Eligibility Criteria to become a CNA

The attractive salaries and increasing job opportunities are attracting many towards the CNA career. Besides these benefits, the career as a Certified Nursing Assistant helps you help the patients who need to be taken care of. If you wish to pursue a career as a CNA, then you need to be aware of the eligibility criteria for the same.

To work as a CNA, you need to have high patience and tolerance levels. You also need to be of caring and understanding nature. The patients in the hospital are entirely dependent upon you to carry out their day-to-day tasks and hence you need to be very patient with them. Many a times, patients are not able to sleep in the nights as they may be experiencing some pain. In such cases, you need to stay by their side all through the night. It may be quite exhausting, but you have to do your duty.

Health care organizations, hospitals, clinics as well as community centers require CNAs. Some CNAs also work independently to assist patients who need 24 hours of medical care. The basic duties of a CNA encompass helping the patients, carry out their daily tasks such as brushing teeth, bathing, combing their hair, feeding them, giving them medicines on time and so on.

Eligibility Criteria to become a CNA 

You need to complete a high school diploma or your graduation in any of the streams to be eligible to become a CNA. This is the basic requirement to pursue a career as a CNA. If you fulfill this eligibility criteria, you can enroll for the CNA certification course. The course duration may range from 6 to 12 weeks. The University conducts the CNA course. However, even community colleges offer these courses; and they are also available online.

A theoretical training of 75 hours as well as medical training of 16 hours needs to be completed for the CNA certification. This training is carried out in hospitals or health care centers. In most of the states, the basic exam pattern is nearly the same.

When choosing an institute for CNA training, it's important to learn if it is accredited by the State. You can get these details from the state aid registry as well as from the licensing program.

The fees for the course are quite reasonable and by paying a small amount of money, you can receive the CNA training. You need to then clear the exam which is held by the state government health registry. The exam is divided into 2 sections: theoretical and medical. Once you have cleared these examinations, you can start working as a professional Certified Nursing Assistant.

There's a huge demand for nursing assistants to provide the medical care facilities to patients in hospitals and clinics. Other than taking care of the daily tasks of the patients, these nursing agents are also well trained to maintain hygiene, deal with traditional medical equipments and instruments, measure the vitals of the patients such as their blood pressure, heart rate, sugar levels and record the same.

Eligibility Criteria for CNA Training 

In order to be successful in the nursing career, you need to develop passion and willingness to serve the patients who need care. The basic eligibility criteria for the CNA training is a 10th grade diploma or GDA. You also need to be physically fit in order to lift the patients. You need to undergo a training for 75 to 100 hours in a Training School that is approved by the State.

The CNA training schools are situated in community as well as vocational colleges, where in the CNA training is in accordance with the State approved training program. A traditional Class Room system is followed while conducting these training programs. The CNA training differs as per the State. CNA training is also available online which provides all the theoretical knowledge for several modules. The online training, however, needs to be approved by the State Health Board.

Once the students complete the CNA training either via Class Room training or through the State approved online training, they need to undergo a clinical practical training. This clinical training is carried out at a real time health care facility and is arranged by the CNA training schools. Then the students need to appear for a theory test as well as a practical examination to demonstrate the clinical skills that they have been taught. These examinations are conducted to evaluate the competencies of the students to become a CNA.

Once you clear these examinations, a certificate is awarded. The particulars are then registered with the State Health Registry. This CNA certification is valid for a period of 2 years and you need to renew it within 24 months. Once you get the certification, you can work in hospitals, clinics or health care centers under the Registered Nurse's supervision.

License for CNA 

According to the U.S. Federal law, having a CNA license is mandatory if you wish to practice as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Certified nursing assistant are in great demand in hospitals as well as clinics, and they work as per the directions given to them by the Registered Nurses (RN).

CNA license is extremely essential for you to practice as a nursing assistant and hence it's better that you have all the necessary information about the following details about the license:

• What is the eligibility for the CNA license 
• How to acquire the license 
• What is the procedure for renewal of the license 
• Verification process and transfer of licenses

Tips on CNA Employment

A job as a CNA is a rewarding career and it is also in high demand as it offers many challenges and opportunities in the medical field. A career as a CNA is filled with lot of pride and self satisfaction as you are helping patients, who are suffering with various kinds of diseases, to recover. Once you become a CNA, you can take your career to the next step by becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

CNAs have a choice with regard to the type of health care centers they want to work with, as well as the age group they are willing to serve – some CNAs may want to help adults and senior citizens while others may opt to take care of small children. There is a lot of scope for personal growth in your career as a CNA. There is a huge demand for CNAs in hospitals, clinics and health-care centers and you will never be out of employment after becoming a CNA.

