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Long-term care & hospital
Certified Nursing Assistant
The hardest job in the building, and the closest to the patient.
Typical pay
$28k-$42k
How you get in
4-12 week state-approved program
Outlook
Constant demand; turnover is the industry's problem
CNAs handle bathing, feeding, transfers, toileting and vitals — the hands-on care that fills a patient's day. It is the fastest entry into healthcare, and the most common first step for future nurses.
A day in the life
- 6:30aReport, take assignment of 8-15 residents
- 7:00aMorning care — bathing, dressing, transfers
- 8:30aBreakfast, feeding assistance
- 11:00aRounds, repositioning, charting
- 1:00pLunch if coverage allows
- 2:00pAfternoon care, call lights, prep for shift change
How to get in
State-approved CNA course
Duration
4-12 weeks
Cost
$400-$2,000
Credential
State CNA certification
- Enroll in a state-approved program at a college or facility
- Complete classroom hours plus supervised clinicals
- Pass your state's written and skills exam
- Apply to hospitals, which generally pay better than nursing homes
Facility-sponsored training
Duration
4-8 weeks
Cost
$0 — the facility pays
Credential
State CNA certification
- Get hired by a nursing home that trains its own CNAs
- Complete their state-approved course while employed
- Pass the state exam
- Expect a service commitment of several months to a year
CNA as a stepping stone
Duration
4-12 weeks, then nursing school
Cost
$400-$2,000 up front
Credential
CNA now, LPN or RN later
- Certify and work as a CNA
- Use tuition reimbursement many employers offer
- Enter an LPN or ADN program while working
- Nursing programs weigh CNA experience in admissions
What people love
- · Certified and working in 4-12 weeks
- · Cheapest possible entry to healthcare
- · Facilities are always hiring
- · Nursing schools value the experience
What wears people down
- · Physically brutal — lifting all shift
- · Chronic short staffing
- · Low pay for the hardest work in the building
- · Emotionally heavy in long-term care