Nursing Assistant
Care for patients at home by providing health care and performing hygiene, transportation, and mobility tasks.
Nursing Assistants are responsible for providing direct patient care and performing patient-related activities as assigned. They are directed by a lead Nurse and required to meet identified outcomes as a measure of success. While Nursing Assistant jobs vary on a daily basis, your goal is always the same: to provide comfort and care to your patients.
As a crucial link between the Nurse and the home care client, Nursing Assistants are valuable members of the caregiving team. You’ll be expected to perform tasks related to patient hygiene, transportation, and mobility while also dressing wounds, serving meals, and reporting on vitals.
When searching for Nursing Assistant jobs, qualified individuals should look for two specific titles: Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) in New Hampshire or CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) in most other states. These two titles are interchangeable and are simply due to the state’s requirement for either a certification or a license in nursing assistance. Otherwise, the functions of each job are basically the same.
To be a Nursing Assistant in New England, you must be a passionate individual, dedicated to providing high-quality care. It is expected that you are able to follow detailed oral and written instructions while also maintaining detailed nursing records and charts. You will be required to adapt quickly to changing workloads and situations and must be prepared for a wide range of situations.
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Nursing Assistant Educational Requirements
A Nursing Assistant must have a high school diploma or GED in addition to either a certification or license (depending on the state where you work). To discover what’s required to be hired for Nursing Assistant jobs in your area, visit the Board of Nursing sites for your state.
MAS hires CNAs/LNAs in:
- New Hampshire: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/nursing/nursing-assistant.htm
- Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/hcq/dhpl/nursing/
- Rhode Island: http://health.ri.gov/licenses/index.php
- Maine: http://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/
Nursing Assistant Job Outlook
Nursing Assistant jobs in home care are always in demand, as many families prefer to keep their loved ones in their home as opposed to sending them to an assisted living facility or nursing home. Working as a Certified or Licensed Nursing Assistant is a fulfilling and rewarding position that requires flexibility and dedication, which may naturally lead to becoming a Registered Nurse, as it provides the perfect foundation for an RN career.
If you would like to become an LPN you will need to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to become licensed. These programs may include the required the 75 hours of training or additional requirements that will vary per state if not, there are other programs available to help you out.
However, the first step to moving up as a CNA/LNA is always work in quality Nursing Assistant jobs, and that’s exactly what MAS Home Care offers. If you’re interested in seeing what positions we have available in New England, search our jobs today.
