A certified nursing assistant or aide, usually referred to as a CNA, is an unlicensed health care support worker. In all work settings, CNAs must work under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse or practical nurse. Each state regulates the practice of nurses, including CNAs, and the rules governing allowable workplaces may differ from state to state.
As unlicensed personnel, CNAs can perform limited tasks under the direction of an RN or LPN. A CNA, for example, might give bed baths, change soiled sheets, help a patient eat or go to the bathroom. These health workers may also be responsible for transporting patients in wheelchairs or on gurneys. They may turn patients to prevent bedsores, clean rooms, help patients walk or exercise, answer call lights or help prepare a patient for surgery. CNAs usually have a high school diploma and have completed a CNA training course of 75 to 180 hours, depending on the state.
Residential and Other Care Facilities
Most nursing assistants, whether certified or not, work in residential and other care facilities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2010, 55 percent of all nursing assistants worked in residential care homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and similar institutions. In residential care facilities, CNAs are most likely to work with the elderly or disabled patients. In some states, CNAs may also take a special test, called the medication aide certification examination, which allows them to give medications in residential care settings.
Hospitals and Other Work Settings
After residential care facilities, hospitals are the next biggest employer of CNAs, according to the BLS, with 28 percent of CNAs employed in state, local or private hospitals. About 3 percent of CNAs work in home health services, and 2 percent work in employment services. In Utah, CNAs may also work in a hospice setting, according to the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry, as long as a licensed nurse supervises them and they perform nursing or nursing-related tasks.
Home Health Aide
Another option for a CNA is to work as a home health aide. Most HHAs train on the job, but many of their tasks are within the province of a CNA. HHAs, as the name implies, work in people’s homes. They provide services such as assistance with bathing and dressing, blood pressure and other vital signs checks or light housekeeping. An HHA might also manage a client’s schedule, arrange transportation or keep track of prescription refills. Some states allow HHAs to provide some medical services, according to the BLS.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Nursing Assistants, Aides and Orderlies
- Nurse Together: Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant
- Red Cross: Nurse Assistant Training and Caregiving
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing: Medication Aide Certification Examination (MACE)
- Utah Nursing Assistant Registry: Frequently Asked Questions
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Home Health and Personal Care Aides
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