The Difference Between Nurses and Nursing Aides

There are different job descriptions in the medical field and sometimes it can be a little confusing and difficult to tell them apart. Two of the most often confused jobs are that of the nurses and nursing aides.

A lot of people think that they are just the same. However, this is not true. CNAs take the CNA class and they take the CNA practice test before finally taking the certification examination. Nurses take different classes and they have different trainings to undergo. Although they are both certified by the State, they perform different duties. Let us get to know each.

Certified nurses are licensed by the state and they perform nursing duties. Some of their tasks are preparing medications for their patients and monitoring patients’ condition. Nurses have Bachelor’s degree in nursing and nurses with higher positions have Master’s degrees.

Certified nursing assistants, on the other hand, do not have supervisory roles, unlike nurses. Instead they assist nurses as they perform their daily tasks, hence the name. CNAs do not have Bachelor’s degrees. They only train for up to 120 hours or 10 to 12 weeks to become nursing aides. Nursing aides are focused on the basic care of patients like hygiene, and not to the administration of medicines. They then review to take the certification exam. Although, they are just the assistants to nurses, they are indispensable to the medical field. The medical field will not be able to survive without them.

There are great advancement opportunities for both nurses and nursing aides. Nurses can advance to higher positions by obtaining Master’s degrees and undergoing further training. They can become heads of their department or administrators. On the other hand, nursing aides can become full pledged nurses by getting a Bachelor’s degree. Further studies can almost always lead to advancement in position and a higher salary. However, a majority of nursing aides have decided to remain assistants. Most of them do not have the time and money to go back to school and earn a Bachelor’s degree.

Registered nurses are required to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. They are subjected to strict licensing requirements too. The requirements for CNAs may vary from one state to another and from one employer to another but just like nurses, they are still required to take an exam before they are given a license. At least 75 hours of training is a requirement of almost all states.

Majority of nurses work in hospitals but some also work in hospices or as private home nurses. CNAs work in hospitals, adult day care centers, senior care homes and other medical facilities. Most of the time you will see CNAs where nurses are. They almost always go together.

Certified nurses earn an average of $57,000 annually but the salary differs by state and one of the factors which can affect this is the nurse’s years of experience. A promotion is also something which can increase a nurse’s salary. CNAs earn an average of $27,000 per year. This varies by state as well as the experience of the CNA.

Although these two different careers have different job descriptions, salaries and advancement opportunities, both still serve patients. Their aim is to make patients’ lives easier. They not only offer physical care, they also offer emotional care to patients. Nurses and nursing aides are just some of the people in the medical field who do not get the recognition they deserve. They work behind the scenes but they have very important roles to play. Without them, the medical field will be crippled and there will be a void which is very hard to fill.