Your Questions Answered - Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNA)

Q. What do CNAs do?

A. Working closely with patients, CNAs are responsible for helping people with basic care such as bathing, grooming and eating; and assisting nurses with medical equipment, and checking patient vital signs. CNAs give patients important social and emotional support and also provide vital information on patient conditions to nurses.

Here’s a list of fairly typical CNA activities.

• Turn and re-position bedridden patients, alone or with assistance, to prevent bedsores.
• Answer patients' call signals.
• Feed patients who are unable to feed themselves.
• Observe patients' conditions, measuring and recording food and liquid intake and output and vital signs, and report changes to professional staff.
• Provide patient care by supplying and emptying bed pans, applying dressings and supervising exercise routines.
• Provide patients with help walking, exercising, and moving in and out of bed.
• Bathe, groom, shave, dress, and/or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
• Prepare, serve, and collect food trays.

Q. How do I know if I will like working as a CNA?

A. Sometimes, the only way to discover if you love something is to go ahead and try it. Here are some questions you can ask yourself. If you answer yes to these, working as a CNA may be a good choice for you.

• Concern for Others -- are you sensitive to other people’s needs and feelings and do you think you will be understanding and helpful on the job?
• Integrity -- are you honest and ethical?
• Cooperation -- are you pleasant and do you have a good-natured, cooperative attitude?
• Dependability -- are you reliable, responsible, and committed to fulfilling obligations that you make?
• Self Control -- can you maintain your composure, keep emotions in check and avoid aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situation?
• Stress Tolerance -- do you accept criticism and deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations?
• Adaptability/Flexibility -- are you open to change (positive or negative) and think you would like to work in an environment where there can be a lot of change?
• Social Orientation -- do you prefer to work as part of a team and do you like the idea of being personally connected with other people on the job?
• Attention to Detail -- are you careful about details and thorough in completing work tasks?
• Initiative -- are you willing to take on responsibilities and challenges?

Q. Where do CNAs work?

A. CNAs work in many different environments including hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, assisted living facilities and private homes.

Q. Do I need to be licensed as a CNA?

A. Regulations vary from state-to-state, but most CNA programs offer a certification exam, and taking the CNA course through KSU will prepare you to sit for the Georgia state exam. If you move to a different state, you may have to take that state’s exam.

Q. How much money can I make?

A. According to Salary.com, entry-level CNAs in the Metro Atlanta area typically earn $23,000 annually.

Q. What’s the job outlook?

A. Great! Jobs in healthcare are in demand. In fact, this is one of the fastest growing industries in the country and the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts increased growth over the next decade.

Q. Are there additional fees for books or supplies?

A. Yes. Check individual course descriptions for more information. Books may be purchased at the KSU Center Bookstore, which is located in the same building as your classes.