To become a certified nursing assistant in Idaho, one would have to know first what he or she needs to have before he can get a CNA certification in Idaho. A lot of healthcare facilities are hiring nurse aides in order to cope with the demand for personal healthcare services in this state. For those who want to be in a medical field without having to pay much for their education or training, this would be a good idea to start a career in healthcare. With minimal fees for the training program, one can get a taste of what it is like to work at a nursing facility.
The first step that should be undertaken would be to undergo a training program in a state approved institution. The training must possess at least 80 hours of classroom teaching as well as 40 hours of clinical practice before one can proceed with the nurse aide exam. The training would take about 2 to 6 months for those who would like to enter the program. Some of the indicated schools which provide such trainings are Idaho State University, College of Western Idaho, North Idaho College, and Eastern Idaho Technical College to name a few. These schools are all accredited and provide the necessary training requirements for nurse aide programs.
Those who are also taking nursing courses can apply for nurse aide examinations. They only need to complete one semester which would cover the nursing fundamentals and the required training hours. It is important to be able to complete the required course work for the basics of nursing before one can apply for certification. No other subject or course would be allowed for the certification. He or she has to submit the necessary transcript of records which would show completion of nursing basics. After this, one can apply for an “Approval to Test” letter which will allow him or her to take the exam.
The certification exam is composed of an oral or written exam as well as a practical examination of learned nursing aide skills. The state requires the submission of documents such as fingerprint cards, a valid ID, passport sized photos, a negative result for TB test, and proof of immunizations. He or she would also have to pass the state and federal criminal background check before his certification can be issued. If he or she has been convicted of a disqualifying crime or felony, it would affect his chances of becoming a CNA.
Once one passes the exam and the required background check, his or her name would be entered in the Idaho Certified Nurse Aide Registry. He will also be given a certification as well as a card to identify him as a verified nurse aide. Those who already possess a certification from another state and are currently on that state’s registry can be allowed to apply for reciprocity. Provided he has a good background and is not involved in any abuse or neglect of a resident and has not committed any disqualifying offense. The license would have to be renewed every 2 years and the state requires at least 8 hours of paid work as a nurse aid during those two years before one can apply for renewal of license.
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The Bureau of Facility Standards is the one which is responsible for managing these types of workers. They are required to undergo training at accredited facilities or schools which offer the said courses. Such schools include the College of Western Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, the Eastern Idaho Technical College, Idaho State University, and the Lewis-Clarke State College. You can visit either of these schools to learn more about the state’s rules and requirements with regards to the training of UAPs. The training will take 120 hours to finish and this includes classroom sessions as well as a clinical rotation where students will be able to work with real residents.
At this time nurse aide courses are required to provide a minimum of 120 hours of training. This instruction offers 80 hours of classroom lessons and 40 hours of clinical practice. During this time you will receive knowledge and practice using medical skills used on the job and theoretical instruction. Nursing assistants generally work under the direction of a licensed nurse in different medical facilities.
Upon completion of a training program, and after passing a background check you will be eligible to apply for the certification exam. When you apply, you will need to send in your completed application form along with the needed documents. You will need to send in ID photo, passport sized pictures, fingerprint cards, and payment for the exam fees. You must also have a negative TB test result and undergo immunizations to make sure that you are not carrying any communicable disease.
Once you are through with your training, you can then proceed and apply for the CNA competency exams. The license exams for this state are made of two parts, a written and a skills demonstration. In the written exams, you will be given 90 minutes to answer all 60 multiple-choice questions. Ass for the second part, you will be given a scenario where you will perform the asked procedures while being observed by a Nurse Aide Evaluator. You must pass all the exams to get your license.
As a nursing assistant student, you will get a total of 120 hours of training. These hours will be divided into 80 hours of lecture on different nursing concepts like infection control, mental health, medical terms, rehabilitation, and communication skills. You will also have 40 hours of clinical training which will include the skills training, like assisting in ambulation, performing ROM exercises, doing bed bath, and help in other daily activities.
As a nursing assistant student, you will be offered by programs a minimum of 120 hours of training. These hours will be divided into 80 hours of lectures on the fundamentals of nursing and 40 hours of clinical training, which will already include skills training and clinical duties. When you are in the clinical area, you will be under the care of a registered nurse or another member of the healthcare team. You will also need to send in proof of valid identification, fingerprint card, consent to a background check, and proof of immunizations, and your school transcripts in order to schedule an exam date.
After passing the exams, your name will be entered in the state’s Nurse Aide Registry. You have to maintain this status to be able to apply for work as a nursing assistant in the state. License holders are also welcome to work here by applying for reciprocity. When they apply, they should have a valid license and a good relationship with their state. To find out more about how you can qualify to take the certification exams you can contact the Idaho Registry at (800) 748-2480 or their local number at 334-6620) or email them: mailto:IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov.
The first part of their exams is the written exam. In this part, you will be given 90 minutes to answer all 60 questions. These questions will be multiple-choice and will be based on three different domains. The topics for the exams will cover the promotion of safety, roles of a nursing aide, and the promotion of functioning and health of the patient/resident. There are also pretest questions that are included in the exams. These questions will not be scored since they were placed there for statistical purposes. In the second part, you will be given a simple scenario where you will have to perform five randomly selected nursing skills in front of a Nurse Aide Evaluator. There will be some cases where the evaluator will also play a role in the scenario as either a patient or a physician. You must perform all skills correctly to pass this exam.
CNA Job Duties in Idaho
The advantage of enrolling in a nursing assistant training program is that it does not cost as much as other courses. When selecting for a program to enroll in, you should only choose programs that are approved by the state. It is important that the nursing aide students that enroll in the programs have a total of 120 hours, which is composed of 80 hours of classroom instructions and 40 hours of clinical rotations.