Looking for a job in Whatcom County? What would you say to a quick-start career with practically guaranteed full-time work?
The only caveat is that, like any nurse, you have to be compassionate and loving, with a servant’s heart.
Is that you? Great. Read on.
As the population ages, the value of nursing assistants (also known as Nursing Assistants-Certified or Certified Nursing Assistants) only grows. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts continued job growth for NACs through 2031 — and that’s on top of the strong need for NACs in the industry right now, with positions waiting to be filled.
The process of becoming a NAC is fast and easy. Lynden Healthcare Education offers free classes for anyone who wants to start a career in health care. They even help with job placement!
The five-week training program teaches students about the roles and responsibilities of nursing assistants, residents’ rights, patient care techniques, infection control, observation and reporting skills, addressing mental health challenges, using modern technology to record medical records and much more.
Quite a few people work as CNAs while they’re going to school to become registered nurses or licensed practical nurses or while they’re earning a degree for another position in the health care field. CHCC has seen many people work as CNAs while they attend educational programs at Bellingham Technical College, Whatcom Community College or Western Washington University.
What do CNAs do on a daily basis?
“Nursing assistants are the heart and hands of the work we do here,” says Heather Lewis, director of nursing services at Christian Health Care Center in Lynden.
A nursing assistant’s primary goal is to ensure that residents are well cared for in a pleasant, positive and calm environment.
This means helping them perform activities of daily living, such as moving around, eating, using the bathroom, bathing, grooming and positioning. It also means measuring and recording residents’ blood pressure, weight, urine output, breathing and pulse.
“We know that a good CNA is a great communicator who always respects a resident’s rights and confidentiality,” Lewis says.
Nursing assistants also need to be attentive to residents’ needs. Sometimes, that might mean encouraging them to be more independent. Other times, it might mean encouraging them to accept help. While most residents have the same basic needs, the process of ensuring those needs are met differs from person to person.
Want to get started?
Lynden Healthcare Education is recognized by the Washington State Department of Health as an approved training program for nursing assistants. Classes at our CNA training center are held several times throughout the year. To sign up, click the Enroll tab above for upcoming sessions.
Believe it or not, there is no cost to students. All class-related expenses (instructor fee, books, testing and application fees, etc., a $1,400+ value) are paid for as part of Christian Health Care Center Foundation’s mission. They are investing in you to help ensure seniors in our community receive the care they need today and in the future.
Once you’ve completed your certification, graduates of LHE’s free NAC training class receive priority consideration for any nursing assistant jobs CHCC has available at the time.
