Category Archives: Career & Jobs

Could You Be a CNA? Certified Nurse Assistant Careers

Posted on by

Even though the economy is in the tank – there are certain career fields that are still thriving. One area where there are still many jobs is in the medical field. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training is one way to get started in the medical field without a huge investment. If you are considering a career as a CNA, you will want to be sure this is a good career for you before you get started.

Most CNA courses are short – 4-6 weeks is about average. This means you can move into a paid position without a long wait. This is important if you need to start earning money now – not in months or years. Being a nurses aide is often challenging, but many aides say this is the most rewarding job they have had.

What does it take to be a good nurse assistant? Here are some skills you should have before considering a certified nurse assistant program.

* Compassion is a must! If you truly care about other people and want to help them, you will do well in this field.

* Physical stamina is a plus! Caring for patients can be tiring. Being in average or better shape is a good thing. You don’t need to be a bodybuilder, but you should be able to be on your feet for long periods and be able to lift and support patients as needed.

* Follow directions well. As an assistant to the other members of the medical staff, you will be responsible for carrying out instructions from doctors and nurses. It will be important for you to be able to understand and follow those directions without making mistakes.

* Interest in medicine. Having an interest in medicine helps if you want to be in nursing. Going to work every day is a lot more fun if you enjoy what you do.

If you have these skills and traits, you could do really well in this profession. Often, a nurse assistant career is a stepping stone to a career as a registered nurse or other jobs in medicine. There are many more keys to success – including choosing a quality CNA training course. Some courses are even available online. If this idea excites you – be sure to learn more about this profession. You’ll love having a job you are proud of – and you can make a lot more than minimum wage.

Career or Job: Which Do You Have?

Posted on by

If you look around online or in the bookstore, or if you get into conversations with people at parties and other events, you get the idea that a “career” is where all the action is. Your career is almost like a life separate from your own. Your career can be on the fast track. It can be derailed. It can stagnate. Blossom. But the important thing, it would seem, would be that you at least have one at all. If you don’t, then reams of coaches, resume-writing specialists, articles, websites, magazines, books, and high school guidance counselors are there to nudge you to get yourself one!

If you’re unhappy or unfulfilled, the gurus will assure you that it’s just that you’re in the wrong career. It most assuredly does not mean that you should bow out of having a career at all!

We know of people we graduated from high school with, and that some of them seemed to “go somewhere,” and others did not. You might hear things like “Remember Mary? She has a wonderful career!” or perhaps “Too bad about Hank, just working away at that job at the auto body shop. You’d think he’d want to go back to school and get a career.”

What’s the difference between a job and a career? Some people say that a job leads to nothing but more of the same, while a career leads to advancement, promotions, and more money. Other people say that within a career, you have jobs. In other words, the career is the journey, and the jobs are the stepping stones. Still others say that a career is intentional. It’s planned, nurtured, and attended to. A job is mindless – you show up, do as you’re told, and go home.

I say that the answer lies within your own attitude. If you like what you’re doing and want to continue indefinitely, it’s a career. If you don’t like it, it’s a job, no matter how far that ladder stretches above and below you.

For all we know, Mary had a nervous breakdown and quit her career to write her book. And Hank might be in absolute bliss – he loves working on cars all day, and his job never interferes with his time with his family during the evenings and on weekends.

And now for the question: Do you have a career, or do you have a job?