CNA Schools

CNA Schools, What Are The Requirements?

Medicine is one area that has not felt the effects of our economy as severely as others. This makes medicine a great career choice! For those of you researching CNA schools there are many options available to you. Prior to being accepted into a CNA training school you must have graduated from high school or obtained a GED.

Training and Education

Certified Nursing Assistant regulations are mandated by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. These federal regulations make sure that the state approved certificate programs require the student to take at least 75 hours of training with 16 of these to be clinical hours supervised by instructors. Upon completion of these hours, if the students receives a passing grade, these students become CNAs (certified nursing assistants) or STNA (state tested nurse aides. They are then placed on their state registry of Certified Nurse Aides.

Although there are some variables from state to state, a CNA student will be required to finish a 6 to 12 week certificate program. Many of these CNA Schools are located in medical facilities or community colleges. In addition to the hands on experience that these students receive during clinicals, there is also classroom work.

CNA Curriculum

This curriculum includes instruction in a variety of areas. Infection control, patient rights and confidentiality are a few of the less obivous classes that need to be covered during this time. Then there are the more practical/direct patient care classes that require instruction. Under this category falls classes that teach activities of daily living (ADLs). There are also classes that teach the CNA student basic nursing procedures so that they may help with bedside care.

ADLs are exactly what they say they are, activities that are required daily by patients. CNA programs will teach, review and test for accuracy and competence in these areas. Ambulation, though taken for granted by most, becomes very important for the individual that struggles with the ability to move. CNA students are taught the correct ways to assist people based on their unique needs. Bathing is another item that is covered in this curriculum. It may sound easy but for the patient that is non-ambulatory or non-responsive this creates a new set of challenges. It is daily items like these that are covered thoughout  a CNA training course.

Certified Nursing Assistants will work directly with patients and at the beside with nurses and doctors.  Because of this, CNA Schools also include classes that address basic nursing procedures. The over all goal of a CNA is to assure the safety of the patient, help them with any daily activities that may arise and work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.

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