In today’s vulnerable economy, people are making smarter life choices. Millions now flock to “fruitful” job markets, such as medicine, and those going into the medical field are becoming more realistic about their goals. Instead of all striving to become surgeons and pediatricians, now many are taking their desire to help others and becoming CNAs. A CNA, or certified nursing aide (or assistant), is responsible for helping patients with their daily well-being. This includes feeding, bathing, and transporting patients under the supervision of a registered nurse (FYI: being a CNA is regarded as one of the best launching pads for becoming a registered nurse!)
CNA Certification Follows Training Programs
To become a certified nursing aide, you need a high school diploma or GED. You then have to undergo a CNA certificate program, which can last from six to twelve weeks depending on your program and weekly schedule. Certification programs in general tend to be accommodating to most part- and full-time work schedules, making them accessible to adults of different age demographics. The duration and intensity of the program depends on the state to which it applies.
A critical component to becoming a certified nursing aide is CNA certification. Without the actual certification itself, no amount of coursework can land you employment. This is largely because countless different schools can claim to offer CNA and nursing training, and certification ensures that the training received is adequate. Also, trainees from diverse schools need to be able to meet the same standards. Becoming certified is your way of validating that you can hold up to state standards. This is ultimately more of a help than a hinder, as universal skills allow you to transfer jobs if needed or desired.
There Is A Variety Of Different CNA Classes Available
Taking a wide variety of CNA classes is always a smart choice. While the main skills required are relatively standard – taking vital signs, bathing patients, feeding them, and transporting them – other diverse skills are an asset to a certified nurse aide; investing in a variety of coursework allows you to determine your strengths, develop your weaknesses, and even find your specialty. For instance, a CNA trainee aspiring to work at a home for the elderly would take additional classes in declining anatomy to help patients cope with lowering of bodily functions.
Keeping in mind where you want to work after certification is a must. As is true for most medical professions, the highest numbers of CNA jobs are found in major metropolitan areas, such as Chicago, Baltimore, or New York City. This is because higher population density usually correlates with greater numbers of hospitals, nursing homes, and other such facilities. The reason to keep job locations in mind is that standards differ between states, so the last thing you want to do is to become certified in Illinois and then try finding employment in Philadelphia.
Online Training Can Supplement Real World Experience
Of course, training to become a certified nursing aide isn’t all about the physical classroom. Because we are living in a world with increasing Internet capacity, naturally you can find training online from any number of websites. These programs come particularly in handy when, for example, living in Houston, Texas but hoping to move to New York City to find work as a CNA. Some online training programs can allow you to select the state whose standards you will learn. Thus, you can anticipate finding a job without worrying if your training applies to the correct state standards.
If you are intent on attending an actual offline school, one thing to understand is that there are few CNA schools (schools exclusively for catering for nursing aides). Don’t let this deter you, though: nowhere on your list should it be a priority that your training come from an institution solely responsible for Certified Nursing Aide training. Technical institutes and medical schools with CNA programs are among the most reputable resources for training and education. In fact, it’s more than fair to say that programs within general technical or medical schools are preferable. A school that hosts nursing programs as well as general medical or technical programs is likely to have a host of resources that you can access during your studies, thereby enhancing your educational experience.
On the other hand, many experienced certified nursing aides recommend taking courses at a nearby community college. The logic behind it is that community colleges are often geared toward accommodating adults with full-time jobs and tend to cost significantly less than other options. They also have the advantage of providing better support for people returning to education after years outside the classroom.
As you would expect, online schooling is a highly profitable industry, especially regarding medicine and other hard science disciplines. People want training in fields with plenty of jobs, and online coursework provides convenience for which millions of people happily pay each year. This is why it is important to evaluate the credibility of online classes before enrolling; people are quick to offer their financial information in exchange for instant-gratification education in the privacy and convenience of their own homes, and scammers know it.
If general accreditation information on a CNA class is not available no matter how many buttons you click or FAQ pages you check, it is safest to assume that something is fishy about the program. Unfortunately, the Internet is a nest for countless scam websites. Fortunately for you, the online education industry is well aware of this, and a legitimate online school will go out of its way to verify upfront that it is, in fact, legitimate.
Check All CNA Training School Options
This is an essential truth among all educational and professional programs: you should always peruse the market before settling on any training program. Consider your financial situation: is a less expensive community college program easier on your budget? Do you have the option of getting free training by agreeing to work for the facility that trains you? Also look into your living arrangements: do you plan on moving to another state in the foreseeable future? Once your search has the right foundation, you can rest assured that the remainder of your journey will build up from that foundation.