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.

CNA Training and CNA Certification

Career as a CNA offers exceptional opportunities for people who are motivated and interested in creating a difference in others’ lives.  Also, it is one of those careers which are least affected by the continued economic downturn.  Do you enjoy working with people, helping them to make their lives better?  Then, you may be fit to pursue certified nursing assistant as a career.  However, as in most other healthcare professions, you’d first need to undergo CNA training at an accredited facility and then pass the CNA certification exam to become eligible to work as a certified nursing assistant.

To be eligible to undergo CNA training you don’t need to have any degree.  All you need is a high school or GED diploma to get admitted to any CNA training programs.  Most of the CNA training programs are of a short duration lasting for 4 to 8 weeks.  Thus, there is no long time commitment as in the bachelors’ or masters’ degrees.

Even there are online CNA training classes which you can do at your own pace.  And if you pass the CNA certification test, you can get a job of CNA with salary much higher than the minimum wages.  Thus, undergoing CNA training is one of the easiest ways to get into health care industry.

CNA training requirements vary depending on the state and the training provider, however the essential knowledge and skills required are common to most training programs.  It is therefore better to check with the State Department of Health of the state in which you reside to ascertain the requirements for CNA certification.  Generally, CNA training classes will teach you about the basics of human anatomy and patient care – this includes practical skills such as routine care of patients such as bathing, feeding, moving as well as other skills such as measuring and monitoring vital signs such as body temperature and blood pressure.

The American Red Cross CNA training program is one of the most distinguished CNA training courses in the United States.  This training program for CNA meets both the State as well as Federal CNA training requirements.  Red Cross CNA training classes are conducted by experienced registered nurses in state-of-the-art classrooms that are equipped with all the essential facilities such as mannequins, hoyer lift, wheelchairs, hospital beds and other medical equipments which the students need to learn about in the CNA training and operate later in their jobs. Continue Reading »
CNA Training

Technorati Tags: nursing, CNA training, Red Cross CNA training

Are CNA Training DVDs really useful?

As you know, becoming an efficient certified nursing assistant (CNA) requires a lot of time, practice and patience. No doubt, you need to go through CNA training manuals regularly in order to refresh all that you learned in your CNA training sessions.  Definitely, the most important aspect of CNA profession is the clinical or practical work.  As you are well aware in order to qualify as a certified nursing assistant, you need to take two exams, namely the written and practical CNA exams.  Most of the students feel very comfortable with the written section.  It is only the practical section that leaves them a little nervous.

Many students like you would like to rehearse all the practical aspects taught in the class in the comfort of their own homes.  But as youngsters, you tend to forget most of the lessons taken in classrooms by the time you reach your house.  This causes a lot of anxiety because during the training course, you simply cannot ask your instructors to repeat the same lessons over and over again.  You need not despair.  It is for students like you that CNA Training DVDs have been created.

Surely, these CNA Training DVDs have arrived as a blessing in disguise.  All the theoretical lessons and practical sessions of the training course are covered in the training DVDs.  One of the main advantages of the DVD is that you can view the practical sessions plenty of times and also perform mock sessions along with the DVD.  By doing this you are constantly polishing your skills and this gives you an opportunity to update yourself with the latest nursing skills even after you have finished your training course.

One of the main advantages of the instructional DVD is that it deals with all the topics separately.  In case you do not feel at ease with a particular nursing duty, you can go over to that section and view them as many times as you wish.  By now, you would have clearly understood the advantages of owning a DVD; now let us have a brief look at the contents of the CNA Training DVD.  Essentially, the DVDs contain all the practical skills accompanied with plenty of examples demonstrating how a nursing duty should be performed in the correct manner.

Some of the duties included are feeding, cleaning and dressing the patient, applying stockings and dressings, ambulation and moving the patients, basic duties like sanitation.  One of the most important sections of the training DVD deals with how to take and record the patient’s vital parameters like pulse, blood pressure, respiration, weight and height.  The DVD also deals with all the legal issues in detail in case you come across any in your nursing career.

You will find plenty of sections in the CNA Instructional DVD very helpful in preparing for the practical examinations.  Sections dealing with physical therapies and motion exercises, body movement, control of infections, making beds for the patients, skin care and assessment, all the details as to how to give a bed bath and how to use bath accessories are dealt in detail in the DVD.

Therefore, it is a great idea to buy the  CNA Training DVD not only for aspiring nursing assistants but also for certified nursing assistants who wish to improve their nursing skills.

Nursing Fundamentals – Vital Signs

When you undergo CNA training, you will learn about taking vital signs also known as vital parameters.  This is one of the most important lessons that an aspiring nursing assistant undertake.  Taking vital signs is necessary in order to check whether an individual’s body is functioning properly.  Any fluctuation in the vital signs, the person feels discomfort and falls sick.  Nursing assistants help the nurses in measuring and monitoring the vital signs of patients throughout their shifts.

