Nursing assistants are unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) who provide bedside care and some basic nursing procedures for the chronically sick, elderly, and rehabilitation patients in a hospital or nursing facility. This is typically done under the supervision of licensed practical or registered nurses. It is the most junior role in the nursing profession and only requires the completion of a brief eight- to ten-week-long certificate program.
Education pathway
In order to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in Illinois, one must pass a written competency test administered by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU-C) at the end of the certificate program. The results will then be sent to the Illinois Health Care Workers Registry electronically. These certificate programs are offered at more than 40 community colleges and technical schools across Illinois. Some of the top schools offering CNA training programs are Illinois Central College, John A Logan College, and Chicago ORT Technical Institute. Also, some long-term residential health centers may offer training programs at little or no cost and even employment after completion of the program.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 61,000 nursing assistants in Illinois with a median annual wage of $23,840; some CNAs earn up to $29,000 per year. They are employed by healthcare facilities such as Westlake Hospital and West Suburban Medical Center. The demand for CNAs is increasing thanks to the “graying” of the population; Baby Boomers currently make up 28% of Illinois residents.
Given the wide variety of nursing assistant programs in Illinois, we have made a list of the top programs in the state as a guide for aspiring nursing assistants.