The Truth About CNA Salaries

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are a link between a patient and the nursing staff in a hospital, clinic, home setting or nursing home. They have a lot of direct interaction with the patient and are often the face of the nursing staff in a healthcare setting. When considering a career as a CNA, candidates should take into account CNA Duties, CNA training and Certification, Career Path, and CNA Salary.

Certified Nursing Assistants are important members of a health-care team. They often have close contact with the patient and spend the majority of their time on direct patient support. CNAs provide care services that closely affect a patient’s comfort. They also provide support to other health-care professionals. State regulations determine the training requirements and the specific responsibilities CNAs.

A Certified Nursing Assistant career generally starts with training. Training requirements vary by state. Candidates for a career as a nursing assistant must have a high school diploma or a GED. CNA training involves both practical and theoretical instruction in patient care. Courses are offered at vocational or technical colleges, through a private company and on site at some employers. CNAs must take and pass an exam after their training to earn a certificate and in many states also pass a licensing exam proving competency before being listed in the state license registry.

The duties that a Certified Nursing Assistant performs can vary by state and also by facility. In general, a CNA can expect to have some management and safety related duties, including assisting with intake and discharge and ensuring that basic safety protocols are followed. Patient related duties center around: patient assessment and care planning; assistance with mobility and patient transportation within the facility; nutrition and elimination assistance; assistance in the comforting of patients; and assistance with personal hygiene and grooming. In the home health care realm, there can also be housekeeping and laundry duties.

Since there are a wide variety of duties and responsibilities involved in a Certified Nursing Assistant position, the CNA salary can vary widely. The type of facility, state of employment and skill level of the CNA all affect the salary range for a CNA. As of October 31, 2016, the median hourly rate for a CNA is $14.74 (the range is $13.76/hr - $16.40/hr). A CNA is a great first step to see if working in the medical field is something that is a career that is of interest, because of the relatively low cost and shorter time frame for training. It is also a great stepping stone to other levels in medicine.

Becoming a Certifed Nursing Assistant provides an entry level practitioner with a good overview of medical terminology, best practices, and regulations in patient care. The on-the-job experience a CNA will learn while working with patients, provides a strong foundation on which to build to other careers in health care. Working in a facility also helps build confidence and helps to further educate a new CNA on best practices and a fuller view of patient care. The wide variety of workplaces open to nursing assistants allows them some flexibility in tasks and responsibilities. Many CNAs are satisfied with their positions and chose to stay a CNA, some chose to continue their education and become a Registered Nurse.

Rich History and Haunted Places in the Outer Banks

Legends have been told of the many haunted towns scattered along the eastern seaboard from New England to St. Augustine, each holds a rich history of spooky events. In the center lies a chain of islands along the North Carolina coast known as the Outer Banks, just as rich in history with stories perhaps less told. Arguably one of the most haunted areas in the U.S., these four locales are among the reasons why the Outer Banks is so spooky. 

Why 'Virginia is For Lovers'

Virginia is one of the most romantic states out there, but it often gets overlooked in favor of more mainstream locations. However, if you want to take someone out for a special evening or a long term expedition to somewhere romantic, Virginia is hard to beat. Here are a few places to go.

Charleston's Most Water Damage Prone Places

Let’s face it. Living in the south is beautiful, but it comes with a price. Heavy rains, storms, and hurricanes happen thanks to living next to the mighty Atlantic Ocean. This sometimes unfriendly neighbor can cause major flooding for people living in Charleston, South Carolina. Whether you’ve lived in Charleston for one year or 20 years, you know rain is as consistent as a batch of grandma’s sweet tea. So if you’re looking to move to a new place in Charleston or moving there for the first time, make sure you understand the most water damage prone places. Especially because hurricane season is right around the corner.

Make Sure Your Auto Extended Warranty Includes the Right Coverage

Car damage and maintenance can be an unexpected and costly circumstance. If an individual is planning on holding on to their vehicle for a good period of time, they should look into buying an extended auto warranty. This is often a great way for them to keep unforeseen expenses at bay.

It is also more of an insurance policy for their car. It can help people lower the cost of having their car repaired, but choosing the wrong coverage can have detrimental effects. Not only will it render their extended warranty useless, they will also have to pay the entire cost for their car’s repair. There are several important things that people should remember when purchasing an extended auto warranty to make sure that they have the right coverage.

Always Read the Hard Cover

Finding the best car warranty company requires research. People should not base their extended auto warranty buying decision on data that is provided in the pamphlet or brochure. They should always remember to read the actual car warranty contract in order to review the conditions and terms of the plan along with its coverage. This will help people make sure that they are buying a warranty that meets their individual needs.

Always Determine the Type of Coverage

When considering what extended warranty they should purchase, people should also bear in mind what type of coverage it offers. There are two types of coverage that an extended warranty should provide. One of them is bumper-to-bumper coverage.

If an extended auto warranty has this coverage, people should determine if it lists the items that are covered. This is done in order to determine if it is real bumper-to-bumper coverage. Usually, true bumper-to-bumper coverage does not list all things that it covers, and it is also exclusionary.

It means that it will only list some of the things that are not covered. The types of components that are not usually covered are cosmetic and maintenance items. Another important thing that people should look into is wear and tear and mechanical breakdown coverage. The majority of extended auto warranties will only provide coverage for repairs that are caused by mechanical breakdowns. Extended auto warranties that have tear and wear protection ensure that an individual will be covered for the parts that break down due to constant use.

An Important Thing to Remember

People should also bear in mind that there are a number of extended auto warranty companies that include tear and wear exclusions within their plans. These exclusions can be for a number of items such as valves, struts, piston rings and other valuable mechanical components that will wear out due to use over time. People should always proceed with caution when they are dealing with these kinds of extended auto warranty plans.

Specialty Items and Over-Heating

People should also determine if their extended auto warranty provides coverage for overheating and specialty coverage. Overheating can often be a common factor in a car’s mechanical problems when it breaks down. People should always make sure that their extended warranty includes damage that was caused by overheating.

Aside from that, people should also determine if it provides coverage for important car components such as early ABS braking systems. This is because these are expensive items to replace and repair. People should avoid extended warranties that have special clauses that exclude these kinds of coverage.

Water Tubing

Margaux Triumphs Over the Tube (Photo credit: CliffMuller)

Water tubing is the perfect activity for those who are new to water sports. Unlike some of the more advanced hobbies like water skiing, water tubing requires only minimal skills. Instead of extreme agility and balance, water tubers need only be able to hold on tight! It’s also fun and exciting for lake goers of all ages. Tubing can be done at any speed, and can even be enjoyed by the youngest children if you have a large tube that accommodates more than one person. Tubing is also a great group activity as compared to other popular water sports. Even if you only purchase individual tubes, it is far easier to take turns while water tubing than other activities.

With new boat technology, it’s even easier to incorporate tubing into group outings on the lake. Before, tubing was most exciting with a fast speedboat that could zip the tubes along and create wakes that allowed for jumps. Now, pontoon boats can get in on the tubing action without sacrificing the speed and excitement. Pontoons from Manitou Pontoon Boats specifically boast V-Toon design and Sport Handling Package technology that combine the party atmosphere of a pontoon with the handling of a speedboat. These features are perfect for families or groups who are interested in recreational water tubing.

Safety is essential when water tubing, as with any sport. Life jackets should always be worn aboard a boat, but especially when tubing. Riders often become temporarily separated from the boat when an unexpected bump causes them to loosen their grip, so having a floatation device is essential. Having the right equipment is also important. Make sure your tube is appropriate for the weight you plan to have on it, and that the tow line used is securely tied and in good condition. Finally, everyone needs to be alert and aware of surroundings while tubing. Drivers should pay close attention to distance from other boats in the water, tubers should keep a firm grip and not be reckless, and others aboard the boat should keep an eye on the rider as well.

Tubing is a popular and easy sport for boaters of all ages, and is now even easier to enjoy as a family due to new pontoon technologies. As with any water sport, safety is essential, but if everyone remains vigilant tubing can add a lot of fun and excitement to water excursions.

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History of the Swiss Plateau

The Swiss Plateau, or sometimes referred to as the Central Plateau, is a fairly hilly area that rests between the Swiss Alps to the south and the Jura Mountains to the north. It is a significant area of Switzerland, as it is home to the majority of Switzerland’s population, with the majority of Switzerland’s cities and economic activity.

Roughly 40-60 million years ago, the area significantly rose and fell as a result of the folding of the Alps, and the area was flooded by a sea. This event happened several times, as recent as perhaps 5 million years ago, and many fossils of snails, shells and even shark teeth can be found today in such a high altitude. The events made the area relatively flat for a mountainous area, making it more habitable for living and growing crops.

If you’re interested in visiting the Swiss Plateau, I’d recommend staying in the Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof, which is a great hostel located in Interlaken, Switzerland. I'd recommend staying in hostels while traveling Switzerland, and they are a quality one that gives you the greatest value.

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