CNA Certification – All you need to know

The stability and monetary benefits that the CNA profession offers is greatly increasing demand of Certified Nursing Assistants. More people aspire to become healthcare professionals and consider CNA as the easiest gateway with stable, long lasting, recession proof jobs and whopping salaries.  To become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you require certain basic qualifications.  These are simple to acquire but you would not become a licensed professional or certified nursing assistant if you do not gain the CAN certification.  Here we cover all the basic information you need to know about CNA training and Certification.

Mandatory Requirements for a CNA

A person who desires to be a CNA necessarily needs to undergo CNA Training programs and CNA certification examination to meet the requirements stated in OBRA-87.  The OBRA-87 was initiated by congress for proper care of patients in hospitals as well as various healthcare centers. Make sure that the CNA training course you attend is an accredited one.

Pre-requisites for CNA certification

There are certain pre-requisites for gaining CNA certification. You need a basic GED or High School Diploma.  You should have completed state and federal government training program.  You should not have any criminal record or any negative record.  This clause is reviewed under Health Care Worker Background Check act and is applicable to any healthcare professional.  You also need to clear the competency evaluation test.

CNA Certification

There are various hurdles before you get your CNA certification. You will have to undergo a definite training program of 75-150 hours, varying depending on place and requirement.  The CNA training includes theory courses as well as hands on training on various equipments you may have to come across later. Once you are well versed with this, you can go in for the next step towards certification.  Continue Reading »
CNA Certification – Information

Requirements for CNA Certification

For those aspirants who are looking to secure career in health care industry as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), gaining requisite knowledge is essential which can be obtained through various ways.  There are specialized community colleges, campus training, hospital organized CNA training and online CNA training that serve as different forms for obtaining requisite CNA education.  Completing the CNA training courses is not enough to secure a career in the nursing assistant field.  To  qualify as a certified nursing assistant, every aspiring student must first accomplish the requirement for CNA Certification by passing the CNA examinations.

NNAAP or National Nurse Aide Assessment Program exam in United States is the fundamental and main CNA certification.  According to statistics it is understood that over millions of CNA aspirants underwent this examination.  The examination is administered in various sections which also include written evaluation, oral and skill evaluating sections.  The written examination section is based on multiple choice questions that are related to important relevant aspects that should be known by a CNA candidate.  In oral examination section multiple choice question are supplemented with 10 fundamental comprehension questions; this section is available in both English and Spanish languages.  The skill evaluation segment of the CNA certification exam is designed to check the ability of the candidate in performing different relevant tasks under various settings as required by a professional nursing assistant.  In this test the candidates are required to demonstrate their skills and all that they have learnt during the course; this is done under surveillance of evaluation officers and nursing staff in complete hospital settings.

Similar to NNAAP, there are approximately 250 other CNA certification examinations available for those who have accomplished the prerequisite requirement of at least completing 9 to 12 months certified nursing training.  These certifications programs are approved by American Nurse Association Commission of Nurse Accreditation.  Potential candidates are also facilitated with placements in federal nurse aide registry and are allowed to renew their certificates annually.

Apart from the federal criteria for CNAs who exercise at clinics and nursing homes, every state has its respective requirements for CNA certification; and State Board of Nursing is a body that offers such CNA exams.  State Board of Nursing requires the candidate to be clean of criminal history, should be healthy and drug free.  To ensure that provided information about the candidate is true, several verifications are done such as background check, health examinations etc.  The States CNA certification is required to be renewed every year prior to the expiration date which is usually end of December.   During the renewal process the aspirant is also required to provide updated information.

Personality aspects are brought under consideration while applying for CNA certification.  It is obvious that every CNA aspirant may have dissimilar personal qualities; hence, some common personal qualities are focused while evaluation.  Every CNA aspirant is required to have patients while performing repetitive tasks on everyday basis, he/ she should be able to overcome or cope with monotony.  The most important personal quality that every CNA aspirants should have is caring nature.  A candidate should be a good learner and have desire to be forefront member of medical team.  With all these personal quality and skills CNA certification becomes easier to obtain.

Benefits of becoming a CNA before Nursing School

If you wish to become a registered nurse (RN), you would have to spend four years at a nursing school and pay high tuition fees to complete the nursing program.  On the other hand one can become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in a few weeks after completing the necessary CNA training and it costs only a few hundred dollars.  There is always a possibility for a CNA to pursue higher studies to become an RN.  So what is better? Becoming an RN directly? Or work as a CNA before you become an RN?

Well, it is purely a personal matter.  There are many advantages of becoming a CNA before becoming an RN.  If you have an experience as a CNA, you are at least familiar with the routines, environment and procedures in the hospital setting; so you are ahead of the game when you join a nursing school.  You can absorb information easily at nursing degree program if you have prior experience as a CNA.  Your experience as a CNA would be particularly a huge help in clinical training in nursing schools.

Working as a CNA would give you great experience in direct patient care.  It will also help to make you a better nurse.  Many nurses consider the work of a nursing assistant as “grunt work”.  As an nursing aide you learn to be a team player-and you are not allowed to pass the buck.  So if you work as a CNA before joining RN program, you’d have a lot more respect for your nursing assistants. And that would reflect in your work relationships.  You would know what the nursing assistants are going through, and you will gain their respect as well.  However, you have to remember that respect comes from respecting people and not only because you walked in their shoes.

