Certified Nursing Assistant Classes

Federal nurse aide training regulations are mandated in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA 1987).  State-approved training programs must be a minimum of 50 hours of theory and 100 hours of supervised clinical training. Aides who complete the program are known as CNAs or State Tested Nurse Aid and are placed on the State registry of nursing aides.  To maintain certification, all nurse aides must complete 48 hours of continuing education every 24 months.
    
Among the requirements for becoming a state-certified nurse assistant is the mastery of a set of basic skills.  These skills are needed to care for patients in both long-term-care facilities and in home settings. The CAN’s skills descriptions refer mostly to the care of elderly patients, but most of them would apply to any nursing assistant situation.
    
Sometimes in high stress units (CCU, ICU) may not have NAs because of the critical condition of the patients.  It is important to know that every state is different in regards to amount of time required for training and testing and the type of environment you'd like to work in. For information on specifics, you can contact your State Nurse Aide Registry and/or State Licensing Board. 

These are some of the classes that you will be taking to become a CNA.

• Medical Terminology
• Pharmacology Calculations
• Fundamentals of Nursing
• Clinical Procedures for Medical Assisting
• Introduction to Complementary Healing Practices
• Pharmacology
• Nurse Assistant Occupational Outlook:

To become a CNA, only a high school diploma and training is required. And because the skills required are fairly basic, the program is only 75 hour of classroom and practical training, followed by a state administered evaluation. Once an assistant completes the program he/she receives the title of a certified nurse assistant. A CNA is strictly an entry-level position with little room to advance without further education and training, but a nurse assistant certification gives individuals a chance for experience and an opportunity to see if a career in healthcare is right for them.
    
To earn CNA certification and be placed on your state's Nurse Aid Registry, you will need to take a certificate program through your local community college or hospital to prepare for the state CNA certification exam. These programs vary in length, depending on the number of classes per week, but they generally last 2-6 months. Most courses require students to have a high school diploma or GED. It is helpful to know basic anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. If you're a little rusty on your medical knowledge, don't worry! You'll cover everything you need to know in the certification course.