Every year, National Career Nurse Assistants Day starts off National Nursing Assistants Week, which is celebrated in the second full week of June. We’re taking this opportunity to thank these entry-level professionals who act as coordinators between patients and doctors and who dedicate their lives to serving others. Let us also appreciate those who are serving others by providing them with the needful, like scholarships for those students who want to pursue their career in service of others.
History of National Career Nurse Assistants Day
Assistants to nurses have been around for a very long time, since World War I actually! The war took its toll on the hundreds of nurses deployed alongside the soldiers, overwhelming them beyond exhaustion. Seeing this situation, the American Red Cross took it upon themselves to create a Volunteer Nurses’ Aide Service. This program trained young women as nurses’ aides to provide basic assistance to overworked nurses; they were not certified and were volunteers. They numbered almost 8,000 women, who conducted basic triage and helped in acute shortage areas like reserve, field, base, and civilian hospitals. However, this profession did not exist after the war, and it only caught on again during World War II. At that time, the Red Cross reinstated this program, and these nursing assistants continued volunteering (and some were even employed) after the war was over.These women were as yet not certified professionals. They only completed on-the-job training. Many nursing assistants found their way to nursing homes. In the 1980s, concerns were raised about the quality of care being provided at these nursing homes by untrained staff. This issue was put to rest by the passing of a special Act that required all such nursing assistants to be certified. This marked the change in the profession. Various accreditation centers arose, providing training to aspirants.Now, people looking to become nursing assistants can receive certification online, offline, or a combination of both from various schools and organizations like the American Red Cross. Nowadays, nursing assistants work in hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities, performing everyday living tasks for the elderly, chronically ill, or those who cannot care for themselves. National Career Nurse Assistants Day is sponsored by the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants. They promote this day and National Nursing Assistants Training Week by requesting communities to show their support and appreciation towards these nursing assistants.
National Career Nurse Assistants Day timeline
Overwhelmed nurses need support, and the American Red Cross creates the Volunteer Nurses' Aide Service to help.
The Volunteer Nurses' Aide Service is reinstated by the American Red Cross; these assistants go on to work even after the war.
While this is a profession now, nursing assistants are not required to obtain any special certification to do the job; on-the-job training is offered if hired.
President Ronald Reagan passes the Omnibus Reconciliation Act; all nursing assistants are now required to obtain certification.
The Board of Nursing accredits various nursing schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and daycare centers to provide nursing accreditation (Certified Nursing Assistants or CNA) programs to aspirants.
Certified Nursing Assistants are celebrated via a special day and a week; National Career Nurse Assistants Day, which leads to National Nursing Assistants Training Week, has been celebrated ever since.
National Career Nurse Assistants Day FAQs
What day is national CNA day?
National Career Nurse Assistants Day is celebrated on the first day of National Nursing Assistants Week, making it June 17 this year.
Can nursing assistants draw blood?
A CNA will not draw blood under the regular protocol. However, in certain healthcare settings, job training courses allow CNAs to draw blood.
What are some responsibilities of nursing assistants?
Responsibilities of a certified nursing assistant include but are not limited to turning or repositioning patients, answering patient calls/bells, documentation of information obtained, preparing rooms for admissions, helping with medical procedures.
How To Celebrate National Career Nurse Assistants Day
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Say thank you
Give a huge shout out to the people working tirelessly to make sure you/your loved ones are well-cared for in the hospital or care centers. You can create special cards using free online templates, or send the CNA you know a tasty cake. Not only do you show them how much their actions meant, but you are also inspiring others to do the same.
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Read up about nursing assistants
Nursing assistants are committed to providing care to the sick and elderly, whether at a nursing home, in-home care, or another facility. Read or learn about their history and their services; you can visit the various healthcare websites which offer a number of resources and information about nursing assistants and courses.
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Bring others into the appreciation
Make nursing assistants feel truly special; bring this day and this week to the attention of your local leaders, like the city council, mayor, police chief, and fire chief. Organize events to connect with them and showcase how nursing assistants have helped the community, and how a little appreciation can go a long way to raise their spirits. You can even invite the local newspaper/press outlets to cover the subsequent celebrations.
Fun Facts About National Career Nurse Assistants Day
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Employment Rates Predict A Growth
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing assistant positions will increase at a rate of around 22% until 2022.
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Huge Turnout During WWII
More than 12,000 volunteers registered for the Volunteer Nurses' Aide Service during World War II.
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Not only college
A report by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) states that almost 26.3% of nursing assistants obtain their education at vocational and technical schools.
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Michigan was a high-demand state
In 2010, Jobacle.com called Michigan the best bet to find work as a nursing assistant, as this state had higher demand for certified nurse assistants than others.
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CNAs are mostly in nursing care facilities
A 2018 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows more than 38% of nursing care facilities employed nursing assistants; only 4% worked for the government.
Why We Love National Career Nurse Assistants Day
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Learn about these unsung heroes
How many times have you noticed the assistant who calms a loved one down at a care facility? Or someone who takes care of the feeding and clothing of your elderly relative? Nursing assistants have been around for a long time now, and we appreciate the reminder of how their service impacts us.
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Revisit our history
The bravery of our military folks during the World Wars is matched by the selfless service of those volunteering women - those nursing assistants provided - without any formal training either! How can we pass up the opportunity to learn more about how this profession evolved and became what it now is?
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We’re getting some healthcare career advice too
To learn about certified nursing assistants is to learn about which courses actively certify them, we have noticed. Websites and organizations celebrating this day also proactively offer up advice and recommendations for people looking to enroll in a nursing assistant course. For anyone looking for a way to help out their community, or actively searching for employment in healthcare, this day is a great chance to not only help you make your decision but also learn about the responsibilities that go with the job.
National Career Nurse Assistants Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | June 16 | Thursday |
| 2023 | June 14 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | June 13 | Thursday |
| 2025 | June 12 | Thursday |
