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How Long Does It Take to Become a CNA

Certified nursing assistants or CNA’s are healthcare professionals that provide assistance to the patients with regards to healthcare needs. They do their job under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. These professionals are otherwise regarded as the nursing assistant, patient care assistant, or the state tested nurse aide. Since considerable training is required to enter the medical field a common questions asked is, “how long does it take to become a CNA?”.

It is vital to have a high school diploma or GED in order to proceed with the CNA program. Prior to taking the program, check if there are pre-requisites needed before enrollment like taking training courses of First Aid, CPR, Medical Terminology Class, or other courses. The duration of time in becoming a CNA will take about six to twelve weeks and up to six months.

nursing-assistant-with-elderly-womanThe initial requirement is the completion of the state-approved training course. It is also important that the individual will be able to pass the state certification exam. The usual training classes for CNA is approximately three to twelve weeks which is a standard 3-credit course and this will already cover the topics regarding what the certified nursing assistant will be performing. The long-duration programs like the ones lasting up to six months have the provision for more in-depth education however these does not really offer extra advantages compared to the short-duration programs.

Varying according to state, the classes must be having a minimum of seventy-five hours and up to a hundred and eighty hours of training. It is essential that you check with the state as to how many hours will be required for the program. The training hours are divided according to different areas including lecture and clinical or laboratory training.

Upon completion of the CNA training, it is essential to complete the state’s certification exam. It consists of both the lecture and clinical part of the training that you have already learned. With the lecture part, you will be taking a multiple choice exam containing about 55-70 questions. For the clinical part, a registered nurse will be supervising you as you will perform three to five skills tasked to you in order to show competency.

Following the completion and passing the state exam, you will already obtain the certification which you can use in applying for job in various workplaces.

The responsibilities of the certified nursing assistants include the following:

– giving assistance with ADL’s such as dressing, bathing, and feeding
– doing turning and repositioning of patients specifically those who are bedridden
– helping in the implementation of medical procedures
– cleaning the rooms including changing the bed linens
– dressing the wounds
– documenting the health issues of the patients and reporting them to the nurses

To get the certificate of being a nursing assistant is one among the fastest means of obtaining a rewarding job in the field of healthcare employment. The possibilities as well as opportunities are growing that is why there are necessary requirements that you need to consider in order to become a certified nursing assistant.

The classes for the certified nursing assistant can be accessed in different places such as vocational schools, community colleges, nursing homes, technical colleges, hospitals, and any other institution offering the CNA training that is approved by the state.

 

Red Cross Nursing Assistant Training

Nursing assistant training by the Red Cross can be your ticket to entering the medical field with only a few months and even weeks of theoretical and hands on experience.  Most students who think about taking the best possible and most reliable training program for CNAs should definitely check the training courses offered by the Red Cross.  Being trained under the most trusted and one of the oldest institutions in the US is definitely an advantage.  Aside from that, you also get the chance to take the certification exams where you have taken your training.

The certification training which is provided lasts from a few weeks to a few months depending on the schedule and the branch where you enroll. The least amount of time that you could spend would be for four weeks which will include classroom instructions as well as practical and hands on training at a medical facility which could be the Red Cross facility itself. They also have special classrooms where students can practice what they have learned immediately after the classroom instructions.  These rooms contain modern equipments which are similar to those which the student would also use when they become employed in medical facilities.

The faculty in these trainings include the best and the most well-experienced medical professionals in their field.  This is the reason why students who graduate from a Red Cross facility are one of the most capable nursing assistants who becomes employed.  You will enjoy learning from the personal experiences of your instructors and you will also get the answers to any questions that you may have with regards to the type of work that you will be having.  Most of the time, you will get some unique insights as to the overall outlook of your job by asking your instructors directly.

