| Free Guide to CNA Training Programs in Every State
Complete a CNA training course and earn your CNA certification in as little as 3 months |
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A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a trained health care provider responsible for providing basic care and treatment to patients suffering from disease, illness, injury or mental incapacity. Some technical schools and vocational training colleges offer CNA training programs as well, but might have a higher cost because they are private learning institutions. These institutions such as the Gwynedd Mercy nursing school , can cost more because they offer more hands on experience and a higher-likelihood of knowing the current best-practices. Most CNAs are employed in long-term care facilities, hospitals, nursing homes or other medical care facilities. Facility administrators maintain a large number of CNAs on staff to serve their patients and abide by state guidelines for ratio of care takers per number of patients. Since CNAs are more cost-effective to hire than registered nurses they make excellent candidates for employment in health care centers. The average salary range for a CNA is around $45,500 per year. The average salary for an RN is around $93,448 per year. This is why CNAs are more attractive to employers seeking to maintain a significant amount of care providers on staff. However, since CNAs have fewer educational requirements than RNs they must work under the supervision of either a registered nurse or a physician. It is typical for health care facilities to employ one registered nurse for every 5-10 nursing assistants. Daily Tasks & Duties of a CNAThe tasks and duties performed by a CNA are very similar to those of a registered nurse. The CNA will provide basic personal care and medical treatment for patients, including assistance with bathing, eating, dressing and toileting. CNAs also provide medical care such as measuring and recording vital signs, height/weight, temperature, blood pressure and heartbeat. They also administer medication and answer patient’s questions about their treatments and medications. One limitation of a CNA is that they cannot prescribe medication or make medical diagnoses. They are allowed to make recommendations to the registered nurse or doctor on duty. CNAs are usually responsible for maintaining daily relationships with the current patients and monitoring their progress. They keep their findings in a medical chart and submit these to their supervisor for review and consultation. CNA Schools & CNA CertificationThe process of becoming a CNA is very simple and can be completed in about 3 months. For those seeking to gain experience in the health care industry without investing large amounts of time and money in education and training the CNA certification is an excellent option. The first step is to enroll in a state-approved CNA training program and complete the coursework. The federal minimum number of training hours required is 75, but individual states have the authority to increase that number to an amount that they determine to be sufficient. Many community colleges offer approved CNA courses and cost between $800 – $1,500. Many nursing homes and assisted living facilities offer on-site CNA training for current or future employees. These programs are usually lower cost because they are completed on-site during the process of regular work being performed. If the facility covers the cost of the program it is usually expected that upon graduation the student will become an employee at that facility. Some technical schools and vocational training colleges offer CNA training programs as well, but might have a higher cost because they are private learning institutions. The second step is to take the state CNA certification exam and pass successfully. The CNA exam includes two parts: written multiple choice questions and a hands-on clinical skills test. Both portions of the exam must be completed satisfactorily to obtain CNA certification. Well structured CNA training programs should include practice for both parts of the exam and provide insight as to what to expect from the skills test. There are 25 basic skills that can be tested, but each certification exam will only test 5. However, the student must be prepared and feel confident in performing all 25 tasks to ensure that they will pass the test. The final step is to register with the state nurse aide registry in the state where you hold your certification and wish to practice. Once you are included on the state registry list your license can be verified by prospective employers. |
CNA Training Programs by State
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