Major health care institutions are trying very hard to raise the profile of nursing careers and in particular the career path of an Assistant in Nursing. For many years now there has been a gradual increase in the lack of suitably trained and qualified nursing assistant staff.
Assistant Nurses provide support to Registered and Enrolled Nurses in the day to day operations of providing clinical care to patients in hospitals and daily care to residents of nursing homes. The registered nursing staff to nursing assistant staff is often at a ratio of one registered nurse to two or three nursing assistants.
Nursing Assistant Career Opportunities
Nurse assistants predominantly now form part of an ageing workforce and this is why health care institutions are trying to attract younger staff to fill an increase in vacant full time positions. As the ageing workforce reaches retirement age positions are very difficult to be filled due to the lack of qualified staff.
This situation is occurring worldwide, not just in some countries, but in countries all around the world.
This is why a savvy younger person who wishes to travel around the world on a working holiday will look towards training and certification as an Assistant in Nursing. Qualifications of an assistant nurse are recognized worldwide and gaining local country accreditation is a simple and straight forward process.
Imagine travelling throughout Europe or down to Australia working in major hospitals and institutions for your working holiday. Not only will you be able to live in the local community but will have a base to work from for local travel and sightseeing.
Assistant in Nursing Pay Rates
Assistant nursing staff often receive a high hourly rate from anywhere between $15.00 to $30.00 per hour and more when working night shift or afternoon shift. Allowances often include overtime rates, public holiday rates and shift work rates.
Generally the nursing assistant staff works an eight hour shift and can be offered work up to five maybe six days per week. The sixth day being purely overtime and this can double the hourly rate of pay.
Assistant in Nursing JobsTraining and certification to become an Assistant in Nursing is a two part training course consisting of theory and practical training. The courses can last anywhere from two weeks to three months depending on the intensity of the training provided.
Once training has been completed the aspiring nursing assistant will sit a sixty question multiple choice examination and then a practical examination to demonstrate their skills.
Don’t worry because the questions and practical tests are based on every day duties performed by the nursing assistants and soon become second nature. Once the examinations have been passed the student is provided with a certificate.
The certificate then allows the nursing assistant to practise their trade as an assistant in nursing and receive local accreditation from the relevant Government agency.
In some countries nursing assistants are known as CNA or Certified Nursing Assistant, Assistant in Nursing, Nurse Assistant or Assistant Nurse. In Australia for example a qualified nursing assistant is known as a Certified AIN whereas in the United States they are referred to as CNA Certification staff.
Author: Terry Glass