There are some nursing schools which require that you become a CNA before you even start their nursing program.  You would be glad that you took the CNA classes, Continue Reading »
CNA before RN

Technorati Tags: CNA training

Both Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) usually work under the guidance of a registered nurse (RN) or a doctor; however, the job of an LPN carries more responsibility than that of a CNA.  LPNs therefore receive higher salaries than the CNAs.  Because of this reason, most CNAs are looking for a way to to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and go up one step in their healthcare career.  In this post, we will discuss the CNA to LPN bridge courses which can help the CNA to transition to LPN while maintaining her job.

LPNs, often called as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in states like Texas and California have a job role that falls somewhere between the CNAs and Registered Nurses.   By virtue of added experience and education, LPNs are usually self motivated.   They often assume the responsibility as a a mid-level manager. Registered nurses give more freedom and responsibility to LPNs than the CNAs.   Unlike an CNAs, the LPN is able to administer medication to patients, prepare IVs and set up procedural rooms.  And in many cases LPNs would be supervising other healthcare staff like nursing assistants and nurse aides.

CNA & LPN Salary Difference

The average annual CNA salary is around $27,000, and the average annual salary of an LPN is around $40,000, exceeding the average CNA salary by $13,000.  These salary figures will vary by experience,location, and employer.  The difference in he salary can be a good reason for a CNA to hope to transition her job to that of an LPN.

CNA to LPN Additional Education Requirements

If you are already working as a CNA, you’d happy to know that you can continue studying for LPN while maintaining your job as a CNA.  This is possible because most CNA to LPN bridge courses could be completed be part-time in the evenings or on weekends or even through distance or online programs.  It is also possible for you to get a study leave from your job for taking these courses; and after completing the LPN bridge program you can resume your duties as an LPN.  As a matter of fact, many hospitals, nursing homes and other employers often encourage CNAs working in their facilities to join CNA to LPN courses to advance their career in nursing.  Some employers may even offer to take care of the cost of your education. It is therefore better that you talk to your employer about your future career advancement plans. Continue Reading »
CNA to LPN Bridge Programs

Why getting CNA Certified is necessary?

In any profession, undergoing a formal training takes you a notch up in the ladder of success. Likewise, a nursing assistant who undergoes training formally can qualify to undertake the nurse aide certification course.  All you have to do is getting certified as a nursing aide after undergoing CNA training at a recognized institution.

Becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) requires state approved certification.  A nurse aide is not the same as a certified nurse aide.  The former is not certified whereas the latter has to undergo certification by the State Board of Nursing with whom the certified nursing assistant is registered.

A certified nursing assistant, therefore, performs all the tasks of a nurse aide and more.  As a result of it, a CNA will also earn far higher in comparison.  A nurse aide is qualified to help and aid patients who need physical assistance and even help in checking their vital signs.  But they are not authorized to use and apply the skills learnt by a certified nursing assistant.  The certified nursing assistant is empowered to work at health care facilities, doctor’s offices as wells as home health locations.

A nurse aide, who enjoys working and making nursing a career, can seek to qualify as a certified nursing assistant by choosing to undergo training to certify even while working as a nurse aide.  A lot of healthcare facilities take on nurse aides to work with them and this also helps them to take on additional training both on the job as well as formally so they can take tests and qualify for a higher position or change to a more paying department.  The earning potential and better job opportunities increase in proportion to acquiring professional certification as a nursing assistant. Continue Reading »
Why CNA Certification Matters?

Technorati Tags: nurse aide, CNA, nursing

The career of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a good step for students who want to make nursing their career.  On completion of the course, students have to appear for the State licensing exam in their state.  This CNA Certification examination comprises the theory and practical elements.

CNA Practical Exam
In the practical exam for CNA, the state examiner asks the student to carry out a few clinical tests on a volunteer.  The student must follow fundamental measures of sanitation and patient hygiene before starting the test as the examiner watches.  Results of the CNA exam are usually declared by the examiner on examination completion.

CNA Theory Exam
On completion of the practical exam, the student takes a CNA theory test on topics covered in the clinical training coursework.  These tests can also be taken online on numerous websites for free.  Theory exam results are declared within fifteen days and a temporary license is issued followed by permanent registration by the State licensing board.  Most permanent registrations have a year’s validity, to be renewed annually.

The initial license registration fee is a large amount; annual renewal charges vary in different states and costs far less.  In some states there is a requirement for continuing education or remunerated employment of a minimum number of hours in a health facility, based on which the license is issued. Continue Reading »
Renewing CNA License

Technorati Tags: CNA Certification

Training for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) gets you ready to take the state CNA certification exam.  Once you pass the test with a minimum of 80%, you will be able to work as a CNA under the supervision of an RN or Registered Nurse.  Registered nurses usually teach at CNA Schools. Completion of the CNA training course can take a minimum of two to six weeks of full-time work.  During this time you will be taught some ethical and legal responsibilities you will undertake in your profession as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

The tests conducted for qualifying for a CNA position involves two aspects – the theory test and practical test. The training and tests are conducted for academics and clinical training. The theory can be done online, but clinical training involves working part-time with a health care facility, a nursing home or a local hospital.  Training may differ according to state requirements and could range from a couple of weeks to a few months.  Completion of the course prepares one to take the CNA as  a career, and to be able to give care to the mentally or physically sick, hurt, or disabled patients at a nursing home or a hospital.

The clinical part of CNA training for a Certified Nursing Assistant prepares the CNA to be able to check the vital signs of a patient like pulse rate, temperature, respiratory rate and blood pressure, Continue Reading »
What do you learn in CNA training classes?

Technorati Tags: CNA certification, CNA training, Certified Nursing Assistant