By Lanee' Blunt
A CNA is responsible for providing basic nursing care for patients in hospitals,
long-term care facilities, hospice and home-care. Becoming a certified nurse assistant is an excellent way to enter the medical field even if you aspire to
be a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. There is a demand for the
job with the growing elderly population many certified nursing assistants will
be needed to fill the demand, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This
is a guide for training classes and six things that you should know before you
enroll in a program.
Requirement for Admission
Programs
require that students have a high school diploma. Some schools such as
community colleges require students to have an official transcript from their
high school sent to them and submit ACT standardized test scores. A nurse’s
aide must earn a post-secondary certificate in which the basic principles of
nursing will be taught.
Where to Find Instruction
Vocational Schools
Some schools
have free training for students. These programs are found in vocational and
technical schools, community colleges, and some high schools. Unemployed or low
income students may be eligible for government assistance.
The Red Cross
offers a class that meets Federal and State requirements. The training is
supervised by registered nurses and designed to meet the requirements of your particular
state in which the Red Cross chapter is located. They have over two decades of
experience in training nurse assistants. Most of the class sizes are small some
no more than 14 students. The tuition is
reasonable. After graduation the Red Cross helps students find a job. After the
course students are eligible to take the state certification exam.
Online
nursing assistant classes offer flexible payment systems, and the convenience
of taking the coursework in your own home. You can discuss coursework in forums
and chats at your convenience. Many online classes offer mock test sessions to
prepare for the exam. After completion you will be prepared to take the
certification exam.
There are many free courses.
Nursing Homes
There are
some nursing homes that offer free instruction because of a staff shortage. If
you are offered training through a nursing home you will be required to work
for them for a period of time after you graduate. You must have a high school
diploma or GED. If for some reason you were unable to complete the state
mandated exam some nursing homes require that you reimburse them for your
training. Make a list of local nursing homes. Call each one on the list asking
if they are offering a free program.
Hospitals
There are
some hospitals that provide training for people that want to work for them.
Make calls to all of your local hospitals and inquire if they offer free
training. After the class you will be required to take the state certification
exam, and work for that hospital. The advantage of is after you have taken the
training and the exam you will have a job. After you sign the contract you must
work for that hospital.
Time to Complete
You can
become a certified nursing aide in a short time. It will prepare you to take
the certification test and then go out into the workforce in weeks in some
states. To be qualified to take the state examination you need to complete a
certification program at a community college, vocational school, medical
facility or online program. Some schools
are official testing sites. You can take your certification examination where
you took your training. Some students feel more comfortable taking their exam
in a familiar environment using the same equipment which they trained on.
Classes
Your training
class will be fast paced and can be completed in 6 to 12 weeks. The courses
cover medical terminology, pharmacology, fundamentals of nursing, nutrition,
patient hygiene and biology and clinical courses. You will be taught all aspect
of patient care through lectures with demonstrations and practice. The clinical
class part of the program will consists of working directly with patients in a
health care facility. Depending on the state you live in you will need to
complete 75 to 125 credit hours.
Cost of Program
The program
may vary from a range of $200 to $2,800 for tuition depending on the
institution. Some schools will not reimburse your money if you do not complete
the course.
See also
Reference:
Red Cross:
Start Your Healthcare Career with Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training;2011
Bureau of
Labor Statistics: Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants
