Landing your dream job can be a total whirlwind of emotions. When you finally find that perfect position, it’s time to celebrate! But before you can jump for joy, there’s some work to do. You’ll need to get everything in order so you can start working as soon as possible.
This includes getting hired and then signing up with a benefits provider so you can take advantage of health insurance coverage right away. In this article, we’ll walk through how to land your dream job as a nursing assistant (CNA) or practical nurse (LPN).
We’ll cover:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Research the requirements and certifications needed for becoming a nursing assistant. |
| Gain practical experience through internships or volunteering in healthcare settings. |
| Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experience in the field. |
| Prepare for the interview by practicing common interview questions and showcasing your passion for patient care. |
| Network with professionals in the healthcare industry to explore job opportunities and gain insights. |
| Continuously improve your skills and knowledge through ongoing education and training. |
| Stay positive, persistent, and determined in your job search for landing your dream job as a nursing assistant. |
1. Create A Career Plan
There are a few things you need to know before you can get started. The first and most important is where you want to be in five years, or what your career goals are. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will anyone else?
Write down everything that comes to mind it doesn’t matter if it seems unrealistic at the moment; just write down everything that comes up. Next, create a list of all the qualifications and experiences that would help get there (e.g., certifications or degrees).
Once again, even though these may seem very specific right now, just do it! Lastly, write down what type of work environment would help facilitate growth within this field for yourself.
As well as others who might benefit from it, for example, something like teaching others what I’ve learned from my own experience with healthcare companies like [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE].
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2. Go To College
It’s true, college isn’t just for the rich. A nursing assistant can get a job with only an associate’s degree, but if you want to make more money or advance in your career, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree.
The type of school you choose will depend on what kind of education you’re looking for and how much money you have available to pay for it.
Your first step is choosing a college or university that is accredited by the American Nurses Association (ANA). This makes sure that they provide quality learning experiences and offer degrees that are recognized by employers across the country.
It also means that the school has met ANA standards for nursing programs in terms of coursework content, faculty qualifications, and student support services such as tutoring centers and career counseling opportunities–all things that will help prepare you for success after graduation!
Next comes researching whether or not this particular institution is accredited by any state agencies where your dream job may be located it could save time down the road if employers know what kind of degrees their candidates hold based on where they received them from.”
3. Complete Your Certification
Even though certification isn’t a requirement, it’s still a good idea. Certification shows that you’re committed to your career and will help you get better jobs in the future.
Most of all, it tells employers that you’ve taken the time to learn more about the nursing assistant position and become an expert at it and they want employees who know what they’re doing!
You can complete your certification online via courses at schools like Kaplan University or Ashworth College, or through independent study with an instructor if you prefer one-on-one instruction over online classes.
The best part is that many places offer scholarships and financial aid options so even if money is tight now, completing your certification won’t be as expensive as you think!
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4. Learn The Skills
Learn CPR. This is a must-have skill for any nursing assistant. If you don’t know how to perform CPR, you’ll have to be taught by your employer or an instructor at a community college or technical school.
Learn how to use a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff. A stethoscope will let you listen in on the heart and lungs of patients who are having trouble breathing or coughing up blood from pneumonia.
The blood pressure cuff lets you check their pulse and make sure it’s within the normal range (around 80/40).
Learn how to take temperatures orally with a thermometer and rectally with a thermometer-shaped item known as an anal probe (which doctors use when they need more accurate readings).
5. Do An Internship
An internship can be a great way to learn new skills in the field. It’s also a way to get your foot in the door, so to speak: many companies will offer you a paid or unpaid position after they see how well you perform during your internship.
If you’re looking for a job, internships are an excellent way to find one and if you already have one, it can help you land another position at that company as well as gain promotions faster.
6. Develop The Proper Attitude
Being positive is key. Nursing assistants are often the first people patients see when they walk into a hospital, and it’s important that you have a welcoming attitude and can put them at ease.
Being compassionate is also important if you care about the work that you do, your patients will feel more comfortable with you as well!
