Four Ways on Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant
Do you want to know how to be a CNA or certified nursing aide?
This article can help you with essential tips on how to enter the medical field in four easy steps.
The main tasks of CNAs include giving hands-on care to patients and helping with their personal needs: grooming, bathing, dressing, etc. You will be working in medical facilities like hospitals, rehabilitation centers and senior homes under the supervision of LPNs or RNs. The senior population is increasing and so are job opportunities in the nursing field, so this is the perfect time for you to learn how to become a CNA.
Four Steps on How to Become a CNA.
1. Determine if being a nurse’s aide is the right job for you. The job of a nursing assistant is highly demanding both physically and emotionally, you have to understand and be prepared for this. The following are the characteristics of a nursing assistant:
a. Excellent communication abilities coupled with patience
b. A team player
c. Healthy and physically strong
d. No prior criminal records
2. Seventy-five hours of training plus sixteen hours of supervised hands-on training must be completed. Infection control, nutrition, proper ways to feed patients, helping them bathe and dress, patient rights, proper communication skills, etc are some of the things taught during training.
Free trainings are usually given by employers. Local high schools, community colleges, vocational or trade schools and other independent agencies also provide certified nursing assistant trainings.
3. Apply for certification. Your next step after completing the training program is to apply for certification. Check on the requirements for the certification test in your State of residence. Your local Nurse Aide Registry will be able to provide you with the necessary details for taking the certification exam.
4. Get a job as a CNA. Generally, the task of a nurse aide is to provide quality care to patients and help in their daily activities. You are also expected to make a daily report on patient condition to the supervising RN or physician. Nursing assistants in other states are allowed to perform basic medical tests like checking for patient vitals and administering medication. Hospitals, clinics and other healthcare environments are the main employers of CNAs but there are also jobs available in the home health service.
It’s not enough to know how to become a CNA to fit into such an emotionally and physically demanding job. One must be capable of loving this job to fully enjoy the rewards and fulfillment of being able to aide those less fortunate health-wise.
Tena Polansky has been a CNA training coordinator for over 12 years and has a wide range of experience in training candidates for CNA, LPN, LVN and RN. She was also able to help nursing students on how to become a CNA.
For more information on becoming a certified nursing assistant visit http://www.certifiednursetraining.com/
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