A typical CNA training course can be anywhere from several weeks to a few months in duration after which one can apply to take their certification exams. These exams have both a written and a practical component both of which must be completed successfully in order to receive your certification. As a certified nursing assistant you will have the opportunity to work closely with other members of the health care team giving you a unique insight into what is expected of a registered nurse as well as other careers that exist in the field. Many colleges actually require that students have their CNA certification as a prerequisite for enrolling in a nursing program. Having your certification will certainly put you in a better position even with schools that do not require you to have your certification.

Many nursing students also find that being able to work in the field is very useful when it comes to financing their studies. Hands on experience working in a medical facility as well as dealing with patients on a day-to-day basis is of great benefit while studying and will certainly enhance your learning experience. It may also be possible to perform much or all of your practicum in the facility where you are employed as a certified nursing assistant. Another advantage will be when you are looking for a job at the end of your training. With the facility as well as the staff being familiar with your work, you will find yourself in a very positive position when nursing jobs become available.

If you are serious about a professional career as either a health care aid or a registered nurse, attending one of the many accredited CNA schools available in your state is an excellent way to enter the medical field.

Those that are looking to work in this field should posses patience, understanding, attention to detail as well as a superior work ethic. Due to a shortage of workers who have attained their CNA certification, daily caseloads can at times seem overwhelming. In order to perform at peak efficiency while maintaining the best quality care, the CNA must be able to prioritize his/her daily activities and remain focused on the job at hand. Although one’s duties will depend on the facility, all nursing assistants provide clients with daily living tasks such as bathing, dressing, feeding and basic hygiene needs. These basic routines involve bathing either in a shower or with bed bath, hair care, brushing teeth or cleaning dentures, applying make-up, shaving, etc.

In addition to these tasks, Certified Nursing Assistants can also be responsible for such things as:

• Taking and recording vital signs
• Preparing patients to be taken to the dining area of a facility
• Change bedding if necessary
• Documenting the behavior of patients
• Reporting any changes in behavior to appropriate staff
• Provide emotional support to both patients and their families

Listening to each patient as well as to their loved ones is also an important part of the job and family members may have special requests for someone who is in care such as keeping their fingernails cut or tying up their hair each day, etc.

In all of this, nursing assistants have a duty to ensure that the dignity and confidentiality of each of their patients is of the highest priority. Accredited CNA programs will give students the skills necessary to perform the duties that are required of them. When looking for online CNA certification programs, it is vital that they provide placements for practical hands on training in addition to their theoretical classes.

Every patient in care has a right to their individual privacy and this is often very closely connected to preserving their dignity. Requiring assistance in one’s daily living routines is difficult by itself but if the fear of others learning about your personal circumstances is present the emotional and psychological health of the patient will be compromised. Discussing a patient’s condition with other staff in the facility is a necessary part of any CNA’s job but should be limited to those who have a medical interest in their care. There are also other issues of confidentiality beside those of patients. All medical facilities have policies in place for instances such as an outbreak of a communicable disease and they must be strictly adhered to. These occurrences must not be discussed with patients, their families or anyone outside of established protocol. Confidentiality also refers to anything that might be discussed among staff even if it is not work related. This usually falls under the category of gossip and can significantly affect working relationships and the atmosphere of staff in general. It can create a stressful environment and is detrimental to the emotional well being of all employees.

Although your CNA training will have covered the importance of confidentiality, it is the responsibility of all who work in the health care field to read and fully understand the specific policies of the facility you will be working for. Failure to comply with these regulations can be cause not only for dismissal but can also result in losing one’s CNA certification. This does not mean that talking among co-workers should be discouraged as healthy working relationships depend on open and friendly communication. It does however mean that each worker is responsible for what they choose to talk about both in and away from work. Also keep in mind that as a professional health care worker you have a responsibility to report any abuse in confidentiality that you may observe.

• Level of mobility
• General health of patient
• Prior history of bedsores
• Nutrition
• Continence
• Blood circulation
• Mental health and state of patient
• Existing signs or symptoms of infection

Accredited CNA certification programs will have provided extensive training on avoiding and detecting bedsores in patients.  Visual checks must be carried out daily for signs of skin discoloration and followed by touching the patient’s skin for any abnormal textures that may have developed.

Once a bedsore or pressure ulcer has been detected, it is difficult to treat since open wounds are slow to heal even in mobile or otherwise healthy people. Even after a bedsore has healed the area often experiences irreparable damage with the skin remaining quite irregular. In cases where patients are being cared for at home a certified nursing assistant or health care aid may not be present 7 days a week and it is therefore vital that others caring for the patient continue the treatment and regularly check for bedsores.

As soon as a bedsore has been detected the pressure to that spot must be eliminated immediately. There are a couple of ways this can be done.

• Specific supportive devices such as mattresses, pads, specialized beds or cushions can help relieve the pressure. Which devices are used will depend on how far the sore(s) have advanced, the size of the patient as well as his/her mobility.
• Changing the position of the patient regularly is critical. It is important to protect the wound with padding when moving the patient in order to avoid friction to the affected area.

When dealing with patients of limited mobility, it is highly recommended that every certified nursing assistant review bedsore procedures that were taught in their CNA classes. This can often be accomplished through online CNA certification review programs.

Although physical strength and flexibility are crucial for all health care aids, caring for people in various states of health can be emotionally taxing as well. It is virtually impossible to not become somewhat attached to the people we care for everyday, especially as we often watch their health deteriorate. Sudden setbacks or an unexpected serious illness of a patient can have a tremendous impact on an emotional level. Professionals working in this field derive great benefit from engaging in various uplifting activities with family or friends. Talking to those that are close to us or a professional counselor can also help in providing a constructive and therapeutic outlet.

Mental health is also be a major concern as many CNA’s find it difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance. With an increased workload and a shortage of certified nursing assistants one must be very vigilant about not taking on too many extra shifts as this will weigh heavily on anyone’s mental health. CNA schools are doing there best to train more health care aids but a serious shortage does still exist.

It is vital for all health care professionals to take care of themselves as well as their patients. Doing so will help to ensure a long and satisfying career in helping those that need it most.

Passive ROMs are for patients that are completely immobile and are not able to perform the exercises on their own. While making the client more comfortable, it also helps to prevent bed sores which can lead to serious infection and complications. Passive ROMs are still required for patients that use a bariatric mattress even when they are being repositioned on a regular basis. Even patients that have some or a lot of mobility will require an exercise routine and many will still need assistance in performing a number of their active ROM exercises.

For caregivers that have attended accredited CNA programs you will have been taught how to perform both types of ROMs and should have had ample opportunity to practice them on classmates or others before performing them on actual patients.  All exercise routines should be should first be discussed with all those who may be doing them with or for the client, the health care professional as well as the patient.

Regular and appropriately designed ROM routines are a vital component of every patient’s daily routine and must always be performed while maintaining the client’s privacy and dignity. Many health care facilities and agencies do provide new and innovative exercises that can be incorporated into a patient’s program through continuing education courses. Updating one’s CNA training can also be accomplished via online CNA certification courses. This is an extremely important aspect for anyone who is a certified nursing assistant in order to keep up with new developments in patient care.

In view of these serious concerns, it has never been more important to ensure the proper training of today’s certified nursing assistants.  Accredited CNA schools emphasize the use of appropriate patient handling equipment along with proven patient lifting and transfer methods that greatly reduce the risk of injury.  This is a crucial area of study as there are serious repercussions to both works and patients from improper handling techniques. Patients are often subjected to falls during manual transfers; they can acquire bruising or other damage to the skin, greater discomfort and pain and can also suffer emotionally due to loss of privacy and dignity. In many cases workers have shortened careers and often lose their livelihood as a result of permanent injury.

