Certified Nursing Assistant Education

Answer 1

With a shortage of qualified workers and higher-than-average growth, there has never been a better time to work in the health care field as a certified nursing assistant. Certified nursing assistants work with a variety of patients to provide them with basic care in a medical center of hospital. Becoming a certified nursing assistant is a great way to get your foot in the door to a rewarding career and advance to higher levels such as Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Certified nursing assistant education consists of classroom instruction and hands-on training and can be completed in just a few months.

Certified nursing assistant training programs are usually found at local community colleges, vocational schools or medical facilities. Most programs take 100-120 hours to complete. Classes include patient care standards, rights and responsibilities, legal issues, use of basic medical equipment, daily care procedures such as feeding and bathing, emergency procedures and CPR training. They also learn to administer medications and keep patients comfortable. Once a student completes a training program, they must pass a certification exam. Exams are offered by the school, state health board or a national certification program. Students are certified and qualified to work once they pass the exam.

There are many reasons to consider certified nursing assistant education. Many facilities, such as nursing homes and long-term care facilities, sometimes offer free education to aspiring certified nursing assistants in exchange for a commitment to provide services for the facility for a specified period of time. This is a great way to learn skills for free. Also, certified nursing assistants are in demand all over the country, so you can essentially live wherever you want and be able to find a job. Nursing is a very rewarding job because you help others, so it's a great job for those who are patient and compassionate. There are also many options in terms of work environment and hours. Almost all medical facilities are in need of certified nursing assistants, plus they are needed at all times of the day, so you can work outside of the typical Monday-Friday, 9-5 time frame. Also, the training is very quick but intensive. Most jobs require a college degree and at least several years of education. Certified nursing assistants, however, can begin working in as little as six weeks. Another perk is that many employers offer benefits and room for advancement.