Salaries For CNA’s Continue To Rise
For CNA’s, the national average pay now stands at $9.55 per hour at the low end to $17.11 on the highest end. That brings the median average salary at $31,540. Some States and regions pay much higher than others. For example, in expensive places like San Francisco, starting pay for a Certified Nursing Assistant can be as high as $16.45 per hour. In Bakersfield, Ca, the pay is higher than average. This may be partially due to the fact that the population is aging, and there aren’t enough caregivers. Because of this, the pay for CNA’s keeps going up. Right now, 2015/2016, the average pay for a CNA is $15.56 per hour, which comes to $32,300 per hour.
A nationwide shortage of certified nursing assistants has many healthcare professionals and staffing agencies wondering what the problem is. CNA training usually takes no more than 1 semester, is relatively inexpensive, and is available within a reasonable distance of any municipality in the nation. Fortunately, the answer to this dilemma may be found in several employment surveys taken over the last several years.
Some of these surveys indicate a certain level of fear among high school students that CNA training will be too difficult. Many assume they don’t have the intellectual capacity or medical aptitude to complete the training. Such fears prevent them from ever investigating a CNA career, let alone actually embarking on their studies. So now the question becomes, how hard is CNA training?
Places That Are Hiring New CNA’s
When a CNA finishes their coursework and State certification process, the next step is actually finding a job! This is often the hardest part. Just like the old saying: “Everybody wants experience, but how can I get experience without getting hired??” For new CNA’s, the best place to start is usually Assisted Living Facilities. Many of these facilities will hire new grads. The down-side of this is that the pay is usually near the bottom of the pay scale. One of the more unusual places that most new CNA’s don’t consider is applying at the Department of Corrections in California. Yes, they hire CNA’s, and the pay is at the top of the pay scale. This is probably because you’ll be working with convicted criminals, and this scares many people. Any standard CNA training program is going to require a certain amount of book work. For students who never mastered the art of independent study in high school, this may be the most daunting part of the training program. Although you won’t spend the majority of your time in the books, you will still need to complete the work that’s required of you. That includes a certain amount of rote memorization. It’s just part of the gig you’ll have to accept.
If you’re naturally good at independent study and book work, you’ll probably find this portion of your training relatively easy. You should be able to absorb the material without too much trouble and memorize what is required of you. You should also have no trouble at all with the written tests at the end of your training period.
Hands-On Practice For CNA Students
The second part of your CNA training program involves hands-on practice of the skills you’ve learned. This is equally important to your book work; some might even suggest it is more important. Your hands-on practice may begin in a setting where you’re working exclusively with medical mannequins. By starting with medical mannequins the training program enables you to make mistakes without hurting anyone. As you get used to the mannequins you’ll slowly become more comfortable with the idea of working people.
At some point you will be taken into a live situation where you will be practicing your skills on human patients. Rest assured that during the training process everything you do will be done with a licensed nurse looking over your shoulder. The more you can demonstrate the proper practice of your skills, with confidence and comfort, the less your supervising nurse will be closely scrutinizing.
While some CNA candidates find the book work the most daunting part of their training, others are very fearful of the hands-on practice. If you’re worried about this portion of your training, there’s no need to be. Your supervising nurse will not allow you to do anything that might possibly harm a patient, and you’ll be able to take as long as is necessary for you to become comfortable with your skills.
Final Thoughts On Current CNA Salary
It’s important for you to understand that attendance is extremely important in a CNA training program. Since the courses are generally so short, even missing a full day could set you behind. A standard rule of thumb for most training courses is that students may miss no more than a total of six hours. Missing more time than that will require you to start the program over. If at all possible, don’t miss any time at all.
Upon completion of your educational program you will be required to take at least two exams. The first exam proves that you’ve successfully completed your training program and are prepared to take the second exam. That second exam is one that is required by your state nursing board in order to be licensed. If you’re the type of student who traditionally has a difficult time with written tests, it might be beneficial to procure some practice tests ahead of time. By taking these practice tests you should be more comfortable when it comes time for the real thing.
At the end of the day, while CNA training is not the easiest thing in the world, it’s also not the most difficult. Students who put forth their best effort in both phases of the program will usually be able to complete it on the first try. Those who stumble may need to repeat the course a second time, but no more.