To enroll in their CNA training, you will need to attend one of their mandatory orientations first.  You will need to sign-up for this before you can enroll to their program.  You will also take a series of tests such as a reading test, a physical exam – which will require you to move and lift weights in order to determine if you are capable of doing the tasks that most nurse aides do – and you will also need to pass a criminal background check which will be conducted by the FBI.  This is to ensure that you do not have any disqualifying convictions when the time comes for you to apply.

The training fee usually costs about $1,000 or more depending on the facility which will be conducting the training.  If you are financially incapacitated to provide this amount, you may apply for grants and other forms of financial aid which are available through nursing organizations and state programs. You will need to be at least 16 years of age when you take the certification exam after finishing the training program. You can check the available schedules of training by visiting the nearest Red Cross facility in your area.

 

How to Be a Nursing Assistant

Do you want to find out how to become a certified nursing assistant? Since becoming a nursing assistant is a prerequisite in becoming a registered nurse it is a necessary part of your medical career training. Before you can take the exam, you first need to become certified by taking a training program in your local college or health care facility and pass the state exams.

With this certification, you will have the training necessary to be a nurses aide and build valuable experience that will help you advance later on. Here are some ways on how you can be a nursing assistant.

Getting Started

Before you can try to become a nursing assistant, you need to satisfy some prerequisites. First, you will need a high school diploma. You certainly need to be finished with high school if you want to enter a CNA course. If you are still in high school, then taking some extra courses that is related to science like chemistry and biology are helpful. These courses will be to your benefit once you applied to be a registered nurse. Then, you will also need a drug test and a criminal background check. This is needed so that they can be sure that you do not have any serious cases before you become a nursing assistant.

Finding the Passion

Also, a nursing assistant needs a passion for the job. A health care workers primary goal is to help people. This industry requires someone who authentically cares about the welfare of other people. You will encounter different problems and you can only overcome these with compassion. Being passionate will help you battle your everyday responsibilities. It will also help if you have a mature personality. You need to take your focus off yourself and more on the patient. If you cannot do that, then you may experience some difficulty with this job.

It is About Communication

Third, you will need some good communication skills. As a nursing assistant or a registered nurse, you will usually engage with your patients. These workers need more interpersonal skills as they play a vital part in connecting the patient with the nurse or doctor. It is important to care about other people and work with them rather than seek to be alone and divide. This career is all about teamwork so it needs a team player who can do that.

How to be a Certified Nursing Assistant

After reviewing if you really have what it takes to be a nursing assistant, you may have decided that you wanted to be trained to be one. You can do this by entering an approved training program.

For these programs, you may need to consult your state. Each state has a different set of standards and requirements. This is because each state has a different environment so the training is created to fit that. The real training happens in the hands-on experience that you get from the program. This is the reason why it is absolutely necessary to engage in a nursing assistant training program before you try to get tested.

Nursing Assistant Training

You can also be a CNA if you are going to engage in some training in a hospital or healthcare facility. They will usually supply you with a contract where you have to work for them for a certain period of time in exchange for learning and experience. This means that you will not get paid for your job. That is a given. Just be sure to read through your contract because some health facilities will require you to work for years. Just agree if you are comfortable with the idea. If that is not a good idea for you, you can try searching for some training programs in some popular colleges or health-related organizations.

Nursing assistant courses usually last for around a month and 2 weeks while some extensive courses can last up to nine months. Once you have taken this course, you will find that you will learn different types of skills. There is some on-site training where you get to learn at a health facility. However, for the training to be valid, it has to be accredited. Be sure to check if your training program has been registered on the National League for Nursing Accredited Commission. This will ensure that your time and money will not go to waste. Do not make a mistake and fall for programs that you can not use for your certification. These programs are a waste of time. The Red Cross nursing assistant training programs are widely accepted, however always make sure a course is licensed and approved before signing-up.

There are some schools that offer online nurse aide training. However, it is important that you ensure their instruction is approved by the state you are in. Some states accept online classes as long as only a portion is held online. If if an online course is accepted, skills instruction and practice will still need to be performed in a school offline. If you are still in high school you should look in to high school nursing assistant training that may be offered in your area through Post Secondary Enrollment Options Funding.