It’s important to be patient, especially when dealing with those who may have dementia or other illnesses that make communication more difficult. You’ll need to learn how to communicate with your patients for them to understand what they’re supposed to do.
This takes time, so don’t expect things right away! If something doesn’t seem right with one of your patients or a doctor says something strange, ask questions until everything is clear again before moving on from there;
Otherwise, it might cause problems later down the road after everyone has gone home tired but happy once again 🙂
Empathy goes hand-in-hand with compassion because empathy allows us all to know that someone else understands what we’re going through when times get tough which can help us cope better ourselves too!
If someone needs help working out an issue then offer guidance without judgment–this way both sides win!”
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7. Get The Right Experience
Learn from others. As a nursing assistant, you’ll have to learn everything on the job. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid of making mistakes. The more experience you get as a nursing assistant, the better off you’ll be when it comes time for your interview.
Do your research. If there are other nurses in your family or friends who work as nurses, talk with them about their jobs and see if they know of any openings at hospitals near where they live (or would like to move).
If so, ask them if they would put in a good word for you with their managers or colleagues at those hospitals.
Use your network! This is where social media becomes very useful because all that networking pays off when it comes time for an interview:
People who may not know each other can use Facebook groups or LinkedIn groups specifically created for discussing job opportunities within specific industries (like health care).
To share leads that would otherwise have been missed out on completely if only relying upon traditional “word-of-mouth” type methods instead of using modern tools available today such as social media platforms.
Like Facebook groups which allow users across different states/countries/even continents access information faster than ever before possible before modern technology came along.”
8. Learn How To Document Medical Information
You spend a lot of time documenting your work and it’s important. Documentation is a legal requirement, and it’s also how you keep track of your nursing responsibilities.
A well-written patient care plan documents the reason for each procedure and explains how it should be performed and what outcomes to expect. Ideally, it will also include instructions for other healthcare professionals who might take over your patient in the future.
Documentation is a record of what has been done and why; it helps guide future care plans and provides information that can be shared with other physicians or nurses who may be taking care of the same person in the future.
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9. Know How To Take Vital Signs
Whether you’re checking a patient’s blood pressure and temperature or taking their pulse, there are certain steps and techniques that you should always follow.
Knowing the proper way to take vital signs will help ensure that those readings are as accurate as possible, so it’s important to understand all of the details about each procedure before attempting it.
Additionally, knowing how to take vital signs in different situations—whether at home or in an office setting will help ensure that no opportunities for improvement go unnoticed by you or your employer.
The following is a list of steps for taking three common types of vital signs: Blood Pressure (Systolic/Diastolic), Temperature (Fahrenheit/Celsius), and Pulse Rate (Beats per Minute).
10. Train In Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is a lifesaving skill that can be used on any patient who has suffered cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, or any other medical emergency where an individual needs help breathing.
Because it’s so important to have this skill, we highly recommend taking a course in CPR and first aid. The American Heart Association offers courses in both basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS).
You should also consider training in the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are increasingly being placed at public venues such as airports and sports facilities.
11. Understand Body Mechanics And Safety Procedures
Body mechanics are important to know, especially when lifting patients. The basic rule of thumb is to bend at the knees and not the waist this will help you lift a patient safely.
You should also avoid twisting your spine as you lift. Be sure to keep your back straight and don’t twist it as you move the patient.
When moving oxygen tanks, you must have another person on hand in case of an accident.
The tank should be positioned close enough so that the hose can reach without dragging across the floor or getting caught on something else, but far enough away from other objects so that someone doesn’t accidentally trip over it!
Lifting beds can also be tricky you’ll want to use furniture dollies if possible instead of trying to move them by yourself (especially if there are wheels!).
If using furniture dollies isn’t possible for some reason (such as in a hospital room), then two nursing assistants will need their strengths combined in order
to move these heavy systems around easily–one person should always stay behind them in case something goes wrong while they’re moving!
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12. Develop Good Communication Skills
You’re not going to be an effective nurse without good communication skills. You need to know how to talk with people in a way that builds trust and establishes rapport.
You also need to be able to relay information about your patient in a way that will be helpful for other team members, as well as for your supervisor.
