CNA Certification Programs

You will need to look into CNA certification programs if you want to work as a certified nursing assistant. Sometimes an employer will pay for these programs if you are going to work form them.   Certified nursing assistants provide care for patients who are sick or injured.  They work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, continuing care communities and home-health settings.  Before you can work as a CNA, you will need to receive training and pass a certification exam.

Certification programs prepare you to work as a CNA as well as preparing you to pass the necessary certification exam.  They provide the necessary instruction to teach you to work as a nursing assistant. These programs generally include classroom instruction, role-playing, demonstrations and hands on experience.

You will learn to perform a variety of common duties and tasks required of a CNA on a daily basis.  The training programs will teach you to safely work as a certified nursing assistant so that you never risk injury to yourself or to a patient.  Your training program will help you learn how to protect the rights and privacy of all patients.

CNA training programs can be full-time or part-time.  Some classes last for a few weeks and some last several months.  It normally costs between $600 and $1000 for certification courses.  Courses are often offered through nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.  Some community colleges and nursing schools offer CNA training.  Many chapters of the American Red Cross also offer CNA training.

If you want to successfully complete CNA training, there are a few things that you must be sure to do.  Read all materials and complete all assignments that are given to you during the course of the training program.  Pay close attention during class, demonstrations and clinical rounds.  If you have questions, do not be afraid to ask for assistance from your instructor.

Be certain to attend all of your classes and your clinical days.  If there is an emergency situation which will cause you to miss a class, contact your instructor right away to determine how you can make up any work you miss.  This is especially important if something occurs on a day when you have clinical sessions.  Do not be afraid to ask for help during your clinical rounds to be sure you learn to provide the best possible care for your patients.

Once you have completed all requirements for your CNA Training program, you will need to take the CNA certification exam.  This exam includes a written portion as well as a practical segment where you will demonstrate CNA skills.  It will be necessary to demonstrate several different skills during the test.   You will not receive your CNA certification until you pass both parts of the test.

A CNA training program will prepare you for the career of working as a nursing assistant.  Without this training program, you cannot become a certified nursing assistant.  CNAs earn more income and are often able to perform more duties than nursing aides who are not certified.