Certified nursing assistants or nurses aids work closely with nurses to aid a patient with his or her daily needs. They help the patients perform their activities of daily living that they are unable to do themselves. These activities often include things that we often take for granted like brushing our teeth, combing our hair, eating, and even going to the bathroom.

The nursing assistant’s job is no easy task to perform. Everyday, their jobs require them to do activities that require the physical strength and stamina that athletes are expected to have. In the hospital, they are invaluable members of the team, more so than the nurses and doctors themselves because they are the ones who see the patient most frequently. They see the patient and are able to monitor the progress properly. Nursing assistants are able to take vital signs and report any unusualities to the nurse. However, they are not able to handle complicated cases without the supervision of a nurse. These cases include newly admitted post stroke patients, patients who are just recovering from the operating room and patients in the intensive care unit who require constant monitoring. Once these patients are out of the woods however, nursing aids can perform basic care functions like cleaning less complicated apparatuses attached to the patients.

In order to become a certified nursing assistant, one has to have a high school diploma (or any equivalent) and enroll in community colleges or the Red Cross. Some schools offer very short 4 week courses, while others schools cover more grounds on the duties and functions of a nursing assistant and can take a few months to complete. In class, aspiring nursing assistants will learn the basic medical terminologies used in the hospital so they can better explain the condition of their patient. They will also need to learn all about basic anatomy and physiology so they can position their patients better. Those who are able to perform the basic mathematical calculations and memorize formulas will have a good chance of becoming a nursing assistant because these are important life skills that a nursing aide must master.

Once the classes are over, one can get certified by taking an exam given by a school or a state. Getting certified can mean a lot of things to employers. Firstly, it shows employers that you are dedicated in only providing the best service possible for patients and secondly, it shows employers that you have passed the minimum qualifications required in order to become a nursing aide and that you are qualified to obtain a good salary.

Passing a certification exam is not that hard if you have mastered the basics. The exam is divided into 2 parts, clinical and written. While the written exam is comprised of basic questions related to communication, positioning, and medical terminologies, it can get a little confusing if you have not prepared well. The clinical exam is a demonstration of your skills that is conducted by a highly qualified registered nurse. This demonstration can be related to anything you have mastered and learned from in class.