Once you have finished your training program, you will then be given some time to be a certified nursing assistant at your state. Certification is a must if you are really serious in your nursing career. Some places may allow you to work without certification but your pay will be significantly lower. You will see how a simple certification can take you a long way. While it is hard to take the exams, it has a huge payback. After that, you will be able to take higher positions which also translate to a higher paycheck.

Nursing Assistant Testing

But when it comes to nursing assistant testing, there are some rules that you need to satisfy. This will vary depending on your state. It is this way because training is dependent on the environment where you will work in. You can contact your local State Licensing board if you want to learn more about your requirements. This will vary depending on location. You may need to ask them about it. And if you are planning to relocate for your profession, you may need to check the requirements in other states so you can be sure that you can meet them.

So as you can see, it is really easy to be a nursing assistant. You may need to do this so you can advance in your nursing career or you can do it simply because you care about other people. Being a nurse is a fulfilling job. You get to talk to people everyday and authentically help them with their lives. The first step is to be a nursing assistant and experience how nurses really help their patients. From here, you will learn some skills so that you will know what to do when you are the one doing the job. This job is not about just getting things done. It is about helping other people.

Nursing Assistant Classes Online

CNA classes online provide a way for those who would like to earn a certificate as a nursing assistant without having to attend a traditional training program in a certain facility or school.  It is an ideal setup especially for those who have current jobs or employment at the moment and cannot afford to lose it for the sake of earning a certification.  Hence, by taking nursing assistant classes online, one can earn an education without having to sacrifice their precious time and source of financial income.

Because the various states in the US do not have the same standards or requirements in order to become a certified nurse aide, one should be careful about taking online nursing assistant classes.  In many cases the particular state that you are in may not accept applicants who have finished their nurse aide training online.  So you should know first what the state’s requirements are for the state nurse aide certification registry before enrolling yourself in an online training class.  This is due to the fact that some online classes do not offer the required practical hands-on training that is necessary in order to complete CNA training in most U.S states. Always take precautions before enrolling in a program, due to the fact that many states require schools to be pre-approved to meet specific state and federal standards. You can read more about each specific states nursing assistant certification requirements here.

If you are looking forward to work in a state which allows students of online nursing assistant classes to take the state certification exams, then you need to start looking for the best CNA online class.  Since there are plenty that are available when you search online, you should set-up standards as to what schools are accepted and accredited by the United States government.  A lot of such schools often come from outside the territory of the US and have a different standard or accreditation than those which are used here. Aside from that, you should also choose an online class which provides for a certification for your practical training.  They should have partnerships with local facilities or hospitals where you can spend the hands-on training to get the experience necessary for the job.

Most online nursing assistant classes offer the same subjects and courses that are given in actual vocational school, nursing home courses, and college training programs.  Such courses include: basic patient care, laboratory procedures, basic records keeping, human anatomy and physiology, communication skills, medical terminology, and the duties and responsibilities of a health care provider.  One of the major advantages of taking nurse aide classes online is that you get to study and learn such courses at your own pace.  The course study guide will often be sent to you in an e-mail or is posted at a website.  You will be able to study at your free time as well finish them at your own pace.  This way you can spend your time the way you want it to be unlike when you need to attend an actual class.

You will be able to contact your personal instructor if you need some clarification or further explanation or instructions with a particular subject. Aside from this, the cost of the class is often cheaper than those from training facilities.  You may however, need to contact a nursing facility or other medical institutions in order for you to comply with the required practical training for nurse aides.

Tips Before Enrolling in an Online CNA Training Program

1. Search for accredited online nursing assistant programs that provide the proper curriculum and hourly training to meet state and federal standards. The current federal government regulations require all nurse aide schools to provide at least 75 hours of course training and 16 hours of clinical hands-on experience. Do be aware that all U.S states require students to be at least 16 years old and some have an age requirement of above 18 years old.

