Nurses
make up the majority of US’s healthcare industry – it has become the
fastest-growing occupation in the country with the number expected to go up to
581,000 or higher by 2018. The field of nursing provides many benefits that
appeal to natural caretakers who choose this career path. It is a profession
for people who seek rewards beyond salary – who find satisfaction in playing an
integral part in the lives of patients and helping them live a better life.
Benefits of Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant
Personal Satisfaction
Being
a CNA gives people the chance to a make significant difference in people’s lives
on a daily basis. No two days are same for a CNA – they work with different
patients suffering from different health conditions, which increase their
experience and knowledge about patient care. They can then use this experience
and knowledge to take better care of themselves, their families and community,
in addition to their patients.
Flexible Scheduling
A
career as a CNA allows having a flexible schedule. CNAs can choose to work for 4,
8, 10, or 12-hour shifts. They can also adjust their schedules around their
family or online CNA classes, by opting to work on weekdays, weekends, or a
combination. CNAs might also have the option to work part-time or on contract
basis.
Greater Options
Nursing is one of the few career paths that give people a
range of choices of where they want to work or which department they wish to
work for. CNAs can choose to work hospitals, nursing homes, old age homes, residential care
facilities, correctional institutions, and other long-term care settings.
Good Pay
Nursing offers above-average wages
- The Bureau of
Labor Statistics projects that by
2016, the average annual income for a full-time nurse would be $62,480.
Job Security
As there is a shortage of nurses countrywide, CNAs will have
attractive career options wherever they live in the US. Even if they need to
move between states, they don’t need to worry about finding a good job in the
new state.
Collaboration and Independence
Nursing
is a profession that offers the best of both worlds. Although nurses often have
to work as part of a team, there are times when they can enjoy a great deal of
autonomy and independence as they advance in their careers.
