As a CNA, you made the fortunate choice to begin your nursing career right away. After getting your feet wet, so to speak, you took the plunge, and your CNA career is going well. But you really want to take your CNA career to the next rung on the ladder. And, continue to climb as high as you can. Where do you begin your ascent to the highest level you can achieve on your climb up the CNA career ladder?
Not knowing where to start the climb can be frustrating and confusing. Should you look for management and administrative personnel to help you move up? Is there a next step, and is that position open? Or do you need to start over in order to grow your healthcare career? We have the answers you’re looking for, and we can give you a boost to get you started on your climb up the CNA career ladder.
First, What is A CNA Career, and How Far Can You Expect to Go?
To become a CNA, you’ll receive about four months of training. Upon completion, you take the requisite certification test and, once certified, you begin your career journey.
Because of the high demand for quality CNAs, it’s not difficult to find a job. Working as a CNA is a wonderful way to acquire nursing skills and hone them as you go. CNAs work in most healthcare environments, from hospitals to large clinics and doctors’ offices, as well as government healthcare venues and assisted living facilities. By far, skilled nursing facilities are the largest employers of CNAs. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, skilled nursing facilities employ a whopping 33% of all working CNAs.
CNAs work full-time or part-time, depending on their desire. However, working full time provides a better chance for advancing up the CNA career ladder. Healthcare organizations like skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and assisted living centers operate around the clock, so the opportunity to work nights, weekends, and holidays is always available.
Attributes of A Dynamic CNA
Those who climb the highest on the CNA career ladder possess a strong desire to provide care and comfort to the residents and patients with whom they interact. Attention to detail is a must when it comes to the needs of your patients. CNAs provide bedside companionship, and their responsibilities often include hands-on care in bathing, toileting, dressing, and helping their patients eat meals. One of the greatest attributes a CNA possesses is their ability to provide this type of care while helping their patient retain their sense of autonomy, to whatever degree, and dignity.
Other key characteristics that will gain respect and get you noticed in your CNA career are:
- Thorough Grasp of Technology: Technology in healthcare is ever-changing. A good CNA already has a grasp on the current technology and is able to adapt to new protocols with relative ease.
- Compassion: Many patients a CNA cares for are in an extremely vulnerable state. Some are in pain, have an illness, experiencing emotional changes or dementia, and most are in distress of some kind. Compassion is essential to a CNA career.
- Empathy: Empathy is an important key trait for a CNA. As stated above, many of your patients will be in some kind of distress, as will their family members. It’s important that you are able to understand and share feelings with your patients and their loved ones.
- Patience: Some patients may have cognitive disabilities or a degree of dementia. Some may be facing challenges of another kind. Some may be combative, uncooperative, or downright difficult. Learning how to respond is key to working with these individuals who may try your patience.
- Good Communication Skills: Mastering communication skills is essential. You need to understand your patients’ needs, work on care plans with other healthcare professionals, and explain care and procedures to your patients and their families.
- Ability to Be Flexible: New situations are always arising in healthcare facilities and you may need to adjust your approach or address emergencies in a calm and professional manner.
- Ability to Handle Stress: Your CNA career is certain to be filled with challenging and emotionally draining circumstances. Maintaining your emotional stability is necessary. Look into some of the ways nurses manage their stress.
- Good Time Management and Organizational Skills: Your work environment as a CNA is ever-changing and you will be asked to juggle a lot at one time.
- Strength and Stamina: Moving beds, lifting patients, dealing with those uncooperative and sometimes combative individuals requires strength and stamina. Work on your physical strength and endurance. Bonus: Exercise is a great way to manage your stress!
Three Ways to Grow Your Healthcare Career as A CNA
Growing your career as a CNA shouldn’t require starting over again when your current employer offers no opportunity for career advancement. Many employers are thrilled to see your desire to advance and are more than happy to offer some type of support, from tuition reimbursement to PTO and flexible scheduling.
Regardless of what your employer may or may not be readily prepared to do to help you, it’s important to note that when you decide to grow your healthcare career and take a step up on the CNA career ladder, it is going to benefit you. Whether you’re looking for a boost financially, or simply because you yearn to grow in your career, we have some ideas for you. Here are three ways to grow your healthcare career without starting over again.
1. Step Up with Specialized Roles
CNAs are in a unique position to become experts in their field. By expanding your skillset and increasing your knowledge in areas of care you make yourself that much more valuable to your employer. Depending on the facility in which you work, you may choose to increase your knowledge, and even pursue specific certifications in the following areas:
- Certified Wound Care Associate: Pressure wounds are fairly common in rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities. Although CNAs can’t perform advanced wound care they may be called upon to tend to wounds. Under the supervision of an RN a CNA may perform the basics of care. Pursuing certification in this area, or any other area of patient care, demonstrates a commitment to professional growth.
