According to the Florida Center for Nursing, the number of Florida nursing jobs is steadily on the rise, growing at about 5% per year. However, Florida, like most of the country, is experiencing an extreme shortage of qualified nurses. It is expected that over 8,000 new nursing jobs in Florida will be created for each of the coming years. Most of these Florida nursing jobs will be created in hospitals and home health agencies.
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) is an individual who assists patients with activities of daily living. Certified nursing assistants, also known as nurses aides, patient care technicians, home health aides, and orderlies, work under the direct supervision of a nurse, and are responsible for providing basic care services such as bathing, grooming, and feeding patients, as well as checking patient vital signs. CNAs also work directly with licensed nursing staff as they provide skilled nursing care to their patients. An individual becomes a CNA after completing a 6 to 12 week programs, and after passing a certification exam. Don’t think that the role of a CNA isn’t important. CNAs serve as the eyes and ears of the nursing staff, and they work in medical hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, and assisted living facilities. Working as a CNA can also serve as a career steppingstone for individuals wishing to go on into the nursing profession.