Welcome to the world of healthcare certifications!
No matter where you are in the United States, there are many different healthcare training programs available to you, and certificate types differ from state to state.
Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant or Certified Nurse’s Aide is a popular choice for people entering the healthcare industry. CNA training programs provide students with the range of skills and knowledge needed to care for patients. As an added bonus, CNA training programs are also relatively quick and easy to obtain compared to some more complex medical licenses.
What is a CNA?
A Certified Nursing Aide, or CNA for short, is a type of entry-level medical certification that a person can obtain to work in a variety of medical settings, including hospitals, assisted living communities, and outpatient offices.
What do CNAs do?
CNAs provide a broad range of basic care to patients, which can vary depending on their setting. A CNA’s duties may include assisting with activities of daily living, monitoring vital signs, keeping patients comfortable and clean, and tracking patient behavior.
In nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, CNAs often care for the same patients over long periods of time, allowing them to learn about and develop relationships with the people they assist on a daily basis. Due to their close proximity to patients and wide range of responsibilities, CNAs are extremely valuable members of a patient’s care team in long-term assisted living facilities.
How do I become a CNA?
Typically, state health departments require students to complete both classroom and clinical hours in order to obtain a CNA license. Classroom hours instruct trainees on proper protocols and standards of care, and hands-on instruction in a medical setting teaches students how to respond to certain scenarios.
As an example, Wend Care’s home state of Indiana requires Certified Nursing Aides to complete a 105-hour, state-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP). In Indiana, training programs are split between 30 hours of classroom instruction and 75 hours of clinical training. Together, the classroom and clinical hours follow a curriculum of 30 predetermined lessons that prepare students for working as a CNA in a variety of medical settings.
To see the requirements for becoming a CNA in your state, visit the website for your state’s health department.
On average, you can expect a CNA program to take anywhere from four to twelve weeks to complete, making it one of the quickest healthcare certifications that a person can earn. It’s important to keep in mind that while all training programs in the same state will have roughly the same amount of hours, their durations may differ depending on whether they are full or part-time.
At the completion of your CNA program, you may be required to pass a written or practical exam; like other requirements, testing practices differ from state to state.
With a variety of programs offered by technical colleges, private organizations, and local hospital systems, you’ll be sure to find a course that suits your financial and timing needs!
