Not everyone who wants to work in nursing jumps straight to becoming a nurse. First of all, perhaps because the education and training to become a nurse is, at the very least, a 12-month commitment of time and financial investment, resources that are not readily available to everyone. Alternatively, that kind of commitment of time and finances may be intimidating for someone who has an interest in nursing but would rather be sure that such an investment of time and money would be worthwhile. For anyone interested in nursing care, entry-level roles such as certified nursing assistant (CNA) or certified medication aide (CMA) may be appropriate professions to consider. CMAs and CNAs can have fulfilling careers without ever going on to become a nurse if they so choose. Today we'll examine both roles, CNA vs. CMA, and look at how each profession is an important yet different component in healthcare delivery.
What Is a Certified Nursing Assistant?
A CNA is a healthcare worker responsible for providing direct supportive care to patients in a clinical setting. The responsibilities of CNAs place them in direct contact with their patients, and thus often, they have the opportunity to build important rapport with patients. The types of supportive care that CNAs provide to patients include assistance with activities of daily living, routine measurements of vital signs, cleaning, basic wound care, and relaying patient concerns to the nurses in charge of their care plans. CNAs are supervised by either a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN).
What is a Certified Medication Aide?
A CMA is a healthcare support worker responsible for administering certain medications to patients or assisting patients in administering medications themselves. CMA responsibilities typically include providing patient education about the medications, documenting the administration of medications (times and dosages), any patient reaction to the medication, and restocking the medication dispensary. This role is supervised by an RN.
It's important to note that the name (and therefore acronym) for CMAs are not uniform across the country. They may be identified as medication assistants, medication technicians, or Medication Aide-Certified (MAC). Also, not all states have this type of healthcare support role.
What's the Difference Between a CNA and a CMA?
The key difference between the two is the training and responsibility of medication dispensation. CNAs are not authorized for medication responsibilities. Their roles remain in providing assistive and supportive care to the residents. However, these two roles do have a close relationship; they are both important supports to not only their patients but the supervising nurses as well. Moreover, usually, a prerequisite to becoming a CMA is first being trained and certified as a CNA with a certain amount of work experience as a CNA.
Where Do CNAs and CMAs Work?
CNA jobs and CMA jobs are found in a variety of settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and home healthcare. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), "Nursing assistants held about 1.3 million jobs in 2021." Furthermore, the nursing assistant occupation is projected to grow through to 2031 at a rate of 5%, and the BLS estimates 220,000 job openings per year during that time period.
How Can I Become a CNA?
Unlike becoming an LPN or an RN, there is no national licensure exam or agreed-upon standard for CNA training and certification. Each individual state determines the training and regulation for CNA certification. Some states regulate and certify CNAs through their boards of nursing, while others do it through a government agency such as the state health department divisions or professional regulatory division.
Nevertheless, in general, to be a CNA, a college degree is not required, but you should have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. With one of those credentials under your wing, you'll need to complete a CNA training program or class that is accredited and approved by your state. Following a CNA program completion, aspiring CNAs need to pass their state's competency exam.
What are Activities of Daily Living?
As mentioned above, CNAs are primarily responsible for assisting their patients with activities of daily living (ADLs). Unless you have experience working in a long-term care facility or have already completed CNA training, you're probably wondering what ADLs are. The CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) defines activities of daily living as "..activities related to personal care." As such, you can expect your routine ADL responsibilities as a CNA to include the following:
- Assistance with bathing
- Assistance with toileting
- Assistance with personal hygiene (i.e., combing hair, brushing teeth, trimming nails)
- Assistance with getting dressed
- Assistance with eating
Should You Become a CNA or CMA?
Demand is high for CNA and CMA positions, in part because it is an entry-level position. Many working nurses entered the healthcare field by first working as CNAs. Often nursing students work CNA or CMA jobs simultaneously with their nursing program. These types of jobs are excellent opportunities to engage with and experience nursing care at its most basic level. Whether you should or should not pursue the path is entirely up to you. However, if you think you're interested in nursing, it's an excellent place to start.
CNA and CMA Jobs Near You
As the baby boomer generation ages, the demand for healthcare services is on the rise. More people are interested in remaining in their homes as long as possible and retaining as much of their independence as well. We see this in evidence by the demand for home healthcare services and the popularity of independent and assisted living complexes. CNAs and CMAs are a vital part of making it possible for people to stay in their homes longer or live as independently as possible.
There might be CNA and CMA jobs near you. Do you know where to look? Because of the demand for this work, there are multiple opportunities for full-time, part-time, and even gig work by picking up per diem (PRN) shifts. Find per diem shifts near you by downloading Nursa, the open healthcare marketplace that connects nursing professionals to jobs shift-by-shift.
