enroll. Completing the program will earn you your associate’s degree.

Obtain Your Licensure

In order to be a school nurse practitioner you must, in addition to earning your RN license, become certified by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), which is affiliated with the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBSCN). This process involves taking and passing the NBSCN national school nurse certification examination. There are a large number of schools that offer programs that will prepare you for this. A comprehensive list can be found at http://www.education-online-search.com/programs/nursing_school/school_nurse_certificate_programs, although you need to ensure for yourself that these schools are appropriately accredited.

Online/Distance Education Programs

Because you need to complete a certain amount of clinical hands-on training for any nursing qualification, it is simply not possible to complete a qualification such as this entirely online. It is possible to complete the theory portion in this manner, and this can certainly alleviate the burden placed on your shoulders, but your clinical work must always be completed in a face-to-face situation. When selecting online schools, choose one that also has a brick-and-mortar presence as well as a good track record. Schools that provide resources through which to complete your clinical training should also be prioritized.

Job Outlook

Some nurses worry about where their money will come from during vacation time if they do choose to pursue a career as a school nurse practitioner. Because of your pediatric qualification it is possible for you to seek temporary positions as a pediatric nurse practitioner during these time periods. This also implies that you could leave school nursing altogether if you chose to do so. School nurses are also on the front lines of healthcare in that they have a great deal of interaction with the community. This also implies that there is potential for nurses with this qualification to branch out into community nursing should they be interested in doing so.
Job stability is always guaranteed in the health care industry as this is the only industry that stays strong no matter what. In addition, it is the industry that is growing at a faster rate than any other.

Earnings

School nurses, with their pediatric nurse qualifications, are eligible to earn the following:

• Average Salary = $61,676 – $94,383
• Bonus = $0.00 – $7,465
• Profit Sharing = $507 – $19,727
• Total Pay = $63,996 – $102,228

School nurses are not limited to working in schools, and it is therefore interesting to note what other pay options a nurse with this specialty may have:

• In Healthcare you could earn about $58,819 – $94,359 an hour with this qualification
• In a Pediatric Office you could earn about $59,254 – $94,223 an hour with this qualification
• In a Hospital you could earn about $59,905 – $96,324 an hour with this qualification
• In a Medical Office you could earn about $57,726 – $93,395 an hour with this qualification
• In the Medical Services you could earn about $58,571 – $95,578 an hour with this qualification

The educational path to becoming a school nurse practitioner is fairly lengthy, but the career and salary opportunities that characterize this specialty make it a worthy option to consider. The primary qualification is that you have a genuine love for children and a passionate interest in their well being.

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PeriAnesthesia nursing essentially involves working with patients who are in the process of recovering from surgery. The primary objective of a PeriAnesthesia nurse is to ensure that patients who have adverse reactions to the anesthesia are properly cared for, and consequently they are trained to look out for specific warning signs. In addition, a PeriAnesthesia Nurse will work with a patient before they go in for surgery, and will provide them with tips regarding how to expedite their recovery once they are sent home.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The main duties of a PeriAnesthesia nurse are as follows:

• They must provide preoperative and postoperative care to patients who have undergone anesthesia
• They take patient’s medical histories
• They perform patient examinations and assessments
• They monitor vital signs
• They prepare patients for surgical anesthesia
• They explain the procedure
• They help patients relax
• They monitor patients while under anesthesia
• They report any abnormal observations to doctors
• They monitor patients as they return to a normal state to make sure there are no adverse reactions to the anesthesia

Employment

There are three main settings in which you can expect to find employment as a PeriAnesthesia nurse:

• Hospitals
• Ambulatory surgical units
• Physicians’ offices

Hospitals where surgeries are habitually performed and ambulatory surgical units are the most common places to find employment with this specialty. However, there has been a huge increase in the number of PeriAnesthesia nurses employed in physician’s offices, and this number is expected to continue growing.

PeriAnesthesia Nursing Requirements

These are the requirements for becoming a PeriAnesthesia nurse:

• To begin with you will need to earn a Nursing Diploma, an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program.

• During this program you should take courses specifically in anesthesia-related care (some courses may have a PeriAnesthesia concentration that you can choose).

• Then you will have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) that will allow you to hold a registered nurse license.

• Next you should receive at least 1,800 hours of experience in PeriAnesthesia before applying to take your certification exam through the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing.

• Finally you will need to pass the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse exam (CPAN) OR the Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse exam (CAPA) so that you can be a Certified Perianesthesia Nurse.

Personality Traits

There are a number of personality traits which are beneficial for all nurses to possess. However, in order to be a PeriAnesthesia nurse there are a few traits that can be more useful than others. For example, it is very important that you have social perceptiveness. This simply involves being aware of the reactions of other people (including patients as well as the doctors and other health care professionals who you will work with on a daily basis) as well as possessing a clear understanding of why people react in the ways that they do. In addition, in order to ensure that you fully comprehend the effect that anesthesia has had on your patient, you will need to engage in active listening. This involves giving the patient your full attention when they report on how they feel, taking the time needed to fully understand all of the points that your patient is making regarding his or her condition, asking questions when it is appropriate to do so, and not interrupting the patient. One of the key nursing skills that you will need to possess is communication, in that you will need to be able to effectively communicate the course of action to your patient, as well as to effectively communicate information regarding your patient’s condition to a doctor.

Educational Requirements

To become a PeriAnesthesia nurse, you need to meet certain educational requirements. To begin with, you need to complete an RN training program which will allow you to become a non-specialized nurse. Your primary options here are to complete a diploma, an associate degree, or a bachelor degree program. These programs will consist of both theory knowledge as well as intense hands-on experience. Once you have completed your accredited program, you will sit the NCLEX-RN examination. After that, you will sit the necessary certification examinations to become a certified PeriAnesthesia nurse. Regular continuing education is required in order to maintain your license and certification, as well as to keep up to date with advancements in the field.

