Finding a CNA job is one of the challenges that any starting Certified Nursing Assistant will have to go through, but there are actually a few tips they can follow in order to increase the chances of landing a well-paying job in a great facility. Below, there are some steps in this regard which will prove to be very useful:

1. The first step CNAs should take when looking for cna jobs is to visit the career center where they’ve received their CNA degree. This is because vocational schools offering certification have dedicated programs which are very helpful to graduates and students and because they have listings of local employers, they are a great resource during the CNA’s job search process. Talking to a nursing counselor may also prove helpful, as they usually offer vital info pertaining to one’s career outlook and also goals.
2. Because nurses are very much aware of the inner workings of their hospital departments, networking with them is a great idea for landing a job. If they have a job opening on their floor, they’ll certainly want to get in touch with a newly graduated CNA professional and refer him or her to the human resources department. Nurses also know colleagues on other floors, so it’s easy for them to put someone in touch with a facility that requires certified nursing assistants.
3. Finding cna jobs can also be done by searching targeted nursing websites and publications. These types of websites or magazines have many articles that will aid individuals in their job search, with some of the topics including current trends in the nursing industry and career advancement.
4. Visiting hospitals and local nursing homes is also recommended, because sometimes certified nursing assistant positions are not advertised publicly. This means that people will have to visit the facility on their own and speak with the director about a possible hiring. Even if they don’t have a position, they’ll keep new interested CNAs on file and call them when a position will become vacant.

Advantages of CNA jobs

When people want to work as a CNA and they have taken all the required steps in order to develop a career in this field, they should know what this job is not easy. Aside from the emotional and physical aspect, there are also times when professionals will have to stay longer at work and even work on holidays. Each facility has its own workloads and this will impact everyone’s working hours.

For example, a heavier patient load can be seen in hospitals, which means that CNAs may have to look after ten to twelve patients per shift. On the other hand, an easier alternative would be home healthcare, as CNAs will need to care for a single patient. Also, in terms of the amount of work involved, hospitals have fixed working hours, usually a twelve hour shift or a twenty four hour shift. It all depends on the patient’s condition and the facility.

The entire picture

While some people think that working as a CNA they’ll have to clean up poo after each and every patient, this is not quite a realistic view of the job. CNAs have a vital role in taking care of patients and it can be quite rewarding to know that because of them, a patient managed to get better and walk home completely healed. However, there are also those moody, needy, mean, demented, scared and anxious patients and each CNA will have to find ways to satisfy their needs, even though they’re a bit more difficult to deal with. At times, CNAs will also have to deal with upset relatives, who will feel quite upset or angry to see their loved ones in uncomfortable situations.

A demanding job

Working as a certified nursing assistant can be quite demanding, but the good part about it is that there are many agencies and healthcare facilities that are willing to pay these professionals the salary they deserve for their hard work. As always, the salary is going to be largely affected by the individual’s education, experience, geographical location and facility where they work.

CNA Salary and benefits

A CNA can expect to earn anywhere from $9.03/hr to $17.39/hr based on May 2014 statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average salary for a CNA who is working in a Skilled Nurning Care Facility was $25,160 as compared to a CNA working in a General Medical and Surgical Hospital for the same period who had an average salary of $28.430. One aspect to keep in mind is that the CNAs salary doesn’t include overtime pay, which can significantly increase the hourly wage. CNAs will get the same benefits like any other employees out there who work for a company (based on offer) and they can include:

• Flexible work arrangements
• Sick leave and vacation
• College plans
• Paid holidays
• Flexible spending accounts and pretax premium conversion
• Retirement program
• Vision, dental and \ or medical protection
• Group long term care insurance
• Basic and supplemental life insurance
• Short and long term disability income protection

Again, CNAs need to remember that these benefits will range quite much depending on the facility they are working for and it’s not guaranteed that everyone will get them. That is why when looking for cna jobs, individuals will need to first of all compare the packages they’re offering. Considering around 5 or 6 employers is recommended, because after studying their offers, individuals will be able to gain a sense of the benefits they can get. With that being said, these are the main aspects people need to keep in mind when looking for a CNA job. By doing so, they’ll have a better understanding of landing a job that will earn them a great salary, without exhausting them with overly long shifts.