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Profession: Nursing

Licensed Nursing Assistant: Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNA) work under the supervision of licensed practical nurses (LPN) and registered nurses (RN) to provide basic patient care and assist with nursing procedures. They take vital signs, collect specimens for laboratory tests, administer medications, change wound dressings, serve and feed meals, assist patients in and out of bed, and answer patients’ call lights. They have a great deal of patient contact.

Salary Range: $19,520 - $32,790

Salary Notes: LNAs earn between $19,520 and $32,790 a year, with an average of about $25,820 a year in Vermont.

Where you can study:
Great Bay Community College, Stratham, NH
Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA

Where you might work:
Home Health Organizations - Hospitals - Long-term Care Facilities - Mental Health Facilities - Nursing Facilities -

Job Outlook: Employment of nursing aides is expected to grow faster than the average in response to increasing emphasis on rehabilitation and the long-term care needs of a growing elderly population.

Education, Licensing and Certification: Vermont requires nursing assistants to complete a training program and pass the state licensing exam. Training programs are available from some hospitals, home health agencies, and nursing homes, but applicants must first secure a position at that facility to be eligible for training. Many technical high schools also offer training programs.

Current training programs in Vermont are listed at: www.vtprofessionals.org, under "Nursing."

Professional Organizations:
National Association for Home Care and Hospice 202-547-7424 www.nahc.org
National League for Nursing 800-669-1656 www.nln.org
Nursing in Vermont 802-656-0023 www.choosenursingvermont.com