In light of the fact that the country is experiencing a critical shortage of health care workers, it is even more vital that those entering the field receive the most comprehensive and up-to-date CNA training. Maintaining one’s CNA certification through ongoing workshops and classes that teach the latest safe handling procedures and equipment are crucial to the well being of both the certified nursing assistant as well as their patients. Studies show that facilities that routinely practice safe handling procedures and make use of appropriate lifting and transfer equipment see a significant reduction in injuries to both patients and workers. Client safety must be a priority in all health care facilities but can not be adequately addressed without emphasis on the safety of their employees.

To prepare for the written portion of your Certified Nursing Assistant test, it is highly recommended that you download a sample CNA exam booklet. This will give you the chance to write the test and review any areas that you are not sure of. Also speak with the instructors of your CNA classes to see if they provide practice tests that will help your prepare for your written test. When researching CNA schools, it is important to make sure that they provide ample hands-on training that covers all aspects of the clinical portion of your CNA exam.

The topics included in the written test will include basic physical care procedures, the role of the CNA and psychosocial care skills. Some of the specific questions on most exams will include:

• What are exercises that utilize all the muscles and joints called?
• From what position should you assist a stroke patient in walking?
• Why would padding be placed on the side rails of a patient’s bed?
• What is the procedure for dealing with a client who is agitated?
• Which part of a sweater or other top needs to be put on first for a patient with weakness on the left side?
• How would you respond to a confused client who asks you what day it is?
• When would you use the Heimlich maneuver?
• How can a nurse aid help a client with his/her spiritual needs?

The typical written exam will take approximately two hours to complete and are generally multiple choice questions although some may require one or two comprehension questions as well as essay type responses. Make sure you time yourself when taking your practice exam and use the results to help in reviewing areas that you are not certain of.

It is important to know that a certified nursing assistant license is only valid in the state that they received their CNA certification from. If one wishes to work in another state they must apply to have their license approved by that particular state. The term for this request is known as reciprocity which simply means that you are asking one state to approve your licensing from another state. Although specific requirements will differ from state to state, maintaining your license in more than one state generally demands that you work a minimum of 1 to 2 shifts in each state per licensing period and have documented proof of your work.

When looking for the best CNA schools, it is important to ensure that your CNA classes will adequately prepare you for your CNA certification exams. Each state has their own exam standards but all will require that you pass both a written test and a clinical knowledge test. The written portion generally includes questions on nutrition, hygiene, proper therapeutic procedures, infection control and acceptable workplace conduct. The clinical portion of the test will consist of hands-on procedures such as, feeding, taking and recording blood pressure, bathing, dressing, use of bedpans, range of motion exercises and more. Accredited CNA programs must cover all topics that will be on your certification exam and give students ample practice time in working directly with patients.

• Ensuring patient safety
• Infection prevention and control
• Taking and recording vital signs
• Moving and ambulating clients
• Long-term health care issues
• Feeding techniques for a variety of conditions
• Body mechanics and mobility techniques for injury prevention
• Basic hygiene skills
• Effective communication techniques
• Client documentation and reporting
• Assisting patients with daily living activities

There are many specific skills that CNA classes will prepare you for such as:

• What to do when a client is confused
• Procedures to follow when a conscious client is found lying on the floor
• When and how to use waist restraints
• How to remove soiled isolation gowns

Many people who work full time may find it difficult to leave their jobs to attend on-campus CNA programs. In such cases, it is possible to take online CNA certification classes providing you make provisions to receive hands-on training in an approved medical facility or nursing home. The practical portion of your CNA training must include real patients and be performed under the supervision of a registered nurse instructor. Together with your online classes in theory and the hands-on work in an approved medical facility students will be well prepared to receive their official CNA certification.

When trying to decide which of the many CNA schools are best suited to your particular needs, it is important to ensure that both the school and the CNA programs are accredited.  If you choose to enroll in an online CNA certification course, it is recommended that they either provide an approved practicum module or that you secure a facility where you can get the required hands-on experience you will need for certification.