If you want to learn how to become a nursing assistant in Palmdale, California you can find the available classes provided in the listing below. Included in the list are phone numbers, addresses, as well as other information. You can contact the number provided if you have any inquiries about enrolling in their school program.

Antelope Valley Career Academy
1008 West Avenue M-14 Suite A
Palmdale, CA 93551
(661) 272-8835
(Multiple classes are being offered here)

Becoming a CNA is one of the best ways to enter the medical field today. They are considered to be the right-hand of the registered nurses working in different healthcare settings. When they work, they will be under their direct supervision.

Before you can work as a nursing aide in California you must first get your name entered into the Nurse Aide Registry. The NAR is a master list of all individuals who were able to meet the federal and state’s training and testing requirements. Employers will only hire nursing aides whose names are on the Registry.

The first step in getting your name on the NAR is to enroll in a state-approved CNA training course. The Department of Public Health is responsible for certifying and monitoring all training courses in California. You must only enroll in a program that is approved by the CDPH to ensure that your training will meet the state’s standards.

Approved training courses are required to offer no less than 150 hours of training. The hours are divided into 50 hours of theoretical classroom lessons and 100 hours of practical training. Students are handled by qualified clinical instructors with backgrounds in training adults. Before students go to the clinical area, they will first spend 16 hours learning the following concepts:

•    Patients’ Rights and Independence
•    Therapeutic Communication and Interpersonal Skills
•    Safety Precautions
•    Emergency Procedures
•    Basic Nursing Procedures
•    Roles and Responsibilities of a Nursing Aide

During instruction you will also tackle different subjects like infection control, medical terminologies, mental health, range of motion exercises, measuring vital signs, catheter care, safety protocols, as well as transporting patients.

When you are through with your training, the next step is to apply for the certification exam. This exam consists of a written/oral test and a skills evaluation exam. The state has authorized Pearson VUE to help conduct the exam at approved Regional Testing Centers. Application forms (http://www.asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/070508.pdf) must be sent to your nearest Regional Testing Center.

Every applicant must take the exam within two years from the completion of their training. They will also be allowed to retake the exams two times if they happen to fail at the first attempt. You can call the CA Department of Public Health at (916) 327-2445 if you have more questions about the nurse aide registry.

If you pass all the tests your name will be added to the Nurse Aide Registry. Once your name is on the Registry, the Aide and Technician Certification Section will send you your CNA certificate within 10 business days after passing. If you want to check your status as a certified nursing aide, you can go to http://www.apps.cdph.ca.gov/cvl/SearchPage.aspx or call the ATCS at (916) 327-2445.

To keep your name on the Registry you must renew your certification every 2 years. If you fail to renew your certification you will lose your eligibility to work in a state-approved nursing facility. CNAs are required to work for at least 8 hours while under the supervision of a registered nurse and complete 48 hours of in-service/CE to be eligible for renewal.  For more information, please follow this link: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/occupations/Documents/How-to-Renew-Your-Cert.pdf

This city is located in the northern part of Los Angeles County. It has a population of 152,750 according to the latest census. The dividing area between Palmdale and Los Angeles is the San Gabriel Mountain range. This city ranks second as the most populated city in the entire state.

You can find many health care centers in the city of Palmdale. Examples of these centers include Sierra Urgent Care, Palmdale Women and Children’s Center Inc., Heritage Clinic, Roy Medical Group Inc., Healthy and Happy America Corp, Dynasty Medical Group, Vista Care Inc., Clinica Medica Mi Famlia De PA, Palmdale Medical Center, High Desert Hemodialysis Inc., Sierra Medical Group, Pacific West Health Medical Associates, and many more. photo attribution: roldiexp