A Day in the Life of a CNA
“I love the residents at my job. They make it easy to get up and go to work every day,” shares Felicia, a long-time Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Dining Room Coordinator at an assisted living community in Minnesota. Like many professionals that work in senior care, Felicia’s dedication and work ethic come from a genuine passion for serving and caring for the older adults in her community. Let’s explore what’s involved in a typical day as a CNA, and why Felicia’s committed to a career in caregiving.
Remembering Your ‘Why’
Caregiving is purpose-driven work. Many caregivers regularly make time to reflect and connect with what inspired them to join this profession. Felicia’s interest and roots in caregiving started early, thanks to her mother, who has nearly 30 years of experience in the profession: “My mom would bring us to work on days when we didn’t have school or sports. We volunteered—taking residents to bingo, playing games, and doing puzzles. That’s where my love for caregiving – and being around older people – started.”
Providing Care While Gaining Valuable Experience
- CNAs, also commonly known as nursing assistants, play a crucial role in providing direct care to residents and often serve as a resident’s main caregiver.
- CNAs are responsible for essential daily activities like monitoring vital signs, listening and recording patients’ health concerns, assisting with meals, helping residents maintain personal hygiene, and offering emotional support.
- This career often leads to close, rewarding relationships with residents that go beyond the daily tasks.
A CNA role is a great opportunity for individuals interested in a career in healthcare to gain hands-on experience– whether their career aspirations are in nursing, healthcare administration, social work, or other meaningful pathways. With free nursing assistant training, scholarships, and employment opportunities– becoming a nursing assistant in Minnesota can be easy. Learn more on how to get started with our resources for Nursing Assistants.
Offering Emotional Support
Because CNAs spend so much time with their residents – and their families – part of the role involves offering emotional support and forming strong bonds. “They might not have family coming in and things like that, so we are their family, we are their friends, we are their pastors and their nurses,” says Felicia.
CNAs offer companionship, encourage residents to participate in community activities, and help foster a sense of dignity and independence. Compassion, positivity, empathy, and reliability are important traits for someone interested in serving in a caregiving role.
Representing a Rewarding Career in Caregiving
Felicia’s dedication to the residents she serves and her supportive community is just one example of why people join this profession. CNA’s, like Felicia, are undoubtedly the professionals of the moment– and there simply aren’t enough to go around. Minnesota’s population is aging: By 2030, 1 in 5 Minnesotans will be considered an aging adult. As our aging population grows, the need for skilled and compassionate caregivers is increasing. It’s critical that we have a strong pipeline of committed, qualified caregivers, including dedicated CNAs like Felicia, to meet this growing need.
Explore More Careers in Senior Care
Felicia’s story highlights a day in the life of a CNA but senior care offers a wide range of different career paths–from roles in culinary, hospitality, social services, HR, finance, IT, engineering, and more. Whether you’re looking to start a career, gain hands-on experience, or pursue part-time work, explore more opportunities and get connected with senior care employers at CaringCareersStartHere.com.