A certified nursing assistant or CNA is a nursing assistant that has attending a training program and passed a special certification exam. A CNA works directly with patients, providing personal care and assisting with daily living tasks. Many people start their nursing career as a CNA, so getting CNA certification is essential to beginning a career in this field. Some employers may not require certification, but it is still a wise idea to earn it anyway. This will give a person a chance at finding a better job and possibly even allow them to advance in their career.
A CNA program usually involves a six to twelve week course that is through a medical facility, vocational school or community college. Students receive training in basic nursing, anatomy, nutrition, and get hands-on training for the clinical portion of the program. Training requirements for CNAs are set by each state, so programs may vary and involve more or less training.
After the training program a student will that the CNA certification test. This test involves two parts. Students take the written exam first which covers everything they learned in their classroom training. They will also be tested in this portion on ethics and legal limitations of the job.
The second part of the test is the clinical exam where students must demonstrate their skills. This part of the test involves demonstrating proper hand washing and safety techniques, taking vital statistics, collecting specimens, dressing patients and other tasks that a CNA would do during a typical day on the job. The skills tested are based upon the states legal defined job duties of a CNA, which may vary from state to state. Students are only tested on tasks that are legal within their state for a CNA to perform.
Students are graded separately on each portion of the test. If a student fails on test section then they are allowed to retest. Students must pass both portions of the test in order to earn the title of a CNA. There are limits to the amount of times a student may retake a test. This limit is usually three times. If a student fails the test too many times then he or she must go through the training program again and retake the whole test.
The CNA certification is awarding through the state nursing board and is recognized statewide. It may also be recognized by other states. Some states may require additional training or testing for a CNA to transfer their certification to that state.
It is important that a student is prepared for the CNA exam. Going through the training program is not always enough. Students must study, complete any practice tests and be fully prepared for the test. This certification is going to be very important for a nurses aide that wants to have a wide selection of job opportunities. It can also help lead to career advancement and recognition by employers. This certification is a great stepping stone and something that every nurses aide should attain to earn.
[...] In order to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to pass the exam and obtain the necessary cna certification, prospective certified nursing assistants can choose from a variety of different programs to [...]