Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Job Outlook
Georgia CNA Job Outlook
Numerous job openings in Georgia for certified nurse aide workers will arise from a combination of fast employment growth and high replacement needs. High replacement needs for CNA workers are due to low salaries, high physical and emotional demands, and limited opportunities for advancement. These are also the reasons for which many people are unwilling to become a CNA and perform the kind of work required by this occupation.
In Georgia many nurse aide workers leave the occupation to attend training programs for other health care careers such as practical or registered nurse. Therefore, people who are interested in, and suited for working as a CNA have excellent job opportunities.
Overall employment of certified nursing aide workers is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014. Nurse aide workers specialized in home health will have the fastest growing rate of employment, as a result of both growing demand for home services in Georgia, and efforts to contain costs by moving patients out of hospitals and nursing care facilities as quickly as possible. Patients’ preference for care at home and expanding in-home treatments will also contribute to faster employment growth for skilled, nurse aide personnel.
The number of CNA jobs in hospitals and long term care facilities will not grow as fast as home health aide employment. Employment of nursing aide workers is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2016, in response to the long-term care needs of an increasing elderly population. Financial pressures on hospitals to discharge patients as soon as possible will increase admissions at nursing care facilities. As a result, CNA job opportunities will be greater in nursing and residential care facilities than in hospitals.
Modern medical technology also will drive demand for nurse aide jobs because, as the technology saves and extends more lives, it increases the need for long-term care provided by a CNA. Employment of psychiatric nurse aide workers is expected to grow more slowly than average for all occupations. Most Georgia psychiatric aide personnel hold jobs in hospitals, but an increase in CNA jobs will take place in residential mental health facilities.
There is a long-term trend toward treating mental health patients outside of hospitals because it is more cost effective and allows patients to live more normal lives. As a CNA working in Georgia’ hospitals you will generally have at least one week of paid vacation after one year of service. Paid holidays and sick leave, hospital and medical benefits, extra pay for late-shift work, and pension plans are also available for CNA workers.
A certified nurse aide working in home care may receive higher hourly pay depending on experience. However, home health nurse aide personnel get paid for the time worked in the home and not for travel time between jobs. Some employers may hire only on-call, hourly, home nurse aide workers and provide no benefits.