By
Lanee’ Blunt
Red
Cross CNA training programs prepare students with the skills to provide quality health care to residents in nursing homes. It is considered high quality and
many employers are confident in an applicant’s education from the American Red
Cross. The course has an excellent reputation for building quality nursing
assistant’s that have great careers in nursing homes, hospice care, board and
care retirement facilities, rehabilitation centers, and mental hospitals. They have
been educating nursing aides for over two decades. Contact a chapter near you.
The Course
The
course meets all of the requirements such as, Federal and State and geriatric
nursing assistant for certification. Some states requirements are different and
may vary from state to state but it is supervised by registered nurses and
designed to meet whatever requirements of the state in which that chapter is
located. Students learn how to take a patient’s blood pressure, temperature,
pulse rate, and respiration's. They teach you how to assists patients with their
hygiene, using the toilet and bathing. You will learn the correct techniques to
positioning, moving, walking and turning patients. The course consists of two
parts that are broken down: part 1 is theory and part two is the clinical
portion.
Time to Complete
The
course is very fast paced. The local chapter designates the length of the class
and it may vary from state to state. They have a 4 week course and the nursing
supplies are provided. In some states the class may last from four to six weeks
and is broken down by: 60 hours of theory, lecture, and lab work and 100 hours
of supervised at a state approved long term care facility for the clinical.
Cost
There
are many free courses. You can research nursing homes and hospitals in your
local area. However, they don’t have a free program and charges a fee for their
course. Included in the tuition fee you will get books, uniforms, stethoscope
and supplies, CPR, and state exam for certification.
Certification
When
you finish you will be eligible to take the Nurse Assistant Competency Certification
Exam. After passing the exam you will be placed on the state registry and may
apply for employment.
References:
Red
Cross: Start your Healthcare Career with Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training;
2011
American
Red Cross Los Angeles Region: Nurse Assistant Training (NAT)
[Image
of Red Cross CNA].(n.d.).Retrieved from
http://www.redcross.org
