You can find listed on this page the certified nursing assistant training courses that are open for enrollment in Decatur, Alabama. By speaking with a school representative you can learn the current enrollment requirements, class schedules, and steps to receive certification.
Calhoun Community College – Nursing Department
P.O. Box 2216,
Decatur, AL 35609
(256) 306-2794
Website: www.calhoun.edu/Health/ADN.htm
The field of health care has always been a stable and growing industry. As the number of elderly in the population increases, so do the jobs and job opportunities. You can train to become a nursing assistant in Decatur, AL if you wish to enter the field without spending that much time and effort.
What is a Nursing Assistant?
Those in this profession must have received proper training and completed the state competency exam. Nursing assistants are entry-level professionals who work under the direct supervision of registered nurses. They assist in providing nursing and related care to patients who are in various medical facilities and health care settings.
How do you become one?
First of all, you need to enroll in a CNA course, that’s approved by the Alabama Department of Health. This will ensure that you will receive proper education and training, as well as become qualified to apply for the competency exam. Approved courses will help you prepare for the various situations that you might encounter once you become a full-time nursing assistant.
CNA training always consists of theory and hands-on practical training. All programs in the state are required to offer no less than 120 hours of instructions to their students. It can take you about 3 to 4 months to complete your training depending on the course you choose. As a student, you will learn important concepts and skills such as infection control, medical terminologies, basic nursing skills, personal care, roles and responsibilities, patients’ rights and independence, communication skills, and many more.
After completing your training you will be allowed to apply for the competency exam. If your instructor does not provide you with the application forms, you may visit www.pearsonvue.com and download, and print a copy from there. When completing the application forms, you need to make sure that everything is complete and accurate. If you have trouble completing the application or have any questions, please call (877) 899-0939 to talk to a NACES Customer Service Representative.
All application requirements must be sent in one envelope to:
NACES Plus Foundation, Inc.
Alabama NNAAP
8501 North Mopac Expressway, Suite 400
Austin, Texas 78759
The nursing assistant competency exams are divided into two parts, which consist of a multiple-choice written exam and a manual skills demonstration. Candidates will have 2 hours to answer all the questions on the written test and 25 minutes to perform 5 randomly selected nursing procedures in front of an evaluator. Candidates must pass both tests within 24 months after completing their training to get into the state’s Nurse Aide Registry.
Once your name is on the registry, you will be allowed to work as a certified nursing assistant for a maximum of 24 months. If you wish to continue working as one, the following conditions must be met:
1. You must work for monetary compensation.
2. Work as a certified nursing assistant, performing direct patient care.
3. During your work, you must be under the supervision of a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse.
4. You must work for at least 8 hours every 24 months in a nursing home, hospital, home health agency, or mental health facility.
Ways to meet the requirements of a CNA
If you haven’t thought where you want to train and become a nursing assistant, then we suggest the city of Decatur. This city is located in both Morgan and Limestone counties. It is the largest city and currently the county seat of Morgan Country. It has a total area of 64.9 square miles and a total population of over 55,996 people, as of the census of 2012.
Two of its biggest employers are the Decatur General Hospital and the Parkway Medical Center.
There are two of the best places where you can comply with the requirements and maintain your status as a certified nursing assistant. If you wish to work elsewhere, there are also several nursing homes, that you can find within the city limits, such as the AseraCare Hospice; the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes; the Robin’s Nest Homes; and the River City Care & Rehab Centers. photo attribution: ufv
These programs are required by the state to offer their students a minimum of 85 hours of training with a minimum of 24 hours of clinical rotations. The training curriculum will be composed of classroom lectures, laboratory skills training, and clinical rotations. A student will not be allowed to proceed into the clinical rotations if he/she does not get a 100% rating in the labs. During your instruction you will learn primary health care skills and how to perform tasks such as: First Aid, CPR, Heimlich Maneuver, range of motion exercises, catheter care, infection control, transporting residents, measuring vital signs, safety measures, nourishment, and recording vitals (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration).
Once you are able to take the examinations, you must pass both its parts to get your license. If you fail, you are allowed to retake it three times before you will be required to undergo retraining. If you need help finding a testing location you can contact (NACES), the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Services by calling 1-800-444-5178 or at (512) 467-0615. After you complete your exams you will receive your certification in about four to six weeks. In addition you will be listed in the registry and given active status for a period of 24 months.
There are two parts of the NNAAP since it was designed to test both skill and knowledge. The first part is the written exams. For those who are not that good in reading English, they may request to have an oral exam instead. The majority of the questions will be multiple-choice, with the exception of the reading comprehension phase for the oral exam.
If you have enrolled in a nursing program like LPN you can also apply for the license exams if you have completed or gained enough credits in nursing studies. If you received your training from a different state then your training must first be approved by the board before you area allowed to apply for the exams. The license exams for this state are handled by the Ivy Tech Community College. This is where you should submit your applications along with the necessary documents and payment for the testing fees. Their exams are composed of a written and a skills demonstration exam. You are required to pass all the test to get your name entered in the state’s registry. Your training facility can help you schedule a date to take the certification exams or you can call to schedule an appointment yourself by calling Ivy Tech Community College at 317-917-5948.
As a nursing assistant student, you will be spending your hours in both lectures and skills training. In order to complete a program, you must have a total of 40 hours of clinical training. You will be taught different nursing concepts that you will use to take care of the residents/patients. After you complete your training, you will then be tested in the state’s competency exams. These exams are composed to two parts, a written and a skills exam. If you pass all the tests, your name will be entered in the state’s online registry for nurse aides. Only nursing assistant whose name is in the registry will be allowed to apply for work. If you come from another state or country, you can apply for reciprocity and submit the needed documents.You can call the registry to get additional help at 217-785-5133.