How to Wash Hands as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

For you, our Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs), who are at the frontline of looking after members of the public there is a necessity to stay healthy and well. It goes without saying that even with precautions, our frontline staff are exposed to illnesses while caring for others and with the outbreak of Covid-19, it is even more important that you take essential steps to protect yourself while being in a position to educate and care for others. At the forefront of preventing the spread of the virus is a step that all health professionals know and every person can incorporate into their everyday: Hand washing for a CNA. 

Here is a step-by-step video guide on how to wash hands as a Nursing Assistant. Not only is it important for your daily safety in hospitals and nursing homes, but you will also be tested on the specific skill of Hand Washing on the CNA Certification Exam. For more information, read about your state’s CNA requirements.

The practice of hand hygiene for a CNA is so important in preventative healthcare that on a normal work day, healthcare professionals wash their hands about 30 times per hour. In the United States there are currently 1.3 million Certified Nursing Assistants caring for patients everywhere from nursing homes and schools through to hospitals and defense services. As nurses make up nearly 50% of global healthcare workers according to the World Health Organization, you play an essential role in educating patients and informing those around you. Here are 3 points on how to wash hands as a CNA that can help you in your work to knowledgeably support, promote and encourage hand washing wherever you are.

1. Hand hygiene is recognized globally as the most effective measure a Nurse Aide can take to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections.

Many preventable illnesses can be mitigated through responsible and consistent health habits for social and community healthcare so it makes sense that hand washing is top of the list. You can remind those around you outside of the medical community that every time they touch their face without washing their hands they risk transferring infection into their respiratory system. This is why many hospitals and medical practices have hand sanitizer stations at their entrances and counters or why kids in schools are encouraged now to cough into their elbow -- your hands can be carriers of illness without you realizing it. 

2. A UNICEF/WHO survey acknowledged that 35% of healthcare facilities did not have soap and water for hand washing.

Despite the importance of hand washing in stopping the preventable spread of many contagious illnesses, a 2019 report showed that 1 in 4 global health facilities didn’t have sufficient water quantities for health services that were safe, sanitary and health-promoting. As you know, both local and global health relies on washing, sanitation, hygiene and waste health care services. Hand washing is not only the baseline for the health of people of all ages, in fact, the Global Handwashing Partnership elaborates on this with the statement under the heading, ‘Why Hand wash?’ that, “Hand washing with soap impacts not just health and nutrition, but also education, economics, and equity”. Bottom line: hand washing empowers both individuals and communities. If you need another reason to encourage the value of hand washing, this holistic statement is an inarguable explainer.

3. WHO found that on average, 61% of healthcare workers—in some facilities up to 90%—do not adhere to best hand washing practices, even when supplies are available.

This statistic is startling when you read it, especially with the prevalence of hand sanitizers in most medical settings yet with critical reflection, it’s understandable. A positive culture around sanitation and hygiene starts with a supportive environment for you to have resources like time, a sustainable work volume and strong senior leadership who model safe health practices. How can you support this? One tip from Dr. Arjan Srinivasan from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to use a prompt -- he says he wears a blue button to work (including hospitals) that says, “Ask me if I’ve washed my hands”. He goes on to say that if a patient or colleague asks, he then washes his hands in front of them. He also says that hand sanitizer is a great option to combat access to a wash facility. An extra handy tip from the NHS that you can share with patients, colleagues and loved ones is that you should wash your hands for the length of time it takes you to sing Happy Birthday -- twice! Why not smile while you scrub your hands?!

Author Bio

David Smith is the owner of Cleaning Services Group, a company which provides a diverse range of industrial and commercial cleaning services to a wide client base across the UK.

As an additional resource, this infographic from The Cleaning Service Group is a guide that you can have on hand at work, share with your friends and family, or even use as part of your own practical kit for your patients. Not only are the points above summarized, the infographic also has current statistics and facts plus a visual guide to washing your hands for the recommended 20 seconds with diagrams to illustrate exactly what to do to effectively clean hands. 

Why Being a Travel CNA is the Ultimate Job for People Who Love to Travel

Travel nursing is the ultimate way to see the world and gain medical experience. A Travel CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) is the fastest way to become a travel nurse. In just weeks you can complete your CNA certification, become a travel nurse, and discover the world. With great pay and benefits as well as flexibility in your schedule, your work can take you to tons of interesting places. If you work with a staffing agency, you can even request jobs in specific cities or states. These CNA travel jobs are in high demand throughout the country. Learn more about why being a traveling CNA could be the dream job you’ve been looking for.

