Depending on the state you want to work in, you will find that there are lots of nursing homes that offer CNA training. One of the biggest conveniences of having the Internet and a PC is that you don’t need to waste hours traveling to and fro just to check out different nursing homes and to inquire if they provide CNA trainings.
Where to Find Nursing Homes that Offer CNA Training
Now, you can just key in “Nursing Homes that Offer CNA Training” + CITY / STATE (where you plan to work in) and there you have it – a list of nursing homes where you can get CNA training. The best part is – most of them offer trainings for free; provided that you work with them for a year or so.
Another option is to consider Red Cross CNA training. They also provide free CNA training in any of their branches. Once you pass CNA training from Red Cross and get certified, you will definitely find it easier to find CNA jobs that offer high salaries and other perks.
Then again, before you go ahead and scan through various nursing homes that offer CNA training, you need to understand what it takes to become a certified nursing assistant. Are you aware of the tasks or duties of a nursing aide? If you are then it’s obvious that it’s very demanding work. Aside from that, you need to be patient enough to be able to provide excellent care to the elderly.
You need good work ethics and you need to be flexible in dealing with different patients. Also, the length of time to study and train as a nursing assistant can be really time consuming. Though it varies depending on the facility, it usually takes a few weeks and a few months to train depending on the number of hours that the state requires in order for you to be able to take the licensing exam.
After completing your training from nursing homes that offer CNA training, when you take the licensing exam, you’ll find that it has two parts – the written and the hands-on clinical exam. For the written exam, the test questions range from 60 to 100 questions in multiple choice format. These questions are also a mix of profession-related as well as ethics-related topics.
For the hands-on clinical exam, you will be asked to perform at least 5 duties of a nurse assistant such as taking vital signs, dressing and the like. This will determine if you are ready to take on the real duties of a CNA. When you pass, you will be given your certification and your name will automatically be placed on the state Registry. This is only the time you can seek employment. Just make sure you know when you need to renew your certificate.
Typically, certification needs to be renewed every two years but that also depends on the state you’ll be working in. Though you’ll be notified by mail as a courtesy, you should not rely on this. You need to know when it’s time to renew your license.
Nursing homes that offer CNA training is definitely one of the best ways to land in a career as a nursing assistant. With the right knowledge, skills and ethics; you can definitely make a mark in the field of healthcare.