Although every day we should be celebrating the extraordinary work and goals that nursing assistants achieve, there is a particular week out of the year we all come together to celebrate annually. This week is known as the Annual National Nursing Assistants Week or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Week.
When is National CNA Week?
Those who are wondering when CNA Week 2022 is and what exactly National Nursing Assistants Week entails are in the right place. This year, the 45th annual CNA Week begins on June 16th and runs until June 22nd. This week shares itself with National Career Nursing Assistants Day, which is on June 16th. You can learn more about the week itself and how to participate in celebrating these fantastic nurses, as well as perhaps even learn ways to give thanks to them here at the CNA network website.
When Did Nursing Assistants Emerge as Clinicians?
As for the history of CNA Week itself, around the time of World War I, in 1914, the profession we now know as certified nursing assistant began. During this time there was a very large demand for care to treat soldiers, thus, due to the increasing amount of demand for nurses, the American Red Cross began a volunteer nurse aide service.
History’s first CNAs worked alongside the army nurses treating soldiers, as well as filling positions in various hospitals. Fast-forward through the next 60 years, CNAs were called to action a plethora of times, proving yet again their dedication to the profession and giving others proper care. Soon after, folks began to realize just how critical the job CNAs perform is, thus leading to the development of CNA Week.
After all this history, certified nursing assistants have had a national day of appreciation since 1977, this day is followed by a full week of celebration, what we know as National CNA Week. Today certified nursing assistants are more important than ever playing a crucial role in our everyday healthcare. Even today, the demand for nurses and assistants alike is booming, with thousands of jobs opening everywhere. Those in search of CNA jobs nearby can find them easily with our healthcare staffing app here at NursaTM.
The Importance of National CNA Week
As National CNA Week approaches, it’s important to recognize why the week came to exist in the first place and celebrate the nursing assistants in your life. Certified nursing assistants are just as critical to the healthcare system today as they were when the profession first began. Without them, we would have an even larger shortage and demand for proper healthcare. In fact, according to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, the demand for nursing assistants is expected to continue growing at incredible rates. That fact is primarily due to a large aging population where CNAs are typically the primary caregivers.
While remembering the incredibly important role certified nursing assistants play in our everyday lives, it’s important to also show your appreciation by giving thanks to them for all that they do. There are many ways to say thank you and give back to healthcare workers, however, one of the most meaningful things can simply just be a “thank you” whenever you have the chance. Other ways could include writing a note of appreciation, telling them just how much the work they do means to you and your family, and much more. Overall, remember to be kind and courteous to healthcare workers whenever you see them. Bear in mind that CNAs are often underpaid and overworked. A CNA’s salary is typically low, but with an on-demand staffing app like Nursa, all that is changed.
Daily Challenges CNAs Face
With every job, there will come extraordinary achievements and self-fulfillment, however, there will always be challenges and bumps in the road that follow behind. Certified nursing assistants perform a plethora of different tasks every day to aid their fellow nurses. This presents one of the challenges of juggling different responsibilities, CNAs perform tasks such as checking and recording vital signs, food intake, moods, and emotions, as well as cleaning up after patients and helping them carry out everyday tasks. Due to this, being a CNA requires a person to be very organized, calm, and collected.
The next two challenges fall hand in hand, CNAs often work long-hour shifts which can be anywhere from eight to 12 hours as some patients may need constant care. For any person, it can be difficult to work in such long increments every day. Additionally, certified nursing assistants can have physically demanding work such as caring for immobile patients, helping them sit up and walk around, taking them to the bathroom, and more. Overall, CNAs are incredibly dedicated and strong workers who devote their time to bettering the lives of others. All of us here at NursaTM commend them for their work and send our biggest thanks.
