CNA Training Programs equip men and women to care for a majority of the non-medical patient needs in hospitals across the nation. Certified Nursing Assistants are in high demand today and as such, they represent a secure career option in the midst of an otherwise shaky job market.
While training programs are extensive and certification testing is thorough, the rewards of engaging in CNA Training Programs are many and varied. Certified Nursing Assistant are able to work in either short-term or long-care environments, working directly with patients and assisting nurses with their daily care regimes.
Short-Term Care
CNA Training Programs equip individuals to work in emergency rooms or less urgent care wards of their local hospitals. Some of the standard training provided in certification programs includes blood pressure administration, vital sign protocols and stool and urine collection. Registered nurses depend on CNA’s to provide skilled patient care in both urgent and non-urgent situations, in which professionalism is of the utmost importance.
Long-Term Care
Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospice programs and in-home care all require nursing assistants that are trained to carry out daily duties in order to assure the proper care of patients. CNA programs equip students to perform grooming and personal care duties, as well as various lifting, turning and patient mobilization techniques that will keep patients at their highest possible level of comfort at all times.
The CNA Training Program
CNA candidates are required to pass both a written exam as well as a performance exam before being approved for certification. Federal standards currently dictate that certification candidates undergo 91 hours of CNA training, plus a full 16 hours of hands-on training in an approved (clinical) setting. Various programs range anywhere from 6 weeks to one year, depending on the specific venue in which certification candidates wish to secure employment after they have successfully completed their respective programs.
Students will be trained by highly skilled professionals to assist nurses and provide direct patient care. They will learn to operate the standard equipment utilized in hospital settings and will be trained in patient ethics as well as specific patient protocols.
The Opportunities for CNA’s
While many paid CNA Training programs currently exist, many hospitals are also offering free CNA training programs to meet their growing need for trained professionals to assist on-duty nurses. These courses are often contract-based, requiring students to work in the hospital that paid for their education for a set period after certification.
