What is taught in a CNA Course

Certified Nursing Assistants are those who help the patients in the hospital who are suffering from diseases to perform their day-to-day tasks such as combing hair, taking bath, having food and so on. The CNAs are responsible to provide all the medical care to the patients under the supervision of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Registered Nurse (RN).

CNAs are also sometimes referred to as Nursing Assistant (NA) or simply Patient Care Assistant (PCA). It is necessary for the person to be well qualified and possess a CNA certification to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. There are several training institutes that provide CNA training.

A lot of responsibility comes along with the job as a CNA. The nursing assistants carry on their duties in hospitals, clinics, personal or nursing homes, adult or baby day care centers. They provide health care and medical facilities to patients and help them carry out their daily tasks. Many a times, the nursing assistants also serve as a medium or a link between the patient and the registered or licensed practical nurses.

Irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity, the CNA professionals provide help to all the patients. As they are in contact with the patients on a daily basis, they become an important source of information to the doctors regarding the patient's health. There is lot of work load when one is working as a CNA, but it's quite rewarding at the same time.

You need to take the CNA training and clear the certification examination before becoming a CNA. CNA training is available online, in institutes as well as in community colleges. The CNA training lasts for a period of 2 to 6 weeks. The Red Cross foundation provides a complete 6 months training program for the CNA certification.

Significance of the CNA training

While there is a huge demand for nursing assistants in various hospitals and clinics, most of them work in adult and elderly health care centers. The training for CNA can take place in a community college or a local hospital, a vocational school or through the Red Cross.

 The approximate cost for CNA training ranges from $300 to $600; although, at times eligible candidates can take this training at a very low or no cost at all. Sometimes, you may also need to work at the facility that provides the CNA training. You may also have to undergo a physical test including checking for tuberculosis as well as drug test. A criminal background check is also carried out before starting the CNA course.

Time frame for CNA training 

The length of the CNA training depends on the state. Usually, if the training is carried in a facility, then it lasts for 2 to 6 weeks, and 6 to 9 months if the training is carried out in the Red Cross or any community college. Even after the training is completed and you get the certificate, it will be necessary for you to re-certify every year. The certification may not be considered valid if you are moving into another state.

What Is Taught In a CNA Course?

As nursing assistants, you are responsible to take care of the patients in the hospital and help them perform their day-to-day tasks, such as having bath, brushing their teeth, combing hair, feeding them, changing linen and so on. You also have to make sure that the patients take their medicines on time and you have to monitor their health. All these things are taught in the CNA course.

CNA training includes training on the basic anatomy, proper ethics and manners, non-medical care of patients as well as how to keep yourself and others safe from infections. You also understand the techniques to handle emergency situations. Both practical as well as theoretical training is conducted during the course.

The theoretical training helps students to get familiar with the use of traditional medical equipments and instruments. Students are also taught how to maintain hygiene and keep the patients clean without causing any mental or physical harm to them.

The practical session involves the students going to the clinics and hospitals to take care of the patients. This allows them to use the skills that they have learnt in the theory sessions.

The training schools should ensure that the students are well equipped with all the necessary knowledge related to CNA before they appear for the examination.

The training course teaches the students the basic nursing and medical terminology such as “prn” stands for “as needed” while “q2h” means “every two hours”. The students will also learn how to document important details of the patients' medical conditions such as number of times the patient urinated, number of bowel movements and so on.

The students are also taught as to how to feed the patients and procedures to control infections. You need to take proper care of the elderly patients as their immune systems are weak and even a minor infection or cold can prove to be deadly.

You also need to know how to maintain proper hygiene. You should wash your hands prior to providing treatment as well as post treatment to avoid spreading of infection. Students will also be taught how to make the bed – whether occupied or unoccupied; how to give patient a bath on the bed as well as how to use a bed pan.

In addition to all this, you will also learn how to measure the vitals of the patients such as their blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature as well as how to record the same for the doctor's review to decide the treatment that needs to be given to the patients.

The theoretical as well as the practical training imparted to students through the CNA training course helps them develop the necessary soft skills as well as practical skills to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant.