Jul 16, 2014

CNA Training Classes—6 Things You Should Know Before You Register


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. There are 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.

Make sure that the program has strong credentials, and has accreditation. You should also make sure that your credit hours are going to be transferable if you want to continue into higher education for example, nursing.  To find potential schools you must do your research and make sure that the school has a good track record before you pay them your money.

Where to Find Instruction

Vocational Schools
Some schools have free classes 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 program that meets Federal and State requirements, it 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. 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 programs 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 programs 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 it is offered 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. 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 courses 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 program you will be required to take the state certification exam, and work for that hospital. The advantage of is after you have taken the program 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.

Program

It is 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 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.


Reference:
Red Cross: Start Your Healthcare Career with Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training; 2011

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants