Starting A New Career ~ Discover What Is Required To Become a CNA

New Year, New Career – Discover What Is Required To Become a CNA

With any New Year comes a time for reevaluation of where you are in life and where you want to be and time to motivate yourself to reach for your goals anew. With this is mind, this is a time to consider your career (or lack thereof) and determine if you are fulfilled. If you are ready to make a change, one of the most fulfilling careers that does not require years of training is that of a certified nursing assistant/aide (CNA) through the completion of a CNA training class.

If you keep up with such things, you will also know that January 23, 2014 is the start of the Chinese New Year with this being the year of the Dragon. The Dragon is the mightiest sign on the Chinese zodiac and symbolizes ambition, dominance, drive as well as good luck. These concepts are perfect if you are considering making the change to become a CNA or making any other career change.

 Is Becoming a CNA Right For You?

Becoming a CNA after taking a CNA training class and passing the certification exam will lead to a fulfilling career for the right individual. CNAs usually work under the direct supervision of a doctor or licensed nurse and the job responsibilities are usually those given in the job description and may vary from one place of employment to another.

The personal qualities of someone interested in becoming a CNA include but are not limited to;

•  a. Caring about the well being and safety of residents and patients

• b. Honesty

•  c. Being empathetic

• d. Being considerate of patients, residents, colleagues, etc

• e. Respecting others

• f. Being dependable

• g. Being flexible since job requirements and responsibilities may change and you need to be adaptable

• h. Being accountable

• i. Being responsible for yourself in terms of your personal health and safety in the workplace

• j. Being a team player

• k. Having great communication and interpersonal skills since most CNAs as you shall discover in a CNA training class spend the most time with patients and/or residents in addition to interacting with colleagues.

 

 CNA Training Class

A CNA training class will teach you most of what you need to fulfill your job responsibilities properly and safely. There may be a few instances were you will be required to perform a job task that you did not learn in a CNA training program and if you are unsure, it is important that you communicate this to your direct supervisor who will show you how to perform the task or direct you to where you can receive assistance to perform the task properly.

A CNA training class will last on average from four to six weeks but may be longer or shorter in some states depending on the state guidelines for CNA training. Federal requirements require the classes to last at least 120 hours but the actual training hours you receive in your particular state may vary. New York State for instance requires about 85 hours. Washington State on the other hand requires about 85 hours of training. Pennsylvania requires at least 75 hours and so on and so forth.

The curriculum for a CNA training class will also vary from state to state but some of the basics covered include;

 

• a. The role of the nursing assistant in the healthcare industry

• b. Communication

• c. Safety relating to fire or any other disaster in the workplace

• d. Personal care such as grooming, bathing, hygiene, oral care, skin care, etc

• e. Rehabilitation and restorative concepts

• f. Gastrointestinal and urinary systems

• g. Understanding and managing difficult patients

• h. CPR and the Heimlich maneuver

• i. Blood borne pathogens such as hepatitis B and C, death and dying, HIV and AIDS, etc

• j. Preparation for the certification exam, etc

A CNA training class includes text book work to learn the concepts as well as practice sessions using dummies, various equipment used in the healthcare industry, etc. The training also includes clinicals which require the practice of the skills learned in the training class in a hospital or nursing home setting with real patients or residents while being supervised by healthcare personnel such as a Registered Nurse.

If you are ready to make a difference in someone else’s life as well as your own, consider becoming a CNA by signing up for a CNA training class and passing the certification exam. There is a great demand for CNAs since they are the backbone of the healthcare industry as they take care of the needs of patients and residents. Take the necessary step to become more fulfilled in your career and life.