Becoming a Certified Nursing Aide (CNA)

Certified Nursing Aides or Assistants, are trained to2050. As Medicare only covers short-term stays in
provide for assisting with the daily activities of living,nursing homes, more and more seniors are opting for
including bathing, personal care, meals, bathroomhome care.
visits, and monitoring daily vital signs. As the personCertified Nursing Aides are able to provide care in the
who is most involved with the hands-on care forhome, as well as in hospitals and nursing homes, and
patients in hospitals, residents of nursing homes andmany times, long-term care insurance companies
seniors receiving home care, the work providesrequire the care to be provided by a C.N.A.
fulfillment, along with ongoing employment in theAnyone who is looking for a fulfilling career that will
healthcare industry.provide them with ongoing employment, may want
As the U.S. population of seniors will double in theto consider becoming a certified nursing aide in their
next 50 years (by year 2050), as 8,000 people turnstate. Training programs can usually be completed in
60-years-old each day, the need for senior caregivers4 to 6 weeks and after the state nursing aide exam
will increase dramatically. It is estimated that theis passed, the certification is granted.
number of people with Alzheiemr's disease willCertified Nursing Aide Training Requirements
increase from around 4.5 million today, to 14 million in- High-school Diploma or G.E.D.