Pack your suitcase and become a Travel CNA!

Endless Travel

Your primary goal is travel; and travel nursing jobs can be found in nearly every city imaginable. You can find opportunities everywhere to do your work while exploring the world. While some states require specific licensing and you can find CNA schools by you, if you know where you want to go, you can apply well in advance for approval before you travel.

As you travel, you can look for places that cater to a specific hobby — like surfing or hiking. You can even travel based on seasonality — following summertime weather around the country. No matter what you do with your personal life, you can match it with your preferences for nursing positions.

Most travel nurse positions are short-term and hospitals use staffing agencies to help them fill unexpected shortages in their operations. The minute you’re done with one medical facility, there’s bound to be another somewhere else that can use your services.

CNA Career Growth

Since you’re constantly moving from facility to facility, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for growth. Learning about different positions and work environments can help you develop a unique resume and push your professional growth to new heights.

As you find a CNA job, you should consider your goals. Is there a specific specialization you want to focus on? Do you plan to work in intensive care for the rest of your career? Whatever it is you’re looking for, target jobs that will enhance your experience to prime you for the opportunities you really want.

Great Pay

The average salary of a travel nurse is much higher than that of a stationary CNA. Many reports show that travel nurses can earn double the salary of many other nursing positions — ranging from $60,000 to $100,000 a year. 

While your base salary will already be higher than average, you also get tons of additional benefits that may not be offered to other CNA positions including:

• Daily Stipends

• Reimbursements

• Healthcare Benefits

• Tax Breaks

• Bonuses

Because you’re earning such a high salary and you work short-term contracts, you can also take time off to pursue other interests and passions before going back to work. You can balance your life to only work six months out of the year while traveling the world the other half of the year.

More Freedom

Travel nurses are only limited by their own preferences. You can tailor your job requirements to meet a number of specifications including:

• Salary Requirements

• Scheduling Preferences

• Types of Specialities

• Contract Length

This additional flexibility also comes in handy when unexpected situations arise in your private life. Do you need to travel back home for a family reunion? Do you have plans to attend a destination wedding? Whatever it is you have on your schedule, you can balance your travel career around your personal adventures.

Location is Everything

If you’re a CNA that travels, you can choose assignments based on anything. You can look for work in cities that have a history of high paying nursing positions or you can choose to work in cities that have a fascinating history. Once you’re done exploring a specific city, you can pack your bags and move to a facility somewhere else that is better equipped to accommodate your evolving adventurous spirit.

There are certain cities that constantly have a high demand for nurses. Sometimes, positions are only available in areas where you may not be interested in going. You could take the time off to complete advanced certifications, brush up on your CNA skills, or work for a time until a contract at a better location opens up.

Go Where They Need You

Many nurses choose to travel because they can go wherever their work is needed. Travel to locations that are suffering high admittance volumes due to natural disasters, epidemics, or seasonal outbreaks to help stem the tide of human need. As soon as the demand has been met, you can move on to another city that needs additional nurses to help them.

With all the freedom and flexibility travel nursing has to offer, it could be the perfect fit for adventurous people. Learn more about travel nursing today to decide if it’s the right career for you.

Author Bio

Aaron Smith is an LA-based content strategist and consultant in support of STEM firms and medical practices. He covers industry developments and helps companies connect with clients. In his free time, Aaron enjoys swimming, swing dancing, and sci-fi novels.

7 Qualities of an Excellent CNA

Do you have the qualities to be a great CNA? Or are you an employer hiring a CNA? Certified Nurse Assistants are an integral part of the medical team. Some are more naturally suited to caregiving, while others can learn these skills during CNA training school. We’ve rounded up 7 must-have traits for every CNA.

1. Professionalism

The first thing that has to be said here is that a CNA has to be professional when they’re working. You can’t have them slacking off on the job or arguing with the patients they’re supposed to take care of. They have to be able to keep their professional demeanor regardless of the situation.

2. Unbiased

Everyone has their personal beliefs, and some can be quite extreme in that regard. However, the best CNAs will not let their personal beliefs get in the way of their duties when it comes to working in a medical environment. Whether their patient is from a different religion, a different skin color, from another nationality, or anything in between, an excellent CNA will care for them to the best of their ability.

3. Empathetic

Empathy is one of the most important traits when it comes to the medical industry. Doctors and nurses are expected to have this when they’re dealing with patients. They need to see from the patient’s point of view and to keep this in mind while diagnosing and caring for them. This is not something that can be learned in a CNA training program and those who have empathy are a diamond in the rough if you’re looking for a great CNA.

4. Works Well With Others

Working with others or cooperation is something that everyone in the medical industry should have. With the help of their co-workers, they’ll be able to get more done and minimize the number of mistakes that happen. Most of the time, CNAs with cooperation skills tend to also be the most empathetic and compassionate, which is a win/win for the medical facility where they’re working at.

5. Leadership Skills

Cooperation is something that a good CNA will have. However, an excellent CNA will be able to take the helm and lead when the need arises. This means that the rest of the team will spend less time figuring out what to do and instead focus on the emergency at hand. These precious moments can be the difference between life and death in the medical industry. A patient will either be able to walk out of the facility at the end of the day or have to be wheeled out in a coffin, and the difference could be a CNA that will take the lead in the absence of a physician.

6. Has Excellent Work Ethic

Work ethic is important wherever you decide to work. Whether you’re a burger flipper or a CNA, having a good work ethic is the key to being a productive worker. A lazy CNA without a good work ethic can be a major challenge for a medical team as they could end up neglecting the patients they were meant to take care of.

7. Has Passion and Drive

The most important thing in any candidate is the passion to do the job. You’ll see a huge difference between individuals that simply do the job for the salary from those who genuinely care for people. The CNAs that simply want bigger pay are in the wrong industry and will end up burning out long before a passionate CNA will.

Where Can You Find Excellent CNAs as an Employer?

CNAs looking for work are everywhere and you simply have to look hard enough to find them. But to find some of the best CNAs, you need to put in a bit of effort to filter them out from the others. You can do this by conducting interviews, checking their previous work experience, and contacting their references. Another, much easier option is to hire someone else to do the screening for you.

This is where medical staffing agencies specialize. They do the screening for you and the candidates that you have to choose from are always the cream of the crop. Less effort for all the great benefits.

4 Ways To Improve Your CNA Job Search

The healthcare industry is one of the most competitive industries when it comes to finding and securing a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant. The job search process can be a difficult one to navigate. The process is further complicated by all of the different things that each job seeker needs to do to ensure that they are successful in the long run. Healthcare is one of the most competitive employment industries because candidates need to have certain certifications, licenses, education, experience, and more to even be considered as a potential fit for a role. These additional requirements for job seekers make it tougher for qualified candidates to truly stand out as the level of competition continually rises each year. As a Certified Nursing Assistant, you need to do everything in your power to ensure that you’re doing all that you can to stand out as the most qualified candidate, and ultimately secure the job that you’ve been working so hard for.

The good news is that you can implement a few simple tips and tricks into your routine job search to improve your CNA job prospects, and they only take a little bit of time to implement. This means that you don’t need to radically alter your job search process or spend countless hours to ensure that you improve your job prospects. These methods are quick and efficient! By implementing these techniques, Certified Nursing Assistants can rest assured knowing they are doing all that they can to improve their job search.

1. Review the Job Posting Thoroughly

One of the most important things you can do when you’re conducting your CNA job search is to make sure you thoroughly read and review the job posting. It might seem like you’ve reviewed the job posting already, but you’re most likely just glancing through it and making a quick decision before applying. With the advent of quick apply websites or one-click apply methods on these large job boards, it has never been easier to apply to healthcare jobs. The problem with this is that it has also never been easier to skip out on crucial details that will automatically disqualify you from consideration for the position.

As we’ve stated earlier, employers and recruiters are trying to find the most qualified candidates. One way they’re narrowing down candidates is through the use of certain requirements or steps that must be taken when filling out the job posting. They might specify in the job posting to fill out or include certain things regarding the job application, or submit the application through a separate process.

One example of this is when employers or recruiters directly ask for all submissions to be sent to an email instead of the site where the job posting is listed on. If this direction is buried at the bottom of the job posting, and you’re only reviewing the preview before deciding on whether or not to apply, then you’re missing out on crucial details that help employers and recruiters determine who they’re going to interview.

