Important Facts About Health Care Assistants
| Professional Certification | Certified Medication Assistant (CMA) |
| Key Skills | Critical thinking, situational awareness, clear communication, close listening, monitoring, service oriented |
| Work Environment | Nursing care facilities, hospitals, residential care facilities |
| Similar Occupations | Medical assistants, personal care aides, physical therapist assistants and aides, personal care aides, registered nurses, home health aides |
Education
To perform the duties of an aide or assistant, training can be found at the community college level. In a college program, you will obtain skills in nursing, patient care, emergency procedures, and communication. The curriculum also covers topics involving client rights and infection control. In order to earn your certified nursing assistant (CNA) designation, you must complete your approved program in addition to successfully passing an exam on career-pertinent skills and information.
Licensing
To obtain a CNA license, you will need to check with your state board to determine the specific state's requirements. Generally, candidates fill out an application with the nursing aide registry and then send it to the state's licensing office. Many times, proof of education is required to be eligible for testing. Depending on the state you live in, you may be required to submit to a background and criminal check before your license will be issued.
Salary and Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is expected to grow by 5% between 2021 and 2031 (www.bls.gov). Because of costs, many hospitals choose to discharge healing patients into the care of short-term nursing facilities; this trend could indicate additional job opportunities. As of May 2021, the BLS reported that the mean annual wage for nursing assistants was $33,250.
