To get the CNA certification, you must complete the 6 to 12-weeks of certified nursing assistant programs and training. These are comprised of coursework and hands-on clinical experience that include vital sign monitoring, personal care assistance, wound care, and specimen collection. When you’ve completed the program, you must register with the State where you plan to start your CNA career.
Educational Requirements
Prerequisites for admission in most community colleges and home health agencies aren’t extensive, which is an advantage for would-be nursing aides. You just need to have your high school diploma and certificates and proof of your updated immunizations, physical or medical exam results, as well as drug and criminal background tests.
You may also be required to submit college assessments in math and reading comprehension.
Certified Nursing Assistant Programs Coursework
The entire nursing aid training course includes lectures, lab experiments, and hands-on clinical experiences. Here are some of the major topics you’ll tackle during the CNA program coursework:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Patient care ethics and legalities
- Infection control techniques
- Patient hygiene
- Basic training in nutrition
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic life support
- Range of motion exercises
- Patient vital signs
- Medical vocabulary
- Proper documentation and reporting
Professional Nursing Assistant Certification and Advance Education
Prior to registering with the state you belong to, you first have to pass the nursing assistant competency exam, which is a combination of a written test and clinical examination. The exam will measure your skills and knowledge in nursing aid and assistance.
How do you Choose the Right Certified Nursing Assistant Programs?
There are key factors to take into account when hand selecting from the many available certified nursing assistant programs.
Here are some of them:
- State approval – make sure that the program complies with the state specific requirements for nursing assistance.
- Duration of the program – the minimum number of hours for nursing aid training is at least 75 hours, and as mentioned earlier, CNA programs range from 6 to 12 weeks in duration.
- Course content and presentation – become friendly with the essential contents of the CNA program coursework mentioned above.
- Tuition and financial aid –try to find out if the school provides students with financial aid opportunities.
- Success rate –check out the previous records of the program and see their track record of nursing aid certification passing rates, this might help you select the best one available locally.