As a CNA, you will be responsible to take care of the patients in the hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities. You will come in direct contact with the patients in most of the health care settings. As a CNA, you serve as an important link between the patients and the Registered Nurses (RNs) as well as the doctors. You need to be well aware of your duties and responsibilities as a Certified Nursing Assistant in order to be able to do your job up to the mark.
You can find out about the on-the-job CNA training courses in various colleges and universities, which offer such training. You can also refer to the Internet advertisements to find out about on-the-job CNA training programs.
Majority of the CNA training programs that are offered in community colleges will have an on-the-job training facility. The college will have a link up with hospitals, clinics, nursing homes or other health care facilities where you can develop practical clinical skills. Even if you get trained on the practical skills in these health care settings, it does not imply that you will be employed there at a later stage after completing the training and clearing your CNA exam. Besides, the on-the-job training does not entail any kind of payment. The on-the-job CNA training is only part of the course which you have enrolled and paid the fees for.
There are many advertisements for on-the-job CNA training programs present on the Internet. These programs allow you the option of working while you are still learning. However, the payment that you will receive in such cases will be lower compared to a full-fledged CNA. After you complete the on-the-job training, you are generally required to continue your employment in the same health care setting once you obtain the CNA certification. You will be trained on different kind of clinical skills such as maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, helping the patients with their daily tasks like bathing, feeding and dressing as well as moving, recording the patients' vitals like blood pressure and heart rate, changing linens, cleaning the bed pans and so on. You will be monitored and evaluated during the on-the-job CNA training by Registered Nurses (RNs) to test your abilities as a CNA.
How to find out about On-the-Job CNA Training?
There are several CNA colleges and universities that offer the on-the-job CNA training. You can enroll in these schools and universities wherein the on-the-job CNA training is included in the course curriculum. These colleges and universities usually have a tie-up with nursing homes, hospitals and clinics where you can get trained on your clinical skills.
If you fail to find such colleges or universities, then you can take help of the Internet. There are several ads posted on the Internet for on-the-job CNA training programs. You need to check for the eligibility criteria before enrolling for these programs and ensure that you fulfill them. You also need to undergo medical and background verification tests before you can apply for these on-the-job CNA training programs.
Training Hours
The training hours for the on-the-job CNA program differ according to the state. As per the federal laws, the candidates are required to complete a certain number of training hours before getting certified as a CNA. The medical or health care facilities of different states have the right to decide on the hours of training for the CNA program. Generally, a minimum of 75 hours of training is required to be completed to obtain the CNA certification.
Duties
The duties that CNAs perform in the on-the-job training depend on the kind of patients they are taking care of as well as the type of health care setting they are working in. Some of the common duties of CNAs include helping the patients do their day-to-day duties like bathing, feeding and dressing. CNAs also have to measure and record the patients' vitals such as blood pressure, body temperature and heart rate. CNAs also need to change linens, clean the bed pans and keep the patients' rooms clean and tidy.
The CNAs also need to help the doctors by preparing the patients for surgery. They may have to deal with a variety of medical equipment and instruments while doing the medical procedures. They may also have to provide mental and emotional support to the ailing patients.
Paid Training Programs
Usually the on-the-job CNA training programs do not entail any payment to the candidates. However, there are advertisements for paid on-the-job CNA training programs on the Internet. Here, the candidates can work while pursuing the training course. However, the salaries paid are quite low. Nevertheless, once these candidates get the CNA certification, they can continue to work in the same health care set up with much better salaries.
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