Another reason you want to thoroughly review the job posting is to ensure that it’s a position you can actually see yourself in. We’ve all applied to job postings that we were unsure of, only to find out that we didn’t really like the job after the interview process. Unfortunately, applying to jobs that you’re not certain you’re passionate about will waste your time. Don’t waste your time applying to jobs that you’re not passionate about, and take the time to review the job posting thoroughly so you can ensure you submit comprehensive applications to jobs you truly care about.

2. Research the Employer

The next tip you can use to improve your job search as a CNA is to thoroughly research the employer. Often an overlooked aspect of applying to healthcare jobs is evaluating the employer or healthcare facility you’re applying to. The question you have to ask yourself when applying to jobs and reviewing the employer is, “Can you envision yourself working for this company/employer/healthcare facility?” If the answer is yes, then you need to evaluate why that is. Often times when doing this, you can use these reasons in the interview to your benefit. Employers and recruiters will often ask you questions such as, “What made you want to apply for this particular position?” If you can highlight specific reasons about what interested you in working for the employer, you’re going to stand out as a candidate who truly wants to work with them instead of just another candidate looking for a job.

3. Reconstruct Your Resume

The next thing you can do to improve your CNA job search is to evaluate and then reconstruct your resume. One of the best ways to separate yourself from other CNA candidates is to tailor your resume for each job you’re applying to. This means you remove all the unnecessary or irrelevant experience you might be including on your resume. One of the myths job seekers face when they’re constructing their resume is that it has to be a certain length, or that it has to include a certain amount of jobs as previous experience. The truth to the matter is that the length of your resume or the number of jobs you have as previous experience plays a relatively small role in the candidate evaluation process. On the contrary, employers and hiring managers look at how qualified the candidate is, and how closely they meet the requirements for the job posting. In other words, how much of a fit is this candidate going to be for the job when compared to other candidates.

Some candidates also believe they should have a broad resume to allow them to apply to more jobs and save more time. The problem with this is that when you use generic resumes that include irrelevant experience you’re essentially disqualifying yourself from further consideration. When you include experience or jobs that aren’t related to the one you’re applying to, you make it seem as if you do not have any relevant experience for the position - which ultimately makes you appear as unqualified. If you’re trying to secure a new job as a CNA, the last thing you want to do is make it seem as if you’re unqualified.

To avoid this, you need to tailor your resume to the specific positions and jobs that you’re applying for. When you take the time to tailor your resume, you also have another opportunity to highlight things that the employer is looking for based on the job posting. For instance, if the employer highlights how they are seeking a CNA with additional certifications and you have them but aren’t listing them, you should spend the extra time ensuring that your resume reflects those additional certifications.

Reconstructing your resume and tailoring it to the individual job posting by removing the unrelated jobs will help set you apart from other candidates. If you’re worried that your resume is too short or too limited because you don’t have other experience, then you include the irrelevant experience - just take the time to highlight the relevant experience.

4. Sell Yourself With A Cover Letter

In the modern job search, it might seem like a waste of time to include a cover letter for every job that you apply to. In fact, many job seekers choose to forego sending a cover letter and spend more time on their resume or application. If you’re not sending a cover letter with every job application you submit, then you’re missing a prime opportunity to stand out. Cover letters are a great way for you to market your skills, experience, and background to the person reviewing your application. The cover letter is a perfect opportunity for you to elaborate on some of the more obscure things in your resume and application as well. If you’ve done your research on the job posting as we’ve highlighted above, you can speak to some of the things in the job posting and highlight how your resume and professional experience aligns with what they’re looking for in the ideal candidate. This is the best way to sell yourself with a cover letter!

Identify things that they are specifically looking for in the job posting, and then highlight that you are the person they are looking for.

In doing so, you can separate yourself from those candidates who use a generic cover letter that broadly expresses a desire to work for the employer without specific details from the job posting or the individual’s resume. Selling yourself with a cover letter might seem like a waste of time, but it’s a crucial step to ensuring that you’re doing all that you can to improve your Certified Nursing Assistant job search.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to separate yourself from the competitive job search environment. It can also feel overwhelming at times when it seems like everything you’re doing isn’t working. By implementing these simple tricks in your daily routine when searching for CNA positions, you can ensure you’re doing all you can to land that CNA job you’ve been hoping for.

