Receiving a CNA certification in North Carolina is necessary to be able to work as a nurse assistant in that state. There are a lot of opportunities for those who would like to pursue a health career in this state as there is a growing demand for health care workers who are able to provide personal assistance for the daily routine activities of patients. The number of older people has definitely increased through the years and has resulted in a larger demand for nursing assistants across the United States. For this reason getting your certificate is an excellent way to start out in the health care field while gaining the experience that will enable you to advance in the future.
The state requires a state-approved training program for those who would like to apply as nurse aides. Training is also required if one has already tried three times to take the state exam and have repeatedly failed in all tests. The training takes about 75 hours which require both classroom attendance as well as practical training in a nursing facility. The scope of the subjects include basic care, mental health, grooming and personal care of patients, resident’s rights and independence, emergency procedures and communication skills with patients. Those who are able to finish the course will be allowed to work for 4 months even if they have not yet been certified or have passed the competency test. One can look for valid trainings for nurse aides in nursing homes, home care facilities, hospitals and private institutions.
The North Carolina Health Care Personnel Registry is the one who keeps the record of those who have passed the eligibility exam for nurse aides. It is through them that can be able to apply as a nurse aide in a certain facility or private institution. The state of North Carolina does not accept applications for reciprocity. If you would like to work as a nurse aide on this state, you will have to undergo their training and take the competency exam. Retraining is required for nurse aides who have not worked for at least 8 hours for pay in the past 24 months since the release of their license.
After completing the training, applicants can now apply to take the state exam. The test is conducted by Pearson Vue. You would need to request for a schedule to take the exam through their online application form. After this, you would be required to submit the necessary documents such as a copy of your certificate of completion of training, fingerprint cards, photo ID, passport size photos, as well as the corresponding examination fees.
The test is composed of two types of exams: the practical demonstration of skills and the written type of exam. The results of the exam shall be known within 2 to 4 business days from the date of the test. You will also be entered at the state’s registry on that same time period if you are able to pass the test.
The license is renewed every 24 months and the date of the expiration is the date when you passed the exam. The state requires that you should have at least worked for pay for about 8 hours under the supervision of a registered nurse or other qualified health personnel. The renewal forms are sent out by the registry about 3 months before the date of your license’s expiration. It will be the nurse aide’s responsibility to renew his or her license when the expiration date comes. There is no charge for the renewal of the license.
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The work done by a nursing aide II is still determined by the tasks or procedures that are delegated by registered nurses. Before a nurse delegates a task, he must consider a set of criteria whether or not the task can be delegated to a nursing aide. The nurse must consider the following:
According to OBRA ’87, you must be certified and be on a Nurse Aide Registry to work as a nursing aide. The certification process in the state of North Carolina begins with you establishing eligibility to take the competency exam. You can establish this by completing a state-approved CNA training course; graduating from a nursing education school; complete a refresher course; get the appropriate training from a different state. The advantage of completing a training course in North Carolina is that you will be allowed to work as a nursing aide for up to 4 months, even without your certificate yet.
To become a nursing assistant, you will be required to undertake a state-approved training course which lasts for 75 hours. You will be trained in a variety of topics and skills ranging from how to properly assist patients with their daily activities to infection control, to doing emergency procedures when needed. Since nursing assistants mainly work under the supervision of registered nurses, the tasks that they do will depend on what tasks are delegated to them by the nurses and other healthcare professionals.
To become a nursing aide I, you must first complete a state-certified nursing aide I training course and pass its competency training. If you have a nursing license, you can directly apply to get into the registry and start to work as one, provided that you do not have any record of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of a patient’s property.
The competency exams consist of a written/oral exam and a skills evaluation on the basic nursing skills that were taught during the training. The results of the exams are released within a few minutes after you take the tests. If there are some technical difficulties, your results will be mailed to you within 5 to 7 business days. If the nurse aide candidate passes all the tests, his name will automatically entered into the Nurse Aide I Registry.
To work as a CNA, one must have a nurse aide certificate and be listed on the Nurse Aide I Registry. Since the state does not accept endorsements, the only way to get into the NAR is to challenge and pass the competency exam. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has contracted Pearson VUE to help in the competency exam. The exam consists of a written/oral exam and a skills evaluation.
