Why are Some Positions Referred to as Nurses Aides and Others as Nursing Assistants?
It should be noted that nurses aides and nursing assistants are also called a certified nursing assistant or CNA depending upon the training the person has received. The federal government regulates that certain standards be met in order for a person to be given the title of CNA. The person must attend, and pass, at least 75 hours of coursework in an approved nurse training program. This includes coursework in a classroom setting and clinicals completed in a healthcare setting. They must, then, pass a state administered exam that is composed of both written and practical aspects. Basic CPR and First Aid training are also required.
Overall most places refer to aides or assistants as a CNA if they have obtained the appropriate certification. However, geographical location also plays a large role in determining whether a person is referred to as a nurses aide or nursing assistant. Most southern states and those in the western United States use the term nurses aide, while northern states and those in the east use the term nursing assistant.
Where a person is employed also factors in to what title a person is given when performing these job duties. Nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, and hospices are more likely to use the term nurse’s aide because the person is acting more as an aide to the patient. However, physician’s offices frequently use the label of nursing assistant because the person is most often assisting the nurse with obtaining vital signs, placing patients, in the correct exam rooms, and more along these lines. It should be noted that nurse’s aides or nursing assistants that are employed in a mental health setting are frequently referred to as a Health Services Tech (HST) or a Mental Health Technician and their job description may vary from that of other nursing assistants or nurses aides.
Overall, a person given the title of CNA has received state mandated training and passed an examination. However, not all facilities that employ this type of worker require certification. As a result, the person is often referred to as a nurses aide or nursing assistant. Regardless of what title a person is given, the job description is essentially the same with minor modifications depending on where they are employed and the state they live in. Regardless of the title they are given, these positions are often held by hard working and compassionate individuals that are essential in the medical field.