About the Author

Ryan Bucci is a Content Strategist with HospitalCareers. HospitalCareers is the leading recruitment platform for healthcare job seekers with over 28,000+ healthcare jobs, career advice, and career insights.

The process of becoming a CNA

      Often times, people seeking to become a CNA (also known as a certified nursing assistant) spend wasted hours researching how they can achieve their goal. Eventually, many of them will find themselves stuck in some overpriced local course taught by a teenager fresh out of high school. Now I am not saying this won’t get you certified, because it might. However, I’m here to simplify the overall process so that you can make a better decision for your future.

First, you must understand almost every country and/or State differ somehow with regards to nursing regulations. For the sake of simplification, I will only be covering becoming a CNA within the United States and as a broad overview to boot. So, if you are trying to obtain your CNA license in a foreign country or you’re planning to transfer your license from a different country to the U.S., this article will do little for you. Also, individuals seeking their license here in the States must first understand CNA regulations do vary from State to State. Although, these variations are typically small, I suggest you contact your local nursing board for more detailed information.

From there you can look into the education aspect itself. Depending on what your local regulations are you may be able to take a CNA training course online and simply test out. Again, check with your local nursing board for more information concerning their requirements. Below is the typical learning options to become a nurse’s aid. They are listed in order from most accepted to least accepted, with the estimated average cost of attendance noted.

Nursing Assistant Education Options

• State/College Accredited CNA Course - $2,000+

• Care Facility direct training (requires you to be an employee) –FREE

• Local Private CNA Course - $600

• Online CNA Course – FREE

As you can see there are many different options to become a certified nursing assistant. Some of the options take much longer than others. The simplest way to get your CNA is online, however, you must first check to see if this an acceptable method. Many States require you to take a CNA course at an accredited program or college. However, there can be ways around this. For example, individuals seeking their license in Michigan can take equivalent training in another State and, if approved, test out with Michigan for their license. Again, this all goes back to your individual States CNA requirements.

Once you have choose your method of nursing assistant training you then will typically take a test. CNA exams are typically composed of two sections. The first section being a practical. This means you will be preforming skills on a real life person or dummy in front of your examiner. The second section of the nursing aid exam will be a written portion, usually multiple choice.

If you successfully pass your nursing assistant tests and other requirements you will be issued your CNA license. This will allow you to work in the State you obtained the license in. You can begin applying for jobs and once hired work.

The key things to remember when trying to obtain a nursing assistant certification is that every State has different requirements. Always check with local nursing officials for YOUR requirements. Also, be aware there might be special exception to the normal training routes.

A Good Time To Become A CNA

A High Demand for Healthcare Workers

Regardless of all the politically biased healthcare buzz there is only good news for upcoming healthcare professionals. An extremely large increase in healthcare jobs is in progress. Several emerging factors are stimulating our healthcare system and it's demand for new recruits. People interested in getting involved in this rewarding sector could not have picked a better time.

U.S. Healthcare Demand

The U.S. has always had a need for healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, certified nursing assistants (aka: CNA), etc. As we speak, this demand is growing exponentially with two major factors affecting it. The first being our baby boomers reaching old age and the second being the recent unveiling of Obama care.

Baby Boomers Getting Older

According to the 2011 U.S. census, there were over 41 million senior citizens (65+) with this number expected to continue to climb. So what does this mean? Well, as people get older they require much more intensive medical care. Thus, the need for more healthcare professionals all around. Prior to this spike in senior citizens there was a CNA shortage. With this recent influx of new patients CNA positions will be in demand more than ever.

Obama Care

The second major factor opening doors for people interested in medical positions is Obama care. Obama care, also know as the affordable care act, is providing millions of people with health insurance. These 47 million people will now have access to healthcare and the people in charge of it. As previously mentioned, this will tax the current system and generate many more positions and opportunities.

More healthcare jobs, particularly certified nursing assistants, HHA's, etc.

As you can see, there is going to be a giant demand for healthcare professionals, CNA's and HHA's being at the top of the list. The key point being older individuals typically require more CNA assistance than younger folks. Thus, the surge of baby boomers only strengthens job security for nursing assistants. Hiring is taking place now with many positions opening up every minute. Obtaining a job today in this field couldn't be easier!