CNA Certification Classes and Benefits

Nowadays, people opt for careers that do not only provide emotional fulfillment but also financial security. And among the jobs that meet these requirements is a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). In fact, there is currently a huge demand for CNAs in major cities in the United States, such as New York, Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Boston, and St. Louis. What's more, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, this demand is expected to increase by 40% over the next 20 years. CNAs are expected to earn almost $30,000 per year, depending on experience, location, etc.

CNAs, as their name implies, provides support to nurses in providing basic patient care. Other functions of a CNA include maintaining medical equipment, checking patient's vital signs, providing both social and emotional support to patients and their families, stocking supplies which are used by nurses, helping patients move around and/or exercise, recording patient's progress, charting body functions, performing emergency procedures, etc. They are also known in the following titles: geriatric aides, unlicensed assistive personnel, orderlies, or hospital attendants.A career as a CNA can also serve as a stepping stone to bigger careers, like becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

Also, CNAs get to work not only in hospitals but also in other settings, such as nursing care facilities, community care facilities for the elderly, home health agencies, assisted living facilities, hospice nursing, sub-acute care facilities, doctor's offices, etc.

The good thing about becoming a CNA is that it does not require a college degree. Minimum requirements consist of only a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), a clean criminal record, fluency in English, plus the completion of a CNA certification program, which usually takes 6 to 12 weeks or up to 120 hours in total.

Conducted by either Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses in community colleges or medical facilities, CNA certification classes involve topics like basic nursing skills, infection control, proper body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy, and physiology. Aside from this, it is mandatory that you also acquire a 75-hour clinical training. The American Red Cross also offers CNA courses, which are at much lower costs (and sometimes free) compared to those offered in community colleges, which usually cost $300 to $2,000, depending on the region. Other facilities that offer free CNA training courses are senior homes and state nurse aid training. These courses are also available online.

After completing the CNA training, you will need to take a state certification exam, admitted by your State's Board of Nursing. Upon passing the exam, your name will now be included in the registry of nursing aides, wherein you will already be allowed to perform CNA duties.