Certified nurses aides or assistants provide care to patients and residents in acute care, long-term care, and home health care settings. They provide daily care to patients and residents who are too ill or infirm to care for themselves. CNAs are often the caregivers who bathe, dress, feed and assist patients with routine needs on a daily basis. They also monitor vital signs by assessing pulse, respiration and taking blood pressure measurements.
The scope of practice for nurses aides varies from state to state and with each individual's level of training. Nurse's aides typically work under the license of a registered nurse who is responsible for ensuring that all care provided by the aide is done properly.
Educational Requirements
Typically, 75 hours of classroom training are required to become a CNA. Coursework will include basic health care and health law and ethics. Students will also complete a lab component, where patient care skills are taught and practiced.
Most community college systems offer courses through continuing education departments. This is a cost-effective option and has the advantage of being provided in the student's community. Courses are also delivered by private colleges and institutions. No matter which route you select, it is important to ensure that these schools are authorized by your state board of nursing to educate CNAs. Contact your state board of nursing to find accredited courses and requirements.
Clinical Requirements
Each student preparing to become a CNA must complete 30 to 40 clinical hours. This critical component of training is usually preformed in a hospital or long-term care setting where students can practice patient care skills with the guidance of current professionals and under the supervision of their instructor.
State Licensing Exam
Once students have completed the educational and clinical components, they are eligible to apply for certification via a state exam. The exam consists of two major components, the written evaluation and a skills test. The written examination tests the candidate's knowledge of basic health care practices, safe patient care and health care laws.
After the written exam, candidates are given a practical exam to evaluate their ability to provide physical care for patients. The candidate may be asked to perform specific skills, raging from medical hand washing and taking vital signs to feeding or bathing patients. The candidate will only be asked to perform skills in which he has been specifically trained and will be graded on each.
Keeping Certification Valid
Once a candidate has successfully completed training and testing, several steps must be taken to ensure ongoing certification. Basic life support (BLS) training, usually specialized for the health care worker, must be completed and remain current. A CNA must also complete 8 to 20 hours of work for pay during a 2-year period.
If a CNA fails to meet her obligations to continue certification, she may be required to repeat educational components, retake the certification exams or both.
Resources
The National Council of States Boards of Nursing is a great starting point for anyone interested in this career. The American Association of Community Colleges can help you locate a community college that offers CNA training. See Resources for links to these sites.
