Working in the healthcare field is rewarding both professionally and personally, but nothing is more satisfying than becoming a Certified Nurse Assistant or simply CNA. The whole field of nursing has its focus fixed on a range of patient care facilities, and the nursing assistants are usually responsible for managing patient’s medical history, performing diagnostic tests, assisting patients in effective rehabilitation, and handling medical equipment.
To perform all these duties, you will require professional training and knowledge. And to get all the expertise required to work in this healthcare field, you will have to go for specialized education, certification, and training; otherwise, you won’t be allowed to work at doctor’s offices, local hospitals, and nursing homes.
Most high school graduates and adults often find it hard to select a right degree program, but they can always opt to become a CNA, as the training is simple and you can often begin with choosing an accredited university, college or another institution that specializes in healthcare education.
Interesting Things about Being a CNA
So many things go in favor of becoming a CNA. One thing that often attracts people is the fact that to start this career you only need a few weeks of training – in fact, 2 to 5 weeks CNA classes are enough in most cases. In most nursing schools, you have to spend at least four years, whereas, other medical career schools ask you to take up a course for a couple of months. This is not the case with CNA training – you can complete your classes in two weeks if you’re a full-time student, but it takes up to four weeks to finish your cases if you study part time in the evenings. Another interesting thing about CNA classes is that some schools are willing to offer weekend only classes for those who have a very tight schedule or are currently doing another job.
In addition to the flexibility of classes, the low cost of nursing assistant training is what makes it a preferred career choice for many. To start a career in another medical field (like registered nurse), you may have to spend somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000, but that’s not the case with CNA courses – they often cost a thousand dollars, or even less. Not only is it quite cost-effective, it becomes even affordable with several types of financial aids and scholarships being available in accredited schools and colleges. And the icing on the cake is the fact that in some states the government agrees on paying your fees if you are unemployed.
Once you have completed your course and training, you can be sure of getting a good job, which is obviously an added benefit. These jobs are in demand, mainly because they can work in a variety of medical settings. With a rapidly aging population in America, there is already a growing need of nursing assistants to help the elderly. You will have several options to choose from – you can choose to work as a care partner, care assistant, nursing assistant, clinical assistant, or a patient care assistant. Since nurse assistants can work in clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practices, daycare centers, emergency centers, nursing homes and other health related organizations, it’s possible to secure a job that helps you earn between $25,000 and $28,000.
Going Online to Become CNA
While it’s true that there are many accredited schools and institutions, and the benefits of becoming a CNA are many, there are some people who still hesitate to take up the CNA training and certification. It is generally because they have other things to take care of, and their responsibilities and busy schedules keep them from taking the plunge. Nevertheless, what these people don’t know is that now they can choose CNA programs online and complete their certification without having to devote a lot of time to their studies.
The biggest benefit of becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant online is that you will get a chance to student wherever you want and whenever you like – you have to set your own schedule and work accordingly. In fact, there is no better way of being enrolled in a program and still be in total control of your time. While studying the theoretical portion of your CNA certification classes, you will have the freedom to choose the time and place, which could be your home as well. You can continue doing your job, yet don’t have to worry about missing your online CNA class.
Another interesting thing is that you can also select the self-paced online CNA programs – this gives you full control over how to change your sessions according to your own speed. Moreover, you can take advantage of different technologies all through your CNA program – you can use video tutorials, research trends, and find updates related to medical and nursing fields. In addition to all this, many people consider going for online CNA education because it costs less and is a highly efficient solution for those who cannot afford to pay university or college fees.
Here, it is important to point out that though online Certified Nursing Assistant programs often provide students with an alternative to traditional academic education, some skills are hard to learn online, including CPR, phlebotomy, and use of an EKG. This is exactly the reason why some people believe it’s best to pick an accredited nursing school to complete your certified nursing assistant training.
Choosing the Right CNA Schools for a CNA Degree
When you talk about how to become a CNA, finding a right school is often the first step. The availability of the internet and online CNA courses has resolved the issue. A quick research will help shortlist a number of certified nursing assistant schools and colleges. You can quickly compare them for their fee, courses, and duration – you can read some reviews to find out what others are saying about a particular school or college.
Even if you’re searching for a school that offers impressive CNA programs online, you will still have to conduct some research first. Again, you need to check reviews and collect as much information as you can. You should bear in mind that sometimes there are certain differences in what you get in online certified nursing assistant classes as compared to on-campus CNA training classes.. Therefore, it is of immense importance to check the curriculum and notice if there is any difference in on-campus and off-campus classes.
More about the Curriculum
When you start your research, you should bear in mind that you will have to attend certain types of classes, which are not necessarily related to medical care and health care. Still, the nature of work will generally be the same in most hospitals, private clinics, and nursing rooms, which is why most nursing assistant classes will consist of Anatomy and Physiology, CPR training, handling of blood borne pathogens, correct use of personal protective equipment, handling biomedical waste, and other important skills required for basic patient care.
In terms of curriculum, you may also see some institutes maintaining a well-rounded approach by offering a program that entails classroom instructions as well as clinical supervision and practical experience. Similarly, different schools and institutes tend to use different methods and activities to help students gain real experience. It is mainly due to these practical clinical activities that some people believe that online CNA training programs cannot compete with on-campus certification courses.
CNA Programs and Requirements
In case you have read enough about becoming a CNA and now want to pursue the career, you will have to meet certain requirements. Before you pick a CNA certification program and send your application, you will need to check specific requirements a school or other nursing institution may have set. For instance, you need to be over 18 years of age at the time of applying. Similarly, you will need to have a GED or high school diploma before being considered eligible for a CNA program.
Here, it is important to mention that though requirements won’t vary much, some educational institution may ask for additional details. Some schools will want you to have a higher degree, while others would want you submit proof of vaccination and testing for Hepatitis B and other infectious disease.
After your admission, you will have to complete specific classroom and clinical hours. It may vary between schools and colleges in different states, but you may have to complete 40 clinical hours and 80 classrooms in most cases. Moreover, some schools would want you to score at least 80% on classroom exams – you would also have to score 80% on the course final exam as well as on clinical grades.
The fact of the matter is that enrolling in a certified nurse assistant program is often one of the best things you can do to end your days of unemployment. The programs don’t cost a lot, the institutes are willing to offer flexible class hours plus the opportunity to enroll in accelerated CNA programs, and the demand is huge – you can receive a 5-figure salary without having to worry about a huge upfront investment. Considering all these benefits, it makes sense to explore more details about this profession and make and informed decision for a better future.