Licensure

In order to be a PeriAnesthesia nurse you will need to first earn an RN license. Entering an RN training program requires you to have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. You also usually need to be 18 years of age or older (although some states only require you to be 17, while others require you to be 19 before you can enter a program of this kind). Ascertaining that the program is accredited is essential before enrolling. The program that you attend must include both a theory aspect as well as clinical hands-on training. Hands-on training is a prerequisite before you will be allowed to sit the NCLEX-RN licensing examinations. The theory work that you will learn in the classroom-based scenarios during your training program will be the work that is assessed on the licensing examination. Once you have completed the training program, you can apply for licensure from your state board of nursing. Before actually registering to take the examination you will need to receive confirmation from the board that you are indeed eligible to become licensed. Once you have received this, you can set an exam date through Pearson VUE, the examining body, and complete the computer-based assessment. There are revision textbooks and study guides that you can buy to prepare for this, as well as a number of very useful online resources that you could make use of. Passing the exam will mean that you are licensed, which your State Board of Nursing will confirm in the months following your test. Depending on the rules of your particular state, you will also be required to renew your license at specified intervals.

How To Become A PeriAnesthesia Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

In some cases, there may not be specific PeriAnesthesia programs for you to focus on at the school of your choice. In that case, there are a number of related majors that you could take instead. The top five majors that will be helpful in becoming a PeriAnesthesia nurse are:

• Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
• Clinical Nurse Leader
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Critical Care Nursing
• Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing

Source An Accredited Education Program

http://www.mymajors.com provides a long and comprehensive list of schools that you could attend if you plan to become a PeriAnesthesia nurse. However, it is extremely important that the school you eventually choose is actually accredited appropriately. If it is not accredited you will be wasting your time and your money as your qualification will not be recognized by most employers. Your State Board of Nursing will be able to provide you with information regarding whether or not a school is properly accredited.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

An associate’s degree in nursing is a good way to begin your career as a nurse. Although there are other, more advanced, degree options available, an associate’s degree is all you need to become an RN, following which it is easy to become a PeriAnesthesia nurse. The steps involved are as follows:

• Begin by compiling a comprehensive list of the educational institutes offering associate’s degrees in nursing in your state or city
• Create a short list of the options that best suit your needs
• Apply for a minimum of three schools in order to increase your chances
• Make sure that you adhere to the specific application procedures of each individual school
• Choose your favorite option from among those schools that accept you
• Graduating from the program earns you your associate’s degree

Obtain Your Licensure

Technically speaking, the only license that you need for this specialty is your RN license. However, it is also required that you become certified as a PeriAnesthesia nurse before you will be allowed to practice as one. To do this, you will have to earn either the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) qualification, or the Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) qualification through the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification (ABPANC). Both of these qualifications are properly accredited. Both exams consist of 165 questions. However, only 140 of those questions will actually be graded and count towards your final score, as the other 25 are simply being tested for suitability for inclusion in a test. You will not know which questions are graded and which are not. Sylvan Prometrics administers the tests online and you will need a score of 450 to pass. Exam fees are $285 for ASPAN members or $385 for nonmembers.

There are a number of requirements that you will need to meet to become certified. The main requirement is that you have 1,800 hours of direct experience as a registered nurse in PeriAnesthesia during the two years prior to application. This could be completed in the form of:

• Direct care
• Bedside interaction with patients or with their families

Your certification must be renewed every three years. To do this you must:

• Retake the relevant exam, or
• Participate in ABPANC’s continual learning program, and
• Have a minimum of 1,200 hours of PeriAnesthesia nursing practice

Online/Distance Education Programs

Although online or distance education may seem attractive due to its flexibility and low cost, it is important to remember that nursing is a very hands-on discipline and it is therefore essential that you engage in hands-on training. This cannot be offered online or through distance education, so you will need to make your own provisions to meet this requirement.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this line of nursing is excellent. In relation to other industries, the medical industry, specifically nursing, is growing at a far faster rate in terms of the number of jobs that are becoming available. For example, we expect to see an increase of 48% in the number of jobs available for PeriAnesthesia nurses in physician’s offices between the years 2008 and 2018. This is a significant increase in job opportunities and serves as a sign to prospective students in this discipline that the industry is doing well. In addition, advanced technology means that more and more ailments and illnesses can be treated surgically. This in turn means that there has been, and will continue to be, a significant increase in the demand for PeriAnesthesia nurses.

Earnings

Although salaries for PeriAnesthesia nurses can differ significantly based, for example, on the state that you work in, the following figures are a useful guide for determining how much you may be eligible to earn once you have become certified in this specialty (numbers taken from http://anesthesiologysalary.com/1/1/salary/Perianesthesia-Nurse-Salary):

Yearly Perianesthesia Nurse Pay Statistics

• Average Yearly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $38,080 – $57,120
• Starting Yearly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $31,360 – $47,040
• Top Yearly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $44,800 – $67,200

Monthly Perianesthesia Nurse Pay Statistics

• Average Monthly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $3,173 – $4,760
• Starting Monthly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $2,613 – $3,920
• Top Monthly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $3,733 – $5,600

Hourly Perianesthesia Nurse Pay Statistics

• Average Hourly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $17 – $26
• Starting Hourly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $14 – $21
• Top Hourly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $20 – $30

The employment and salary opportunities inherent in becoming a PeriAnesthesia nurse make this career path a very attractive one indeed for most prospective nurses to pursue. There is a high degree of patient interaction involved in this line of work, which means that it is important that you meet the personality requirements for success in this job.

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