About CNA Training

Certified nursing assistants act as liaisons between patient and nurse. They are the eyes and ears of the licensed staff, as they have the closest contact with the patient. The best training for a nursing assistant is hands-on. Though state-regulated certification courses are thorough, the reality of the job occurs once training ends and the time clock begins.

Significance

• While nursing assistants can be employed in almost any aspect of the health-care field, most work in long-term-care facilities for the elderly. Training can take place through the Red Cross, a vocational school, community college or through the facility itself. The average cost for a nursing assistant training course ranges between $300 and $600, though many nursing homes will offer provide it at no cost for eligible applicants. Some facilities may require you to work for them for a specific period of time once your training is complete. In addition, you will be required to undergo a physical, including a tuberculosis and drug test, as well as undergoing a criminal background check before beginning the course.

Function

• Nursing assistant courses teach you to provide quality care for patients with a variety of medical conditions. You will be taught basic nursing terminology, such as "prn" (as needed) and q2h (every two hours). These are both found in patient care plans that are considered the nursing assistant's bible. You will be taught how to properly document the care you give for the day, including how often you have toileted the patient and how many bowel movements they had. This is particularly important: If the patient goes more than three consecutive days without a bowel movement, they will need an enema to prevent fecal impactions. You will also be taught how to properly feed a patient, as well as learn infection control procedures. The elderly are at high risk for illness due to weakened immune systems, and something as simple as the common cold can be deadly.

Features

• You must know how to properly wash your hands before and after providing care to prevent the spread of infection. You will also be taught how to make an occupied or unoccupied bed, how to give a bed bath and how to use a bed pan. There will be extreme emphasis on safety precautions, including the use of a gait belt and a mechanical lift (for those who cannot walk). You must raise the patient's bed to waist level at times and lower it back when done, as well as use side rails to prevent falls. You will also learn basic nursing skills, such as how to take vital signs and how to properly perform range-of-motion exercises. These are vital, especially if the patient suffers from joint and muscular contractions. You must also know how to care for combative patients. Toward the middle or end of your classroom training, you will be assigned to a facility for clinical training. This allows you to observe and assist a nursing assistant throughout the day.

Benefits

• Your training will also prepare you for the state exam given at the end of your course. The handouts and booklets you receive throughout your course will help you on the written part of the exam, while the hands-on training will be instrumental during the clinical portion. It is during the clinical test that the state examiner (usually a registered nurse) will give you specific tasks to perform. These may include transferring the patient from the bed to the wheelchair, performing a bed bath or placing the patient on a bedpan. You will need to bring someone with you to act as your "patient."

Time Frame

• The length of training will vary from state to state. However, the general rule of thumb is two to six weeks if training in a facility, and six to nine months if taking it through a community college or Red Cross. Once you have completed your training and have received certification, you will need to re-certify every year. If moving from one state to another, your certification may not be considered valid.

Considerations

• Before enrolling in a training course, be sure it is a field you want to pursue. It is an extremely physical and emotional job and the pay rate is not great for the tasks you are expected to perform.