The job of a CNA is easier said than actually done. There are many hardships involved here and you need to be really passionate and devoted as far as your duties as a CNA are concerned. Following are some tips to help you in your employment as a CNA:

• The first tip on CNA employment is to opt for a CNA training course that has placement facility after the training is completed. Such courses with placements are offered in community colleges, medical training schools as well as in vocational schools. Mostly the training programs that offer placements tend to cost a little higher as compared to other courses, but the investment is worth it as it takes care of your career.
• Generally, placements are offered in institutions that have difficulty in employing the candidates because of problems such as low salary offered, location problems or unusual working hours. However, it is worth to go in for these training programs that offer placements as it will help you avoid the job hunting process post the CNA certification. Also, if you are unhappy with the job offered, you can always look for a better opportunity while still on the job.
• The next tip for CNA employment is to try and get trained in a local hospital. You can volunteer for this training program or enroll for the CNA training class at the hospital. Attending the training may not assure you of a job at the local hospital, but it will definitely put you in a better position when the local hospital is hiring for CNAs, besides helping in enhancing your practical skills and experience. Also, the experience will count when you mention it in your CV.
• You can also consider applying to a temporary agency. This will help you earn salary and gain experience while you are on the lookout for a bigger and better job opportunity. It's best to take help of various temporary agencies while you are still preparing for the CNA course. Chances are that you might already get a job offer once you complete the course. You can then inform the temporary agencies that you have secured a job and are ready to start work.

To stay ahead of the CNA employment curve, following steps will guide you for your CNA employment: 

• Contact local nursing agencies: Local nursing agencies have a huge demand for qualified nursing assistant. You can always track the local nursing agencies in your area, get their phone numbers and contact them to check if there are any vacancies and if they are hiring CNAs. You can also go there to fill out the application form for employment as a CNA along with submitting your resume to them. Even if they are not hiring CNAs at that moment, you will be on their priority list when they start hiring.
• Connect with private health care providers: If you wish to work with a private home health care agency, you can make a list of such agencies and contact them to check for vacancies. Again, you can fill out the employment application form along with submitting your CV so that they can contact you when they are hiring CNAs. You can also look for an appointment with the agency's hiring manager to increase your chances of being hired.
• Try visiting nursing homes: You can always pay a visit to long term facilities as well as nursing homes to check if they are hiring CNAs. Follow the same procedure of filling the employment application form and leaving your CV along with all your contact details, so that these facilities can call you when they are in need of CNAs.
• Utilize online CNA job services: Finding a dream job is made simple now by various websites that offer job postings for CNAs. You can log on to medical and health care job search websites to find a relevant job. It's a simple and quick way to access various CNA jobs available, and making an application to the same by simply posting your resume on the relevant websites.

CNA Skills Training and its Importance

The CNA skills training is important for nursing assistants to acquire the required skill sets to become a good nurse. The training for CNA usually takes around 6 to 12 weeks and it is generally conducted in a medical facility or a community college. This program covers a range of topics that include the following: 

• Basic Nursing Skills
• Body Mechanics
• Infection Control
• Nutrition
• Basic Anatomy and Physiology

Licensed Practical Nurses or Registered Nurses usually teach these courses where you get to learn many different skills and can learn a lot from their experiences during the training program. You need to undergo at least 75 hours of the clinical training, which is also referred to as Clinical Externship.

You will get a chance to develop various skills during the course of training, such as being able to record the patient's important signs like respiratory rate, heart rate and the patient's blood pressure. Apart from recording them manually, you will also learn to take a print out of these signs by storing the important details in the computer.

Being a Certified Nursing Assistant means that you are constantly in touch with your patients, and hence having good communication skills is extremely important. Your verbal as well as non-verbal communication skills need to be well developed so that you can interact with the patients effectively and understand them properly.

Apart from becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in a short span of time, the other benefits are that you can attend the required training courses as it suits you – be it in the evenings, early mornings or over the weekends. This helps you take care of your day to day responsibilities as well as attend the extra training as time permits.

Once you complete the training, you will have to appear for an examination that varies according to the state. The National Association for Home Care administers a national certification for home health aides.

The CNA skills training is very essential if you want to fulfill your dream of becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. Unless and until you acquire the necessary skills, it will be hard to achieve this goal. The CNA training will equip you with the following essential skills:

Shifting Patients: As a CNA, you will constantly have to handle patients – move them and shift them as need arises. The shifting process may be required while changing linen, while taking the patients to have their meals, shifting the patients to the operation theater or while testing. The patients are weak and you need to do the shifting with utmost care, so that you don't land up harming yourself or the patients. You should take care that you are not causing any kind of trouble or discomfort to the patients while shifting them.

Maintaining Hygiene: CNAs should not only ensure cleanliness of the ward by keeping it dry and tidy; but also help patients do their daily and basic tasks such as brushing teeth, combing hair, taking bath, cleaning their hands and toileting. If the patients cannot have food on their own, then it's the duty of the CNA to assist them in feeding.

Handling medical instruments: Using the medical instruments to measure the vitals of the patients such as body temperature, sugar levels, blood pressure and heart rate is an important CNA skill. The treatment of the patients depends on these vital measurements and starts after they are recorded. Hence, it's important for the CNA to be familiar with these medical instruments and equipment. They need to gain expertise in using these medical equipment to be able to measure the vitals accurately.

Record Keeping: As a CNA, it is necessary to know how to collect the right information from the patients about their illness and any medical history. They need to record and maintain the important medical information which helps the doctors in deciding which course of treatment is needed to cure the patient.

The above mentioned skills are necessary for anyone who aims to be a Certified Nursing Assistant. Developing these skills will enable you to take good care of the patients in the hospital and do your duty in a proper manner.

A lucrative career ahead of you

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is considered by many as a lucrative career option because of the handsome salary packages and the kind of work. This career can also act as a stepping stone for you to become a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Registered Nurse.

The career options for you are unlimited given the large number of specializations and jobs available in the field of medicine.

By becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, you are not only securing your career but also helping yourself become financially strong and stable; besides helping many patients to handle their diseases and recover. There are also other better and bigger career opportunities waiting for you, once you have become a Certified Nursing Agent.

A Meaningful Career in Medicine with CNA Training

When one is admitted in the hospital, it becomes quite difficult to handle the situation and anyone who has experienced being in the hospital will tell you how the nurses help them be positive and make the environment bearable. The CNAs actually act as angels for the patients as they help relieve stress and keep the patients optimistic.

The attention given to the patients by the CNAs benefits the patients as they feel cared for. The CNAs are trained in a manner that they can help and assist the patients whenever they are in need and make them feel comfortable.

Whenever a medical emergency arises, the CNAs are aware about how difficult it gets for the patient and their family and friends to handle the situation. In such cases, it is their duty to calm everyone and make them feel at ease to manage the situation effectively. No patient would like to be in the hospital longer than is required, and as a CNA it's your responsibility to ensure that the patient gets cured as fast as possible and gets home in good health.

The patients are weak and they need to take proper rest. The CNAs are trained so that they can make sure that the patients get adequate amount of rest and recuperate at a faster rate. The CNA training also equips you with the skills required to take care of the day-to-day needs and tasks of the patients such as combing their hair, brushing teeth, helping them take a bath, changing linen and so on. They need to ensure that the patients are kept fresh and clean all the time.

A lucrative medical career with CNA training

The CNA training equips you with all the necessary skills required to become a good nursing assistant and take care of patients in the hospital. Many people choose a career in medicine as they want to make good use of the education that they have acquired and feel that CNA is the first step towards a successful career in the medical field. This is true because CNA training lasts only for a few weeks. Once the training is completed, you need to clear certain examinations that vary from state to state.

Once you become a CNA, you can pursue higher education and specialize in certain subjects to become a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Registered Nurse. You can also pursue higher education to become a doctor.

Career as a CNA has its own merits and demerits. Besides enjoying good perks, you get a sense of being socially responsible while helping patients and taking care of them so that they recover quickly. However, it is not an easy job. There are many hardships involved in the career as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

As a CNA, you need to ensure that the patients are always feeling comfortable. For this, you may have to stay up nights to be by their side and take care of them. You have to always be on your toes to offer help and assistance to the doctors in treating the patients. They also may need to provide psychological counseling to the patients to make them feel better and cheer them up so that they can forget about their disease for a while.

The CNA training also helps you to get familiar with the use of medical instruments and equipments to measure the vitals of the patients such as their blood pressure, sugar levels and heart rate. You also get trained to record this important medical information that helps the doctors in deciding the treatment for the patients.

As a medical professional, you also need to know how to handle a death situation. You need to console the patient's friends and family members and make them aware of the fact that you along with the doctors did your best to save the patient's life. It's important to not get carried away with emotions. You need to be strong enough yourself to provide support to others.

For all individuals who are passionate and ready to devote their heart, mind and soul to this noble profession, a career in the medical field can be most fulfilling. Owing to the good salaries, you will be able to secure yourself financially and take care of your social responsibility by being of help to the patients in need.

Why CNA is a good medical career option?

There are several factors that support the fact for CNA being a good career option, such as:

• In the United States, the aging population in increasing and hence the number of adult daycare centers is on the rise.
• As most of the parents are working and have no time for their child, baby daycare centers are also on the rise.
• People are becoming more and more health conscious.
• The CNA training program is quite short, lasting only for a few weeks; hence you can start earning fast.
• There is a huge demand for CNAs in hospitals as well as medical facilities.
  
  
  

Hello Everybody!

Hello everybody!

Thats Me - Alice

I am Alice. I am a certified nursing assistant in USA from last 6 years. This is my first blog online. I hope kept it on the topic of my interest, which is CNA.

Why this blog?

A lot of my friends who want to become CNA ask lots of questions to me. I thought people might also be searching on the web for the same as well. So, why not create a blog online and try to answer as many questions as I can about becoming the CNA.

Need some help?

Do you have some question which you would like me to answer? Go ahead and ask the question in the comment section of the posts. If you like, you can also email me directly at cna.alice _at_ gmail _dot_ com. I would be more than happy to answer your question.

I hope you have a good time reading my blog and find the information which you are looking for.

Thanks for stopping by.

- Alice