Did you know that the healthcare industry employs the most people in the United States? About 20 million people work in healthcare and that number is only expected to rise in the coming years.
Part of the reason the healthcare industry employs so many people is that there are virtually endless options within it. From surgeons to general practitioners to laboratory scientists to healthcare management, there’s something for everyone within the healthcare industry.
If you’re considering joining the ranks of these incredible people, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) could be the perfect choice for you. The benefits of working in healthcare are innumerable, but we’ve put together 7 of the most appealing.
To learn why you should consider becoming a CNA, just keep reading.
1. Job Security
As we mentioned above, the number of healthcare jobs is expected to not only remain strong but grow in the coming years. Because of this, you’ll never have to worry about finding a job.
No matter where you are in the country, you’ll be able to find nursing assistant jobs. People will always need healthcare, and hospitals will always need nursing assistants. And if you should ever move, you won’t have to worry whether or not you’ll be able to find a new CNA position.
2. Affordability
The healthcare field is notoriously expensive to join. Surgeons, for example, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on schooling and expenses before they can begin making money in the operating room.
Thankfully, nursing assistant school, whether online or at an in-person school such as Ultimate Medical Academy, isn’t nearly as costly. Becoming a CNA requires a certification rather than a medical school degree, meaning you can become certified at a fraction of the cost of other healthcare careers.
Better yet, many companies have education advancement programs. This means that if you already work for a hospital, they will pay part or all of the tuition required to receive nursing assistant education.
3. Flexibility
Rather than the traditional 9-5, certified nursing assistants are generally given three different shifts to choose from. The first shift is a typical 9 am to 5 pm workday, the second is 5 pm to 1 am, and the third is the overnight shift, where you’ll be working from midnight to 8 am.
Now, you might be assigned your shift rather than having the option to pick, especially at first. But over time, you’ll be able to negotiate and have more control over your hours.
4. Variety
Though there’s nothing wrong with working a desk job in an office setting, this type of work can quickly become monotonous. As a nursing assistant, however, you won’t ever have to worry about falling into a boring routine.
Every day is different and you can never anticipate what you might encounter. Patients will change every day, along with their needs, meaning you’ll a different set of tasks to complete every time you clock in.
5. Opportunity to Specialize
Once you’re CNA certified and have some experience under your belt, you’ll have the opportunity to specialize. This can help you to build an even more enriching career, as you can shape your experience as a CNA to match your interests and passions.
You might have a desire to work with the elderly, those suffering from mental illness, or help people from the comfort of their own homes rather than in a hospital environment. No matter where your passions lie, you can find a specialization to suit them.
You could also find that you enjoy the healthcare field so much that you want to advance within it! This is an option as well. As a CNA, you’ll find it much easier to transition into a nursing program and become a practical or registered nurse.
6. Option to Travel
Do you have a love for travel? Do you find that you become bored with your surroundings after a few years or even months? Do you want to experience everything this country has to offer? Becoming a CNA could be your answer!
Though travel isn’t a requirement as a CNA, it is an option. You can forgo a single location position in favor of contract positions. This means you’ll travel to different hospitals and healthcare facilities around the country as needed.
You’ll be able to provide care and improve patients’ quality of life while improving your own through exploring new places, meeting new people, and experiencing new things.
7. Emotionally Rewarding
Receiving a paycheck is great, but the best careers are ones in which you feel fulfilled and rewarded after each day on the job. The nursing assistant job description is to provide patients with essential services and help with tasks that they cannot do on their own.
You’ll be providing assistance with cooking, eating, bathing, dressing, even helping patients get in and out of bed. In addition, you’ll be giving your patients the gift of companionship, something they might not get otherwise.
Spending your day improving the lives of others is one of the most emotionally rewarding things you can do. Every day, you’ll have the opportunity to make a positive impact on someone’s life that they’ll remember forever.
Start Your Journey Toward Becoming Nursing Assistant Today
Working in the healthcare field isn’t for everyone. It’s a high-stress, often emotionally taxing environment. However, becoming a nursing assistant is one of the most rewarding career choices there are.
Every day, you’ll be working alongside your fellow members of hospital staff to help people overcome illness and injury and get back to their best selves. If this sounds like the path for you, take the leap and begin your journey today!
Looking for more inspiration for finding your dream job? Be sure to check out our blog!