Measuring for vital signs would include monitoring the breathing rate of a patient by checking his lungs, checking the blood pressure of the patient, monitoring a person’s body temperature, and checking the pulse rate.  Every individual whether woman or man has a standard number for vital signs corresponding to her or his age.  Therefore, in order to assess your patient’s condition accurately, you need to take the vital signs tests efficiently and accurately. Continue Reading »
CNA Training – Taking Vital Signs

What does CNA Skills Test cover?

The Certified Nursing Assistant exam involves a written test and the practical or skills test.  This set of tests examines your understanding of the basic concepts and skills required for becoming a proficient Nurse’s Aide or Certified Nursing Assistant.

The CNA written test is comparatively easy to get through if you have been diligent in taking notes during the classroom sessions and are able to revise and recapitulate it all and you have gone through the nursing manuals supplied for the course, before appearing for the written test.  It covers all the fundamental concepts, the medical and pre- and post-surgical procedures that form the basis of the CNA training course.

The written test is easier than CNA Skils test to attempt.  This theory test generally covers medical knowledge of basic medical theory and medical procedures.  A CNA course takes a period of between a few weeks and three months to complete.  This includes theory classes conducted in the classroom along with practical training that gives guidance in clinical application to put the skills learned in the classroom to practical use.  Under the supervision of a guide, who is usually a registered nurse, the clinical training is conducted with real patients.

The clinical aspect of the CNA skills test is comparatively more of a challenge as it tests the individual’s clinical skills.  The candidate is requested to get a model patient to demonstrate their skill as a part of the practical examination.  The examiner then puts the candidate to test by asking them to display any of the various skills they have mastered during the course of their training sessions.

The clinical skills tested in the CNA skills test may include anything like taking a patient’s temperature, changing wound dressings of a patient, moving a patient from the bed to wheelchair, making the patient’s bed, holding a bedpan, grooming a patient or even just washing hands to display personal hygiene or knocking at the patient’s door before entering to demonstrate patient privacy.

All the demonstrated skills are observed carefully by the examiner who makes the evaluation. As a matter of precaution, it would be prudent on the part of the examinee to be calm and not stressed while performing any of the given tasks for evaluation of their clinical skills.  Your success in course completion is dependent on your composure and ability to stay calm under the most stressful conditions.

The supervision of the CNA exam is undertaken by a state examiner who carefully observes and evaluates every step of the examinee’s presentation.  The examiner may also evaluate the examinee by giving him a mock case and making him go through the motions of handling the model patient as if it were for real.  Recalling the minutest of details helps a great deal to demonstrate your skill at being in control of the situation.

CNA Skills Test Practice

So, are you ready for taking your CNA certification exam?  Well, if you have attended all your theory and practical classes sincerely, you should not be afraid to take the CNA exam. However, we recommend the following two books for your CNA Skills Test practice as well as for written CNA Test preparation.  Your confidence will boost up after using these valuable books and DVDs on written as well as skills test for CNA, and you will fare much better in these tests.

1.  Competency Exam Prep and Review for Nursing Assistants

2.  Mosby’s Textbook + Video Skills for Nursing Assistants

For more information, check this post on CNA Test preparation

Technorati Tags: CNA written test, CNA training course, CNA skills test

If you are among those who are interested in a nursing career, then you should also explore the possibilities to be eligible to get Free CNA Training from your potential employer.  The US Federal Government offers reimbursement for training through Medicare to the health industry employers.  This free training also includes CNA training programs.  All CNAs by law must clear a competency test as per federal requirement. This is the same for all health aides.  Health aides must also have seventy five hours minimum of state approved training.

The National Association for Home Care and Hospice also provides voluntary certification. This is mostly for states that need nursing aides to have a license.  Some high schools also provide free training for CNA certification test.

American Red Cross trains and tests CNAs but it is not free.  However, it is relatively less expensive in comparison to most paid CNA training programs.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) along with Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education is offering to cover cost of training of approximately 1000 CNA students for the year 2010.  All the money to fund this program has been collected form nursing homes that have defaulted by providing sub standard care.  CNAs working with long term  patients in a  nursing home and skilled facilities are eligible for these CNA training classes. Continue Reading »
Free CNA Training Classes

Technorati Tags: CNA training, CNA certification, CNA training programs

Certified Nursing Assistants are specially trained technicians for patient care and have to work in various demanding environments.  Trained CNAs are hired in hospitals, health care clinics, long term and continuing care facilities, psychiatric care settings or as they can work as home nursing aides.  There are many CNA training schools, but selecting a good and effective CNA training program is quite a challenging job.

