Working as a certified nursing assistant has many benefits, and one of the highlights of being a CNA is daily contact with patients who depend on help for their daily living needs. As a CNA, you provide nurturing, practical support, love and care to the patients you treat. This contact with people that depend on you can be a very rewarding experiencing.

If you are considering work as a CNA, it's time to start looking at your options for training:

Patient Contact, Not Paperwork

The growing trend in nursing is to have to complete piles of paperwork every shift. As a CNA, you are responsible for providing care to the patients assigned to you. While you will have to complete some paperwork, your day is not filled up with medication charts, behavior charts and more.

CNAs have taken over for nurses in providing the routine care for patients, and some nurses miss this direct contact with patients. Especially in nursing homes, where the care is routine, CNAs spend more time with patients than nurses do. If you prefer patient contact over paperwork, CNA work is probably for you.

Take the Time to Listen to Your Patients

As a CNA, you are in a unique position to listen carefully to the patients you work with. Beyond learning about what your patients need in their daily care, you will also learn about the rich histories your patients have.  If you work in a nursing home, take the time to ask elderly patients questions about how they grew up, about their parents, and about the life they led.

Not only will this build a bond between you and your patients, but you will gain valuable insights about life and living. Learning about your patients and taking the time to listen to their stories validates their lives, and gives them a sense of pride. One of the best parts of being a CNA is being able to listen to these stories attentively.

You Can Have Fun as a CNA

A wonderful aspect about being a CNA is that you can enjoy your job, have fun, and get your work done at the same time. Patients who are sick, disabled or otherwise incapacitated can still appreciate a good sense of humor.

While you want to be appropriate, it is certainly acceptable to look at the work of a CNA with a lighthearted attitude. Patients appreciate a CNA that will make them feel comfortable about receiving care, and this can be done easily with light humor. Contact a company like MedStar Academy to learn more.