2. Make sure the state you are in accepts online programs including the one you are interested in by contacting the state’s department of health, state licensing board, or Nurse Aide Registry. Popular states such as California allow a portion of the training requirement be conducted through a internet instruction. However, there still needs to be a physical skills portion conducted in an offline school location. Not all states allow online training and each state has different requirements and regulations. So it’s important that you not skip this step.

3. Before enrolling in a program many will require you to have a physical exam, and perform a state and federal background check. In addition they will want you to submit identifying documents such as a government issues photo I.D as well as immunization records. Often the cost of these exams and screenings are to be paid by the student. Often those who wish to be trained as a nursing assistant can find many employers that will pay for training and even offer them a job on successful completion of their certification. Before paying to enroll in a school program you may want to check with your local nursing homes and health care centers to see if they offer a nurse aide internship program with free classes.

4. When enrolling in a program you will want to make sure you have all of the details to complete both your classroom instruction and your clinical practice. Most accredited online CNA schools offer a location to visit to complete the clinical work obligations. This will often be checking in with an instructor or registered nurse who is coordinating the class.

5. Once you have completed the program you will want to schedule a date to take the certification exams. State testing costs are not frequently included in the cost of school tuition and will be an extra expense. The exams will often be a two part test that includes a written exam and a manual demonstration exam. Normally the school you used to receive your online CNA training will point you toward taking your exams. You can also contact your states nurse aide registry to find the latest information about certification requirements.

 

CNA Classes for High School Students

It has become a trend for savvy students to attend advanced college classes while still in high school. This is very common among students who achieve high markings in class and are eligible candidates for Post Secondary Enrollment Options or PSEO funding by their high schools. Since the boom of the healthcare business, a lot of high school students under the PSEO program aspire to invest their knowledge and time in medical courses.

One of which is in the field of nursing, in particular as a certified nurse assistant, where a promising and profitable future job awaits in the future. A certified nurse assistant (CNA) high-school-teen-nurse-assistantcan land in a wide array of work opportunities like in hospitals, health centers, hospice and assisted living centers. That is why it is of great importance to understand the step-by-step procedure on how to acquire a CNA certification through PSEO.

PSEO is a program offered and funded by a state to qualified high school and home school juniors and seniors. This program gives them an opportunity to enroll and attend courses that are classified under the college level standards. One benefit of this is that the tuition and book fees are covered by the PSEO program. Admission requirement for this program requires seniors and juniors to be included in the upper-one-third and one-half of the class rankings, respectively. In addition, sophomores are also allowed to apply for PSEO funding given they already have eight grade MCAs.

Planning is crucial if one is indeed eagerly decided to attend a CNA course under the PSEO. One thing, the student’s decision to participate is the most significant factor. Beforehand, it must be supported by an approval made by the student’s parents and with due consultation done by the high school counselor. The high school counselor will be the one to evaluate the student if he/she is indeed eligible for the program and assess if it will be of any help in the student’s future endeavors. If one qualifies, an application for admission to the state registry must be accomplished. It is also important to plan with the high school counselor about the class schedules if one successfully gets into a certified nurse aide course.

Initially, the student enrolls for the CNA course in the preferred vocational school or community college. Certain laws require students to pass a background check and drug testing before enrollment. Upon entry, it is important to complete the entire CNA course. One advantage of the PSEO is that the earned credits of schooling can be used to fulfill the requirements for high school graduation and eventually pursue a college degree later on. A number of schools offer CNA programs that run for a few weeks or months at the most. Some courses add extra curricula to the normal 75 clock hours which are useful credits after graduation. After completion of the program, an exam is given in order to receive certification. Some states require license for nursing assistants before employment.

A high school student who is granted a break to study under this program is considered highly fortunate. PSEO funding is a great chance for a high school student to study extensively and get a hold of a CNA certificate without the worry of spending for college fees. Another thing is that it might open doors to a further medical degree in college or even leads to a fulfilling nursing career someday.