- Memory Care: With skilled nursing facilities being the largest employer of CNAs it shows a clear intent and commitment to patient care when you pursue a certification or focus in memory care. The population of Alzheimer’s patients and those with dementia is high in skilled nursing facilities and specializing in this type of care makes you quite valuable to your employers.
- Geriatric Care: This certification shows you have a deep desire to specialize in caring for the elderly.
- Hospice and Palliative Care: Caring for end-of-life patients requires a special kind of dedication. You’ll be called upon to provide care not only to the patient but also to their families as they navigate this difficult road.
- Certified Medication Aide: this certification allows a CNA to administer certain medications under the supervision and direction of an RN, NP, PA, or physician.
- Rehabilitation and Restorative Aid: The CNA who pursues this type of certification is invaluable to rehabilitative centers. As a Rehabilitation and Restorative Aid you will help patients regain mobility and recover from surgery.
- Pediatric Care: Little ones and teens have specific needs when it comes to their healthcare. This certification is important for anyone working in pediatrics.
If you’d like to step-up your CNA career with certain certifications and specializations, speak directly with your supervisor, Alert them to your career goals and gain their support. You may find your current healthcare organization offers a path to certifications or a tuition reimbursement.
2. Rise Up to Managerial or Supervisory Roles
One of the quickest routes up the CNA career ladder? Management, administrative, or supervisory roles. The CNA professional who possesses strong organizational and communication skills, and who has an eye on a leadership role is ideal for these roles. These roles need CNAs who have a good grasp on healthcare operations along with strong patient care. Some positions that you should consider are:
- Shift Lead: This role requires you to oversee the CNAs during a specific shift. You’ll offer support, delegate tasks, monitor performance, offer support, address concerns and act as the go-between for CNAs and nurse managers.
- Staffing Coordinator: The staffing coordinator CNA manages staff shifts and coverage for the CNA team.
- Admissions Coordinator: This role requires you to manage the admission process for the patient. You’ll be responsible for evaluating residents, handling their paperwork, coordinating their CNA care, and help familiarize the patient and their family with the facility. Your main goal in this role is to assure a smooth transition for the patient/resident.
- Preceptor: A CNA preceptor has the responsibility of mentoring and onboarding new CNA staff.
- Recruiter or Trainer: This role requires many of the same key characteristics of a dynamic CNA. You will use your experience to recruit new staff and see to their in-facility training. That means you should possess a strong skillset regarding communication, organization, and patience. Also, being part of a network of CNAs is to your advantage in this role.
Again, should you be interested in climbing the CNA career ladder to the position of manager or supervisor, speak with your administrative lead. There may be a position ready and waiting for your special skills.
3. Climb Up to Make the Transition
As a CNA you possess a great deal of foundational healthcare skills and experience. Build on that foundation and make the transition to a more advanced role. Many roles simply require advanced certification and training. You can explore these roles and find one that aligns with your interests and goals. These roles are:
- Patient Care Technician (PCT): Depending on your state’s requirements, some CNAs are eligible for certification as a PCT. In this role you’re certified to perform more advanced patient care. You can draw blood, insert and IV, and collect test results for EKGs.
- Phlebotomy Technician: In this role you’ll draw blood as ordered for diagnostic testing.
- Emergency Room or Emergency Department Technician: Transitioning to a role as an emergency room technician means you will assist in the emergency department of a hospital or urgent care clinic. You’ll perform such tasks as drawing blood, changing dressing on wounds, splinting, and other basic medical procedures. You’ll also be responsible for stocking supplies in the emergency department and assisting patients as they are triaged.
- Medical Assistant: Clinics and private practices employ medical assistants as an integral part of their team. As an MA you assist in outpatient procedures, see patients to their exam rooms, take medical histories, draw blood, prepare patients for their exam, administer certain medications, and answer basic questions. Some medical assistants also perform administrative tasks such as data entry, update medical records, set appointments and other front office assignments.
If you’re interested in transitioning to any of these roles, find out what the requirements are in your state.
Grow Your CNA Career
A career as a CNA is fulfilling on its own, but also provides a great stepping point from which to climb the CNA career ladder. When you pursue specialized certifications, go after a role in management or as a supervisor, or transition into more specific yet related roles, you not only expand your knowledge and skills but also increase your earning potential. Climbing the CNA career ladder allows you to provide meaningful patient care in new ways that hone your skills and keep you moving up on your journey as a healthcare professional. All without starting over.
For more information on how you can climb the ladder as a CNA, please contact BOS Medical Staffing today.
