It’s said that becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is an excellent introduction into the medical field. Young students attending Amherst High School believe that it can serve as a gateway to a career in various medical fields.
“I became a CNA because I knew I wanted to go into healthcare but I didn’t even know what a CNA was at first. Once I figured out what it was and that they are in all hospitals, I really wanted that medical background,” said Alyssa Ehr, an Amherst High School student.
According to Cynamed.com, an online medical journal, “Being a CNA is a great place to begin a career in the medical field. CNA training provides a valuable foundation for advancing into a position as a LPN, RN, BSN, or transitioning into a related, specialized area of expertise.”
CNA serves as a hands-on introduction to various medical procedures. Mylee Filtz, a senior at Amherst High School, said the tasks range from the physical to the emotional.
“I learned how to care for patients by doing blood sugars, vitals, doing their daily cares or even helping them emotionally,” Filtz said. “It opens you up more and helps with your social skills. You talk to more people in different age groups.”
Ehr also feels that CNA work isn’t just about physical health but mental health as well. “I learned how to be compassionate for others and help people on some of their worst days. I change my view when I go into a patient’s room,” she said.
Not everyone who starts as a CNA becomes a nurse. As noted earlier, it’s a gateway for a variety of medical fields. Work as a CNA often leads to a career in nursing while others use it as a springboard to other fields.
“It gets you into the medical field and you will know what to expect and opens up your eyes into the hospital setting. You don’t have to go into nursing to be a CNA because I know people going into Physical Therapy and someone that wants to be a Physician’s Assistant. I didn’t even want to be a Nurse at first but now I do,” Filtz said.
CNA work provides experience in terms of basic healthcare while cultivating a young person’s passion for aiding others. “I am going into nursing and this really helped me pick the path I wanted to take,” added Ehr.
Whether you’re going into nursing or not, becoming a CNA is a great way to gain that experience in healthcare. Learning how to deal with patient care, getting that hospital experience, or enhancing your skills, you can create opportunities for yourself and for your future. Pursuing a career in healthcare is both encouraged and readily available to students transitioning through young adulthood.
Overall, becoming a CNA is an ideal way to get an introduction into one of the fast-growing career opportunities available to young men and women with the aptitude and passion to make a difference.
