Updated May 6, 2022

For new high school graduates and midlife career-changers alike, starting a career in healthcare can be rewarding and competitive. However, certain fields and positions require unique certifications and training.

If you are considering starting a career in healthcare, you may want to take a realistic assessment of your lifestyle, career interests, and personality type to help guide you to the most fitting position. The following post will outline seven questions to ask yourself before starting a career in healthcare.

Tweet: A certified nursing assistant (CNA) works under the direction of a licensed nurse—registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN).

A certified nursing assistant (CNA) works under the direction of a licensed nurse—registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). CNAs do not perform nursing duties, but rather assist with healthcare related tasks and act as a liaison between patients and nurses. There are two levels: CNA 1 and CNA 2. Both require state certification; however, should one desire to work in a hospital setting, a CNA 2 certification is required. CNAs work in a variety of healthcare settings and are responsible for taking vital signs, height and weight measurements, assisting with bathing, toileting, dressing needs, and other daily care needs that an individual may require assistance with.

Jessica Larsen has a dream of someday becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Today she is one giant leap closer to her dream thanks to her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 1 and 2 training at PCC CLIMB.

If you have made the decision to begin your career in the healthcare field, you undoubtedly are already spending plenty of time searching for openings, writing cover letters, and sending out resumes. On its own, the application process can be stressful. So what happens when you add the pressure that comes with your first interview for an entry level healthcare position?

Understandably, you may feel a bit intimidated at first. After all, you are getting set to enter a new field with new surroundings. But by taking the time to prepare and research your potential employer, you can master the art of the interview and put your best foot forward. When preparing for your interview, keep in mind the Three R’s: research, rehearsal, and references. These tips for interviewing for healthcare positions will help you on your journey to landing your first position in the healthcare industry.

In our continuing series, we're exploring "a day in the life of…" various entry level healthcare careers. If you're considering a job in healthcare, this is a perfect series to keep up with because it will offer a broad overlook for potential entry points into the industry.

The Portland Community College Institute for Health Professionals offers six entry level healthcare training courses that will get you hired. You can courses to become a certified nursing assistant, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, sterile processing technician, medical coder, or a patient access specialist. Each course offers entry level healthcare training, which includes classroom and/or online lectures and/or lab training, and practicums to prepare each student for his or her healthcare career and the necessary exams for certification. This post will discuss each course in-depth.  

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are an integral part of the health field, and require a certain type of individual to be successful. Becoming a CNA will be a lot of work, but has the potential to be incredibly rewarding for those who decide it is how they want to spend their career.

With so many options in the field of healthcare it can be tough to figure out the correct career trajectory for your personality. One popular niche is being a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). How does one become a CNA? What are your next steps?

The choice to become a CNA is an important one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It requires a patient, compassionate, and dedicated person to successfully walk the CNA path. Unfortunately, there are several myths about the profession that a potential CNA should be aware of. This article will seek to debunk five of the most commonly held myths. But first, let’s learn more about what a CNA is and what is involved in becoming one.