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.
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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.
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
