Western Washington Area Health Education Center
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
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WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
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Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
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& Development
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Shop
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
Health Career Information
Nursing Assistant Certified
Job description
The nursing assistant certified, formerly called CNA (certified nursing assistant) and sometimes called Nurses Aide or Hospital Assistant, works under the direction of a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or physician, and assists in the care of hospital, clinic, or nursing home patients.
Activities may include
●
assist patients with walking, getting in and out of bed
●
assist with patient feeding, bathing, shaving, and dressing
●
record temperature, pulse, respiration rate
●
sterilize instruments, clean rooms, change bed linens, empty bed pans
●
provide important skin care to patients confined in beds for extended periods
●
provide for the patient's comfort
Salaries and benefits*
Entry level wages generally range from $6.50 to $8.50 per hour ($1,127 to $1,473 per month). Experienced Nursing Assistants may earn up to $12.00 per hour ($2,080 per month) or more. A Hospital Assistant I with one year of experience employed by a state institution of higher education earns $10.07 to $12.67 per hour. A state employed Nurse Assistant 1 with one year of experience or training earns $10.79 to $13.59 per hour. In the Spokane County area, Nurses Aides, Orderlies and Attendants average $6.83 to $8.50 per hour and in the Seattle, Snohomish and Island County areas they average $8.49 to $10.69 per hour. Statewide, Nurses Aides, Orderlies and Attendants average $7.18 to $9.84 per hour. In the Pacific Northwest, Certified Nursing Assistants working for health care facilities average $1,638 to $1,953 per month. Those working in skilled nursing and long-term care settings average $1,457 to $1,898 per month. Benefits vary from employer to employer. Most full time NACs receive a full benefits package.
Training and requirements
In Washington State, training is a nine month program and is available at the following: Bellevue Community College, Bellingham Technical College, Big Bend Community College, Centralia College, Clover Park Technical College, Columbia Basin College, Edmonds Community College, Everett Community College, Grays Harbor Community College, Lake Washington Technical College, Lower Columbia College, Olympic College, Pierce College, Renton Technical College, Seattle Vocational Institute, South Puget Sound Community College, South Seattle Community College, Spokane Community College, Tacoma Community College, Walla Walla Community College, Wenatchee Valley College, and Yakima Valley Community College. The first portion of some LPN programs may prepare students for Nursing Assistant Certification, and students may receive training at some large nursing home facilities.
Necessary skills
●
ability to learn new tasks
●
ability to follow written and verbal instructions
●
ability to use hands skillfully
●
ability to make judgments
●
ability to work well with a variety of people
●
ability to communicate positively with patients
●
ability to work closely with patients
●
ability to work under pressure
●
ability to keep routine records and prioritize care given to patients
●
ability to change often between different types of activities
●
ability to assist with physical exercises and activities
●
ability to work with patients who are difficult to handle due to mental or physical ailments
●
knowledge of hospital or nursing home procedures
●
knowledge of medical techniques, such as taking temperature and blood pressure
●
knowledge of patients' autonomy, self-determination and rights issues
Licensure/Certification
Nursing assistants must be certified through the State Department of Health. Requirements include completion of a 85-hour training program approved by the State Board of Nursing, passing an examination, and AIDS education.
For more information, contact:
●
Department of Health
Nursing Assistant Program
1300 SE Quince St., PO Box 47864
Olympia, Washington 98504-7864
(360) 236-4705 (registration information)
or (360) 236-4704
Fax number: (360) 236-4738
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/hps6/Nursing_Assistant/default.htm
Helpful high school courses
Include English, computers, math, science, biology, health, and first aid. Some high schools and skill centers offer NAC training as part of their curriculum.
Colleges/Vocational Schools in Washington State
●
Bellevue Community College
3300 Langerholm Circle SE
Bellevue, WA 98009-6484
(425) 564-1000
●
Bellingham Technical College
3028 Lindbergh Ave.
Bellingham, WA 98225-1599
(360) 738-0221
●
Big Bend Community College
7662 Chanute St.
Moses Lake, WA 98837
(509) 762-5351
●
Centralia College
600 W. Locust St.
Centralia, WA 98531-4099
(360) 736-9391
●
Clover Park Technical College
4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW
Lakewood, WA 98499-4098
(253) 589-5678
●
Columbia Basin College
2600 North 20th Ave.
Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 547-0511
●
Edmonds
Community College
2000 68th Ave. West
Lynnwood, WA 98036-5999
(425) 640-1459
●
Everett Community College
2000 Tower St.
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-9100
●
Grays Harbor Community College
1620 Edward P. Smith Dr.
Aberdeen, WA 98520
(800) 562-4830
●
Lake Washington Technical College
11605 132nd Ave. NE
Kirkland, WA 98034-8506
(425) 235-2352
●
Lower Columbia College
1600 Maple St.
Longview, WA 98632-0310
(360) 442-2370
●
Olympic College
1600 Chester Ave.
Bremerton, WA 98337-1699
(800) 259-6718
●
Pierce College (in conjunction with Clover Park Technical College)
Puyallup Campus
1601 39th Ave. SE
Puyallup, WA 98374
(253) 840-8400
●
Renton Technical College
3000 NE Fourth St.
Renton, WA 98056-4195
(425) 235-2352
●
Seattle Vocational Institute
2120 S. Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98144-2220
(206) 587-4950
●
South Puget Sound Community College
2011 Mottman Rd. SW
Olympia, WA 98512-6218
(360) 754-7711
●
South Seattle Community College
6000 16th Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98106
(206) 764-5300
●
Spokane Community College
North 1810 Greene St.
Spokane, WA 99207-5399
(509) 533-7000
●
Tacoma Community College
6501 S. 19th St.
Tacoma, WA 98466-6139
(253) 566-5300
●
Walla Walla Community College
500 Tausick Way
Walla Walla, WA 99362-9267
(509) 522-2500
●
Wenatchee Valley College
1300 Fifth St.
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 682-6800
●
Yakima Valley Community College
16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd.
Yakima, WA 98907-2520
(509) 574-4600
Outlook*
In Washington, this occupation is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment is projected to increase 19 percent by 2008.
Professional Associations
●
American Health Care Association
1201 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 842-4444
http://www.ahca.org
●
American Hospital Association
1 North Franklin
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 422-3000
http://www.hospitalconnect.com/
* Note: General career descriptions are updated as necessary, however salary expectations and projected outlooks have not been updated since 2000. Go to Workforce Explorer Washington and search your career for the most up-to-date salary and job growth expectations. Washington Healthcare Careers and Workforce College are also good resources for job information.
For additional information, contact your school's career counselor or
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Page updated 9/15/04