By
Lanee’ Blunt
A
CNA salary depends upon a number of factors, including who they work for, where
they work and the level of training they have. A certified nursing assistant is
responsible for helping their patients meet their daily needs. They are responsible
for reporting any health-care issues to the supervising nurse. They perform
basic medical procedures, such as taking blood pressure, temperatures, and specimens.
They take care of their patient’s personal hygiene, bladder and bowel requirements,
bedpan routings, and emptying catheters.
Training to Become a CNA
A
certified nursing assistant must complete a CNA training program. These
programs are found in community colleges, technical schools, online training
programs, nursing homes and hospitals. Most CNA programs require that you have
a high school diploma or GED, however some are found in high schools where you are
trained while you earn your high school diploma. When you finish the state required
education you must take a State Nursing Assistant Certificate Examination, pass
it and receive your certificate, and your name must be placed on the registry.
There are many graduates after passing their state exam found jobs in nursing
homes, health care, hospitals and hospice care.
CNA Salary
Most
CNA’s work full time and they work all hours including some holidays. The
median annual salary for a certified nursing assistant was $24,010 in May 2010,
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job outlook is excellent and expected to
grow by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020 because of the growing elderly population,
CNA that are retiring, or advancing to a LPN or registered nurse after
continuing their education. A certified nursing assistant is usually paid by
the hour.
Hourly Rate
The
hourly rate of a CNA depends on how much experience a nursing assistant has. An
inexperienced CNA can earn $7.84 to $12.24 per hour, according to PayScale.com.
The more experience you have the better your hourly wage from 1 to 4 years’
experience the wage is $8.28 to $13.04 per hour. People that have 5 to 9 years’
experience you can earn $8.79 to $14.39 an hour. A CNA with 20 or more years’
experience makes $9.24 to $16.22 per hour.
Benefits
Most
hospitals and nursing homes have benefits for their CNAs. Benefits include medical,
dental, vision, life insurance, holiday and vacation. Some offer no benefit
packages at all, according to PayScale 49% have any health benefits.
References:
[Image
of a CNA] (n.d.). Retrieved from
