Congratulations! You have obtained your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, but what’s next? As a CNA, you have several options for employment:
• Nursing home
• Assisted living facility
• Hospital
• Home health agency
• Clinical facility
• Rehabilitation center
But, if you’re looking to take the next step in your educational journey, you can become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or License Vocational Nurse (LVN). As an LPN or LVN, you are able to take on greater responsibility with patient care.
“The most significant difference is that LPNs and LVNs provide primary nursing care. Their job duties include:
• Inserting catheters
• Checking vital signs
• Administering medications
• Changing sterile dressings
LPNs and LVNs are also responsible for reporting patient status changes to a registered nurse or physician, as needed.” – LiveCareer
Another option after obtaining your CNA certification is the path to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN).
“While LVNs provide basic patient care, RNs assess patient conditions, record patient medical symptoms and histories, administer medicine, perform and analyze diagnostic tests and create patient care plans.” – Nursing License Map
As a CNA becoming an RN, you can enroll in a bridge program. These programs are accelerated and allow you to obtain your degree in nursing in as fast as one year, because some of the content has already been covered and tested for during your CNA certification.
An RN:
• Takes detail patient assessments
• Works collaboratively with physicians
• Creates a healthcare plan for patients
• Collects medical samples
• And so much more…
As an RN, your responsibility for patient care grows immensely, with a layer of added critical thinking on the job. RNs comparatively make more than 250% more than CNAs.*
Opportunity for advancement is endless! Always be sure to check your state’s Board of Nursing website for any changes, updates, or additional information that may benefit you along your educational advancement journey. It is recommended that you schedule time to tour possible programs and schools to find the fit that’s right for you.
Avanza Training is training the next generation of caregivers, offering accelerated CNA classes, along with CPR classes once a month. These accelerated classes allow you to obtain your CNA certification in as little as two weeks. To learn more about your future at Avanza, click here.
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*According to Maryville University