A 2018 report by Mercer, a global staffing agency, predicted that by the year 2025, the U.S. would need more than 2.3 million healthcare professionals, including 95,000 nursing assistants. With a huge gap in supply-demand, nursing assistants are likely to experience a very rewarding career choice. If you’re planning to sign up for a career as a nursing aide, here are a few things you must know:

What Is an STNA?

There are different terms used to refer to nursing aides. In Ohio, they are called STNAs or State Tested Nurses Aids. They care for patients in a nursing homes, at health care institutions, and they even provide in-home healthcare. A licensed nursing aide works under the direct supervision of a registered nurse and supports patients with activities of daily living. These include bathing, cleaning, etc. As a CNA, you are responsible for medication set up and education, patient care education, IV therapy, ventilator care, wound care, blood draws, and more.

How to Sign up for STNA Classes?

You can become an STNA in as little as two weeks by signing up for STNA classes and taking the STNA’s test. Once you’ve completed the test, you can register with The Nurse Aide Registry in Ohio and begin working. You could either sign up for a traditional, classroom-based program, or you could sign up for an online program. While the latter is ideal for people who’re working full-time, or for those who have other commitments, managing an online course is not easy—it requires a lot of dedication and commitment. On the other hand, many STNA training schools offer evening and weekend schedules to accommodate students’ busy schedules. Before signing up, remember to make sure that the state approves the STNA program.

What Do You Learn in an STNA Class?

Most STNA classes include basic medical skills in their curriculum. This includes basic anatomy and physiology as well as the different systems in the body. You will also learn about caring for patients with lifestyle diseases like diabetes, patients with common illnesses like breathing disorders, and those with cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s and other memory issues. You will learn the difference between different types of diabetes, learn to care for high and low blood sugar, learn to adjust oxygen levels, IV care, and even wound care. STNA classes also include lessons on legal issues. This includes procedures to follow to keep patient information confidential, consequences of the failure to provide reasonable care, etc. Besides basic nursing skills, nursing aide students are also trained in patient care. This includes bathing incapacitated patients, caring for oral hygiene, etc.

The lessons also include monitoring vital stats, understanding and interpreting these stats, learning basic nutrition principles, understanding guidance on what to eat, learning different physical exercises and therapy techniques, and more. Students are also guided on soft skills, like communicating effectively with patients, inculcating patience, learning empathy, etc.