State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA)
STNAs provide direct nursing care to residents in long-term care — typically in Ohio under state licensure — handling personal care, vitals, and the hands-on work.
What it's like to be a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA)
A typical day involves rotating between residents for vitals, personal care, and assistance with daily living. Long-term care has a different rhythm than hospital work — slower, more relationship-driven.
Collaboration involves nurses, residents, families, activities staff, and others. What's harder than expected is the emotional weight — long-term residents become familiar over time, and end-of-life moments hit harder.
Those who thrive tend to be patient, warm, and able to find meaning in routine care. If you find satisfaction in being a steady presence in residents' lives, the role often feels deeply meaningful.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
How this category is changing
Skills & Requirements
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