What does this mean? It means learning how to speak clearly and concisely when answering questions from family members or doctors. It means being able to communicate effectively over the phone with people who are angry or upset (sometimes both at once).
And it means asking colleagues what they need help with before jumping right in with your ideas and following through on those requests without complaint!
We’re indeed all different, but there are some things everyone can do when speaking with others:
- Speak slowly so others have time for processing your words before responding;
- Use simple language;
- Don’t use slang or cutesy nicknames unless you’re sure everyone understands them;
- Make eye contact; and
- Use positive body language such as smiling during the conversation
13. Be Patient And Compassionate
Patience and compassion are essential traits that make you a great nurse. With patience, you can handle unexpected situations with ease and remain calm in the face of difficult circumstances.
With compassion, you can make your patient’s stay at the hospital as comfortable as possible by putting yourself in his or her shoes and treating him or her with care and respect.
Patience will serve you well throughout your career because there will be times when things don’t go according to schedule.
Your patients may experience emergencies that require immediate attention, which can cause delays in procedure timeframes but this isn’t always the case!
Compassion should guide all of your interactions at work as well as outside of work. Healthcare professionals need to show compassion towards their colleagues, who are often working under stressful conditions themselves!
14. Maintain Your Certification And Credentials
Keeping your certification up to date is crucial to maintaining your career as a nursing assistant. Certification programs are offered by the National Association of Medical Assistants (NAMA).
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). To maintain certification, you must take continuing education courses in your specialty area every two years.
The NAMAs also offer credentialing programs so that you can work at facilities with higher requirements than those required by most hospitals and clinics.
By completing these additional exams and achieving certain scores on them, you will earn credentials such as Certified Medical Assistant (CMAs) or Certified Patient Care Specialist (CPC).
You can earn these credentials by taking part in various educational courses throughout your career or through other methods such as life experience or college coursework related specifically to nursing or medical assisting professions.
15. Understand Your Employer’s Confidentiality Policies
You need to be aware of your employer’s confidentiality policies. They’re important for the safety and well-being of your patients, but they’re also important for the safety of other staff members and the organization itself.
The confidentiality policy is also very important in helping protect you from legal issues if a patient becomes aware of something you’ve discussed with them that is confidential information.
If you don’t understand how this works or how it applies to what you do, ask someone who works there already or consult their policies online before accepting the job offer.
Conclusion
If you take the time to develop these skills and get the right experience, there’s no reason why you can’t land your dream job as a nursing assistant. If you want to know more about this career path or any others we offer here at Careers in Healthcare, please visit our website today!
Further Reading
8 Most Effective Ways to Land Your Dream CNA Job: Discover the top strategies and tips to secure your dream job as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in this comprehensive guide.
How to Land Your Dream CNA Job: Learn the essential steps and techniques to stand out and succeed in your pursuit of a dream CNA job with this informative resource.
How to Land Your Dream CNA Job: Uncover the key insights and advice on how to land your desired CNA job and start your fulfilling career in the healthcare field.
Now, here’s the “FAQs” section with five questions and answers:
FAQs
How can I become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
To become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), you need to complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the competency exam administered by your state’s nursing board.
What are the typical responsibilities of a CNA?
As a CNA, your responsibilities may include assisting patients with activities of daily living, taking vital signs, recording patient information, providing emotional support, and communicating with the healthcare team.
What are the employment prospects for CNAs?
The demand for CNAs is projected to grow significantly in the coming years due to an aging population and increased healthcare needs. This creates promising employment opportunities in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and home care agencies.
How can I make my CNA job application stand out?
To make your CNA job application stand out, focus on highlighting your relevant skills, experience, and certifications. Tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific job requirements, and consider obtaining additional certifications or volunteering in healthcare settings to enhance your credentials.
What are some tips for a successful CNA job interview?
During a CNA job interview, dress professionally, research the employer, and prepare answers to common interview questions. Be ready to discuss your passion for patient care, your ability to work in a team, and your problem-solving skills. Additionally, practice good communication and demonstrate your empathy and compassion for others.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.