Before selecting a CNA training School,  you should take certain factors into consideration. Some of these are as follows:

Location of CNA School

First thing to note while selecting any CNA training school is its location and the distance you need to travel to reach the school.  If you prefer not to travel long distance, then you should finalize on school near your residence.  You also need to examine the class and school size as some students opt for smaller schools and classes to get individual attention, while others may opt for bigger schools with more students.

Facilities Available in CNA College

If you wish to work as a Certified Nursing Assistants in health care services, the most important factor  is practical experience.  So while selecting any CNA training school always make sure that it is  affiliated with nursing homes, hospitals or any other health care center where you can practice your CNA skills and gain practical knowledge.

Continue Reading »
How to choose the right CNA training School?

Technorati Tags: health care, nursing aides, CNA training schools, CNA training program, CNA training

Red Cross is a prominent name in medical service. The main objective of Red Cross is to offer help to the people in need for medical need and recovery.  Red Cross also offers training programs and tests for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).  CNA certification through the American Red Cross is nationally recognized in the United States.  The Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant Training is perfect for those who have passion to become a responsible nurse.  The Red Cross CNA Training programs are available in several states and are designed based on the requirements of each state.  CNA training hours and other program requirements may vary from state to state.

You would need a lot of dedication and hard work to quality for the Red Cross CNA course,  as it is a hands on training program.  However, once you qualify, you will be working as an certified nursing assistant within 6 to 12 weeks.  For successful completion of the Nursing Assistant Training program, you need to fully participate in classroom and skill sessions, apart from performing successfully in knowledge and skill evaluations.  The training imparts knowledge about  nutrition, infection control and physiology.  It also lets you get the clinical and practical experience to provide critical care to patients.

The Red Cross CNA training involves lot of strenuous activities; you should therefore ensure that you meet the course requirements in case you have any physical disability or medical condition that may restrict you from participating in the skill sessions.

The Red Cross CNA examination has two sections, Written Test and Skills Test.  You can complete the entire examination in a day as it approximately takes 5 hours 30 minutes.  You can appear for the written test only after successfully passing the skills test. You will receive the test results on the same day you take the test.  Upon passing the test, you will receive the certification – Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) – recognized by your state. Continue Reading »
Red Cross CNA Training

Technorati Tags: Red Cross CNA Training, Red Cross CNA course, certified nursing assistant

What you learn in CNA Training Programs?

CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Training Programs impart the training required for a person to become a CNA, also called as a caregiver, nurse aide, or home health aide.  CNA Training Programs will help you prepare for the CNA exam for your state.  You can work as a Certified Nursing Assistant, once you pass the CNA exam with a minimum score of 80%.  The demand for CNA jobs is high in the United States and other countries due to high percentage of aging population.  CNAs are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and in private homes.

CNA Training programs are available in colleges as well as online.  CNA training classes are usually taught by registered nurses, and may take two to six weeks to complete the course requirements, as prescribed by the state authorities.

The major components of CNA training courses are skills lab training, practical clinical instruction, and classroom training. Skills are imparted with the aid of lectures, role-playing, training videos, discussions, and actual demonstration.  Usually, they will make arrangements at a hospital or nursing home for your hands-on or clinical or training.  Once you complete the course requirements, you would have to pass the CNA test administered by your state to receive the CNA certification.  After receiving the CNA certification, you can get a CNA job in hospitals, and nursing homes.

So what do you learn in CNA Training Programs? CNA Training programs prepare you in the following skills which are vital for a job as a certified nursing assistant.

Continue Reading »
What do you learn at CNA Schools?

Technorati Tags: CNA jobs, CNA certification, CNA job, CNA Training Programs, CNA

Welcome to CNA Training Pro. If you are interested in obtaining a CNA certification or becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, then you have come to the right place.

On this site, we will provide resources and information about free online CNA training programs,  Red Cross CNA Training program and other related CNA Training programs that will help you to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.  We will also provide information about the demand for CNA jobs, typical  job description of an CNA, average salaries of certified nurse assistants etc.

A CNA ( Certified Nursing Assistant) is a person who helps patients with their healthcare needs and provides bedside care under the guidance of a RN (Registered Nurse).  In the United States, a CNA is also called as PCA (Patient Care Assistant) or NA/R (Nursing Assistant-Registered.  In other countries such as the UK, CNA are also called HCA (Healthcare Assistant), NT (Nursing Tech), PCA (Patient Care Associate), Aux-N (Auxiliary Nurse) or NA (Nursing Assistant).  Whatever may be the title, their role is identical.

Continue Reading »
Welcome to CNA Training Pro

Technorati Tags: CNA training, Certified Nursing Assistant, CNA jobs, nurse assistant, Registered Nurse