Certified Nurse Aide

To be a successful Certified Nurse Aide you should…

• be caring, trustworthy, dependable and honest
• be able to follow written and verbal instructions
• be able to make good judgements
• work well with a variety of people
• have patience and communicate positively with people
• enjoy working closely with people
• work accurately and safely
• like to learn new things

What will my job be like?

Certified Nurse Aides play a vital role in health care delivery by providing routine patient care. Working under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), they respond to patient’s needs, and check blood pressure, temperature, pulse and breathing. CNAs also assist patients while helping them change position, walk, bathe and eat. They generally have a great deal of patient contact and are important members of the health care team who help to develop patient relationships that foster trust.

Where could I work?

Certified Nurse Aides work in:

• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Clinics
• Home Health Agencies
• Mental Health Institutions
• Physician’s Offices
• Private Homes

What is the average annual salary?

$34,200

What is the future of this career?

Overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. As the baby-boom population ages, nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to assist and care for elderly patients.

What type of education and/or training do I need?

Training is available at many regional vocational technical schools (RVTS) and community colleges. It may be offered by employers and usually consists of at least 100 hours of lectures, demonstrations, and supervised clinical practice.

Where can I get the education and/or training?

• Advantage Career Training, Naugatuck
• American Red Cross, New Haven
• Capital Community College, Hartford
• Code One Training Solutions, East Hartford/Stamford/Willimantic/New Haven
• Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport
• Goodwin College, East Hartford
• Middlesex Community College, Middletown
• Naugatuck Valley Community College, Winsted
• Stone Academy, East Hartford/West Haven/Waterbury
• Tunxis Community College, Farmington
• Valley Medical Institute, Bridgeport

Do I need a license or certification for this career?

In Connecticut, Nurse Aides must be certified and registered on the Connecticut nurse aide registry.

Where can I get more information?

Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT   06134
(860) 509-7603

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing–Investigations/Nurseaide/Nurse-Aide-Registration