For example, you can train to be a CMA. A certified medication aide/assistant is a nursing assistant who is trained to administer selected medications to the patients, while still under the supervision of the registered nurses.
According to the law, all those who want to work as a nursing aide in a certain nursing facility or a private institution must be on the state’s Health Care Personnel Registry, specifically the NAR. The Nurse Aide Registry keeps the records of individuals who have passed the NNAAP exam and are eligible to work as nursing aides.
The exams consist of a written and a clinical skills evaluation of the basic nursing skills that are taught to nurse aide I candidates. The written examinations can also be replaced with an oral exam which is offered in English and Spanish. If you wish to have the oral exam, you must indicate the request when you apply to take the tests. After each portion of the tests, the score reports are received approximately 10 minutes after the nursing aide evaluator faxes the tests for scoring. There are some occasions where the results may not be released on the same day due to technical difficulties. If so, the results will be mailed to you within a week form the exam date.
The first one is for those individuals who had never received any proper training as healthcare personnel. Before they should take the competency test, are required to complete a state-approved 75-hour training course. These courses consist of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. There are also training courses that are available for high school students.
During the day of your exams, you must arrive at least 30 minutes before the actual scheduled time. Late arrivals will no longer be allowed to enter the testing area and will not be allowed to take the exams. For those individuals who were not able to take the exams because of tardiness, they will not be given a refund.
The competency exam is only available to those who received the proper training. This can be from a nursing assistant training program that is approved by the state of North Carolina; a training program from a different state that still meets the requirements of OBRA ’87; or a nursing education program. Certified nursing assistants from other states who want to work in N.C. are also required to take the competency exam, but are not required to undergo any additional training.
For the first part of the exam, you will be allowed to choose between taking a written or oral exam. The written exam is available in either English or Spanish, and was made to help those with problems with written English. If you want to take the oral exam, you must request for one when you submit your application. Any request for special disability considerations must also be submitted during this time. For both tests, you will be given a total of 2 hours to answer all the questions. All of the items will be multiple-choice, including the second portion of the oral exam which will test your knowledge of common English words used by nursing aides in the care facilities.
There are two general ways to gain entry into the Nurse Aide I Registry; one is to challenge and pass the competency examinations, while the other is to directly apply for the Registry. The only ones who are allowed to directly apply for the Registry are N.C. RNs and LPNs. Unlike many states, N.C. does not offer reciprocity. Nursing aides looking for work in a N.C. nursing home must first pass the state’s competency exam.
The only way to get into the N.C. NAR is to take on the NNAAP exam. Before one can challenge the exam, the state will require every candidate to establish eligibility. One of the best ways to do so is to complete a N. C. -certified CNA course. The training takes a minimum of 75 hours which will require you to attend both classroom lectures and do practical training in an actual clinical facility, and pass the final exam.
Although the tasks that a nursing assistant will do are determined by what the registered nurses delegate, a Nurse Aide I does have its restriction as to what nursing assistant tasks he can do. The main categories that a Nurse Aide I is able to do include:
In order to be listed on the registry, you must be able to pass the state’s competency testing, which consists of two parts. These parts may either be the written and skills exam or the oral and skills exam, depending on whether you request to take an oral exam instead of a written one during your application. These exams must only be taken at approved testing sites, which should also be indicated by applying.
1. Pass the 75-hour training course or a comparable training program and pass the competency exam. Since there are no age requirements to become a nursing aide, there are also training programs that are offered in high schools.
If you wish to increase the scope of your work as a nursing assistant, you can train to become a CMA or a certified medication aide. CMAs are nursing assistants who are trained to give selected medications to patients, while still under the supervision of the nurses and the medical staff.
To be a medication aide you must first be listed on the Nurse Aide I Registry with a valid certification and possess an unencumbered record. Individuals who have records of patient abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of patient property are not allowed to proceed and become a CMA.
In order to be eligible to take the exam, you will need to enroll and complete a state-approved training program, which lasts 75 hours of training. You can find these trainings being offered by nursing homes, hospitals, colleges, and private training facilities. Through the Health Occupations Education program, training programs are also offered in high schools; and since there is no age requirement to become a nursing aide, high school students can also enroll in the program if they want to start a career as a nursing aide.
The NNAAP examinations consist of two parts, which are given on the same date at approved testing sites only. These sites may either be a regional testing site or a training class that was approved to conduct in-facility training.
To work as one, all you need is to get certified. Since the state does not offer reciprocity to other states, this means that you will have to challenge and pass the competency test. There are several different ways to become eligible to apply for the test. For example, you can either complete a state-approved nurse aide training course in North Carolina or another state. Those who completed a refresher course may also apply for the exams. If you are a nursing graduate or student of a nursing educational program, you can apply for the exam without the need for additional training.
Your training will compromise practical duties and theoretical session in the classroom. While in the program, you will learn different nursing skills and knowledge needed to properly take care of the patients. Among the common topics that are required to be discussed include basic care, infection control, body mechanics, nutrition, patients’ rights and independence, how to assist in their activities of daily living, communication techniques, and safety and emergency procedures. To complete your training, you must meet the required 75 hours of training and pass the program’s final exam.
The exams consist of a 70 item multiple-choice written exam and a skills evaluation of 5 randomly selected nursing skills. Those who have trouble in written English may take an oral exam, which is offered in both English and Spanish. These exams may only be taking at approved testing sites. This may be a regional testing site or a training program that was approved to conduct in-facility testing.
The exam consists of a written/oral portion and a skills evaluation test. To get into the NAR, you must pass all the tests. Once you do, your name will automatically be entered into the registry. Your record in the Registry will not only contain your name and license number, but other personal information. It will be your responsibility to keep your record in the registry updated. If your record in the registry is out of date, it may result in a delay in your renewal notice. You can update your profile by:
If you want to become one, you will have to meet both the federal and state’s training and testing requirements. The first step to become a nurse aide is by enrolling in a state-certified training course. These courses will give you the education and training you need to function properly as a nurse aide. Since this profession is very in demand, you it is offered in different training institutions including high schools.
Before you can work as a nursing aide, it is important that you know how to function as one. Your best option is to train and complete a N. C. -approved training program. These programs will teach you a wide array of concepts such as patient care, infection control, safety, emergency care, communication skills, patients’ rights and independence, and many more. Approved programs are required by the state to offer a minimum of 75 hours of training. These hours will comprise of theories and practical training.
Approved courses are required by the state to offer 75 hours of training. These hours are divided into theories and clinical practice. During that time, you will be supervised by a nurse aide instructor which is a registered nurse that is qualified to supervise and train nursing aide students. As a student, you will learn basic concepts like personal care, elimination, nutrition, body mechanics, communication skills, infection control, safety, emergency protocols, and many more.
The certification process in North Carolina begins by being eligible to take the NNAAP exam. You can be eligible to take the exam if:
The second choice is for nursing graduates, nursing students, and nursing aides from other states who want to immediately take the evaluation exams. Although not necessary for them, it is highly recommended that they complete a N.C. approved training program before taking the exam to help them prepare.
Financial aspects of training can be a problem for some students to complete the certification process. However, there are several institutions that offer no costs of their training. For example, the American Red Cross Association is an institution that offers free training, and is located all over the state. For those who are not able to enroll in the Red Cross and are enrolled in community colleges, you will not have to worry about the quality of training that you received.
According to federal and state laws, all individuals who want to work in North Carolina must be registered in the Nurse Aide I Registry. This list includes nurses, LPNs, medication aides, and nurse aides II. Since N.C. is a challenge state, the only way to get into the Registry is by passing the competency exams. Individuals who are allowed to apply for the exam are those who were able to:
By completing a state approved program, not only will you be allowed to apply for the NNAAP exams but you will also be allowed to work in a nursing home as a nursing aide up to 4 months from completing your training. Since the maximum allotted time to take and pass the test is 2 years, many nursing aide candidates temporarily work while they wait for their scheduled exam date.
One of the ways to get into the registry is by passing the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program exam or the NNAAP examination. The state’s Department of Health and Human Services has contracted with Pearson VUE to assist in the conducting and scoring of the exams. Before you can take the exam, you must first gain eligibility through either one of the different routes:
North Carolina is a “challenge” state for nursing aides that come from other states. This means that for them to get on the N.C. NAR I is by passing the competency exam. The state’s Department of Health and Human Service has contracted Pearson VUE to help conduct, score, and release the results of the exam. If have any problems regarding the competency exam, you may call a customer service representative at (888) 204-6207. You can also go to their official website to download a copy of the Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook.
The first step to becoming a nursing aide is to enroll in a state-approved nursing aide I training course. You will be spending a minimum of 75 hours in lectures and on-the-job training. These programs are offered by different institutions such as colleges, health care facilities, and even private companies. There are other ways of gaining eligibility to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program exam, but the advantage of completing a N.C. nursing aide I training program is that you will be allowed to work for 4 months as a nursing aide while waiting for you exam date.
One of the general ways to gain entry into the Registry is by passing the license exams that are conducted by Pearson VUE. Their main office is located at:
The competency exam or the NNAAP examination consists of two parts. The first part is the knowledge test which may be taken in the written test or the oral exam. The oral exam may be taken in either English or Spanish. All of the items will be multiple-choice questions. You will be given a total of 2 hours to answer all the questions. To get an oral exam, you must notify Pearson VUE when you apply. If you are wondering if you are capable of taking the written exam, you can try the self-assessment reading test which is provided in the Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook. You can download a copy by going to www.pearsonvue.com.
There are two parts of the exams which you must be able to pass both of them for you name to be entered on the Registry. The first portion of the exam is the written exam, which has a total of 70 multiple-choice questions. You will be given a maximum of 2 hours to answer all of the questions. A warning will be made by the nurse aide evaluator if there is only 15 minutes remaining.
Certified medication assistants or CMAs are nursing aides who are trained in the basic concepts of medication administration and are allowed to give certain medications to the patients. CMAs still work under the supervision of the nurses. Examples of medications that a worker in this profession can give includes oral medications, topical creams, ointments, nasal sprays, inhalers, patches, and ear medication.
To ensure that the nursing assistant candidates are competent to handle patients, the NNAAP examinations were developed. The exams consist of a written/oral exam and a clinical skills evaluation, which the candidate must pass in order to gain entry into the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry. Only those individuals who were able to meet the OBRA requirements are entered into the Registry and are allowed to work in a nursing facility as a nursing assistant.
The scope of work that a nursing assistant can do is fairly limited. They are only allowed to perform procedures to the patients that are delegated by registered nurses. Before a nurse delegates a task, he must consider:
One way of gaining entry into the Registry is to pass the NNAAP examinations, which are conducted by Pearson VUE. Since the state does not offer reciprocity, the only individuals who are able to gain entry into the Registry immediately are registered nurses and licensed practical nurses that came from North Carolina. All other applicants will need to pass the exams first.
The NNAAP examination was developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc. in order to test the competency of every aspiring nursing aide in terms of both knowledge and skill. To get into the Nurse Aide I Registry, you will have to pass both the written/oral test and the skills evaluation. You must pass your exam within two years from completing your training or within 3 attempts. If you fail after the third attempt, you will be required to recomplete a state-approved training program.
All nursing assistants who work in a nursing home must be registered on the Nurse Aide I Registry. The only ones who are allowed to entered or apply for the Registry directly without undertaking the competency exams are registered nurses and license practical nurses, since they are also required to be on the Registry if they wish to work in a nursing home. When they apply, they will have to use this form: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/hcpr/pdf/RNRegistry2.pdf.
The competency examination is only available to those who received the proper education and training. The best way to establish eligibility is by completing a state-approved training program since you will be allowed to work as a nursing assistant for a maximum of 4 months. Other ways of gaining eligibility is by:
As of December 2012, Person VUE launched their online scheduling system. The new system has created several changes when it comes to the application process for the license exams. The following changes to the application process can be found on the list below:
Examples of health care centers that you can find in the area include Sixth Avenue Psychiatric Rehabilitation Partners, Apple Valley Clinic, Family Preservation Services of Nc Inc., Parkway Behavioral Health, Western Carolina Urological Associates PA, Pardee Hospital, Kiefer Family Chiropractic Care, The Pain Center of Hendersonville, Henderson County Free Medical Clinic Inc., Families First of Nc LLC, and Blue Ridge Community Health Services Inc. photo attribution: