Before becoming a CNA, it’s important to know what exactly you would be doing on the job.

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So- if you’re someone trying to figure out what being a CNA is and if being a CNA is right for you. Please read below to find out!

If you’re someone:

• Trying to figure out if you’d enjoy the daily tasks of the caregiving job
• If you have the right personality for caregiving or
• If you have the right qualifications for caregiving.

Then, this is the right place for you.

Below, we are going to list the job description for a CNA. We will discuss the daily tasks, personality traits, skills, and requirements for being a CNA.

When reading through, you can decide if it sounds like the right job for you.

1. Daily tasks for CNAs

When you start to look for CNA jobs, you will find descriptions under each posting of what those on the job do. The most important part of being a CNA is being able to complete the daily tasks that come along with it. Below, we have listed some of the daily tasks you will complete as a caregiver.

You will provide hands-on care for the client, tasks including:

• Bathing, dressing, assistance with toileting, etc 

• Light housekeeping and laundry 

• Meal planning, preparation, and cooking

• Grocery shopping and errands

• Medication reminders and/or management

• Prescription pick-up

• Other home care needs

As a CNA, you will perform these tasks each day, and they will require planning and organization. If you believe you can create a schedule for yourself to do these tasks each day, that you would enjoy the tasks, and that you could successfully complete them, then caregiving could be the right job for you.

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2. Personality

Another important aspect of being a CNA is whether or not you have the right personality for the job. The best traits to have, which are commonly listed in job descriptions on different sites are:

• A positive attitude

• Love working with people

• Ability to respect all members of the homecare team

If you’re someone who has a positive attitude, enjoys working with people, and is respectful toward all, then a caregiver position could be the right job for you.

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3. Other skills CNAs needed

Aside from personality, it’s important that you also have:

• The ability to lift at least 50 lbs on a regular basis and are physically able to help residents who need physical help

• The ability to read and write in the English language

• Strong documentation skills

Being able to help lift your patient is an important skill to have so that you can do things like

• Assist them up the stairs
• Help them into the shower, and
• Help them get into bed.

It’s also important that you can read and write in English so that you can write down important things about your client, like whether they took their pills. All in all, if you can help lift your patient and can read and write in English, caregiving could be a great fit for you.

4. Education and certifications

Another part of the CNA job description is education and certification requirements. These requirements, however, are different in every state and at every agency. But, for the most part, the job description for being a CNA will say that the job requires:

• A high school diploma or GED

• Completion of state-approved CNA training program

You can view the specific requirements for each state here: https://www.registerednursing.org/certified-nursing-assistant/certification/ 

For example, on this site, you can find that when looking at requirements for the job in Pennsylvania, working a CNA job requires you to:

• Be at least 16 years old 

• Be in good physical health.

• Have up-to-date immunization records (like Covid and Flu vaccines)

• Have a high-school diploma or GED.

• Pass a criminal background check and register fingerprints.

• Graduate from a Certified Nursing Assistant School in Pennsylvania.

• Pass the State Exam for CNA certification

If you’re someone who already has these qualifications, then great! If you’re someone who does not have these, you can now think about whether you’re willing and able to try and get them all.

Summary:

The CNA job description is different at every agency, but it mostly requires that you can

• Complete daily tasks to assist your client
• Have a caring personality,
• Have English skills and physical ability
• Have a CNA certification. 

Because the training requirements for certified nursing assistants are not as stringent as for other medical professions, CNAs' medical practice is quite limited. Nursing assistants are entry-level positions in a hospital or nursing facility, so training and certification requirements are usually less stringent than other medical professions, such as nurse-her-practitioners.

If you’re interested in the position and already have these qualifications/ traits, then great! The CNA job sounds like the right job for you.

On the other hand, if you’re interested in the position and don’t quite have the qualifications, we hope this blog can help you understand what you need to have in order to become a CNA.

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