CNA Training, Requirements And Exams
Do you want a job that is going to provide you with a successful career? If so become a CNA also known as a certified nurse aide or certified nursing assistant. A nursing aide is someone who helps individuals with various tasks. They may help one individual with cleaning themselves like hygiene. Another individual may need help by just talking to them when they are in their care.
There are two easy ways to become a certified nurse aide. Enrolling into a two-year community college or specialized nursing school is one way. Another way is to follow a CNA training program at a skilled nursing facility or long-term care facility like a hospice. You can find nurse aide programs in your area or community college by asking your high school nurse or counselors. The internet is helpful in locating CNA schools for a nurse aide program or classes. Once you find a school you are interested in, request information about the nurse aide program and attend an information session. The information sessions provide more information on what a CNA actually does.
Check to see if the school or college needs a High School Diploma or GED prior to starting a CNA class or training program. Speaking, reading and writing in English are some requirements to become a nurse aide. Another requirement is performing simple math. Some nurse aide school will require an individual to take the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) examination to test their math and English skills. Some facilities require an individual to pay for the CNA training upfront. Other facilities may be free of charge if the individual agrees to work at the facility for a minimum of one year.
High schools and specialty nursing schools have different age requirements to become a nurse aide. High schools require the students to be 16 years old while most nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities require the nurse aide students to be at least 18 years old. An individual should check with their high school or nursing home to see what the age requirement is for the nurse aid classes offered.
Through a CNA training program you will learn practical skills and theoretical concepts. The classroom instruction will help you grasp theory while you gain the hands-on experience from laboratory and clinical practice. You will be working under the supervision of a Practical or Registered Nurse while in the program. An individual must have a minimum of 75 hours through the training program.
Once you complete your training you will know a lot of things to help you further your career. Some examples are: providing basic care to adults of various ages, ensuring patient safety and giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). After an individual completes a nurse aide program they have to pass a CNA certification exam. It is required for nursing assistants who want to become certified and seek employment through a health care field.
The CNA Certification test is composed of two different tests. There is a Written Test and a Skill Test. The Written Test is based on the classroom course instructions the individual received during the CNA training program. It is a 70-75 multiply choice test and to pass the individual must have a score of 70% or above.
The Skill Test features demonstration of 5 skills which are randomly selected form 25 skills. The individual taking this test will have experienced these skills during the clinical hands-on experience. The skills will be demonstrated on a client, dummy or live model for the test. A score of 75% or above is passing. If both tests are passed, the individual earns their CNA Certification and is listed with the Nurse Aide Registry of their state. If the individual fails the exam, they may have 2 chances to pass it. A CNA needs to renew their CNA Certification every 2 years.