CNA Training Classes

A CNA skills test consists of a written and clinical portion. The written portion is basically multiple choice questions. The clinical, or practical, test is the one that causes the most stress among CNA students. It is during the clinical portion that you will be required to demonstrate the skills you learned in training.

You may be required to bring along a friend or relative who can act as your “model” on which to demonstrate your skills. The state examiner administering the CNA exam will be observing you during the test to see if you’ve mastered the necessary skill sets. Thus, the reason many students find this part of the examination a bit nerve-wrecking.

Typically, you are asked to demonstrate three to five Nursing Assistant skills. These skills include the following: Read the rest of this entry »

A certified nurse assistant, or CNA, is a nurse’s aide who monitors patients when the nurse is unavailable. CNAs attend to a patient’s basic needs and reports any problems to the registered nurse (RN) or doctor or medical professional responsible for the patient’s treatment. Being a CNA may not sound like a glamorous way to earn a living, but if you love helping people, it is a good way to get your foot in the door to a promising medical career. CNAs are in high demand and offers plenty of opportunities to advance in the medical field.

To become a licensed CNA, you must complete a certified nursing assistant training program that prepares you to take the CNA certification exam in order to become licensed. A certified nursing assistant training program usually runs from Read the rest of this entry »

Many local colleges and hospitals offer certified nursing assistant classes for those individuals interested in pursuing a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Nursing homes and elderly care facilities in your area also offer training in lieu of you agreeing to work form them upon completion and certification. Class length can vary depending on the schedule and required hours, and the cost can range from $800 to $1,000, plus the cost for your textbooks.

The courses may be intimidating to a newbie, but if you pay close attention to your instructor, follow the feedback he or she gives you and don’t hesitate to ask questions you should be just fine. Take lots of notes and invest in supplementary material so you can keep up to date on new equipment and technology. There are DVD and video courses available that will prove valuable to you during your training.

During your training you will get the chance to interact with fellow nurses and faculty, which will help you develop the communication skills you will need to effectively relate with doctors, nurses, patients, the families of patients and other medical staff when you are out in the working world. The personal interaction you get with certified nursing assistant classes is the one advantage that classroom training has over online training. In addition, it is a bit more difficult to distinguish if an online school is reputable and accredited. With a local CNA training program, you can meet with an admissions representative and possibly get to tour the facility before you invest your time and money.

The only prerequisite you need to enroll into certified nursing assistant classes is to have graduated from high school or have a GED. Unlike most medical training programs, taking anatomy or biology courses are not required for CNA training. The classes usually run 6-12 weeks, but can run much longer depending on your state’s CNA regulations and requirements.

Certified nursing assistant classes involve instruction on patient care, CPR, infection control, patient safety, patient privacy and dignity, proper hand washing practices and other skills. Part of your training also involves hands-on training with actual patients as preparation for the clinical or practical portion of your CNA certification exam. During this part of the exam, you will be required to demonstrate the skills you learned in training and you must be able to perform them satisfactorily in order to pass the exam.

If helping people is a passion, a career as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) may be for you. A CNA is technically a nurse’s aide. The CNA attends to patients when the nurse is not available and reports any issues to the RN, doctor or other medical professional treating the patient. CNA is a high-demand career, and it offers a lot of opportunities for advancement.

You need to be licensed to perform CNA duties. In order to take the state exam, you must complete a 6-12 week CNA training course. The only prerequisite is that you have completed high school or have a GED. After completing the course, you take the CNA certification exam. Once you pass the exam, you can begin working in the medical field. Most students take their training in a classroom setting, but many online CNA certification programs are available for those students who have to training around a job or are single parents.

The CNA training course includes a theoretical program and a practical or clinical training program where you work with actual patients under the supervision of the licensed nurse or professor. You will need to be well versed in is patient care, CPR, infection control and other skills you learned in your training.

The CNA certification exam consists of two parts: written and skills. The written portion is a series of multiple choice questions. The skills (or performance) portion tests your ability to perform several CNA skills that you will be need to perform on a daily basis, such as hand-washing protocol, patient privacy and safety, and giving a bedpan. Every state has its own licensing requirements, so it would be a good idea to check with your state prior to completing your training and taking the exam.

CNA certification exam schedules are announced in ample enough time for you to prepare for it. In addition, it would be a good idea to study your CNA training lessons beforehand so that you can come to class prepared with questions to ask your instructor. Don’t rely solely on your course materials and textbooks. Utilize video or DVD courses as well as supplemental reading material to help you not only pass the CNA certification exam, but to keep you abreast of new technological developments and equipment.