How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
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Working as a nursing assistant or aide can be rewarding, but how do you become one? From understanding program accreditation to preparing for job interviews, follow these key steps to begin your career as a certified nursing assistant.
Should You Become a CNA? A Checklist
CNAs help patients and positively impact the healthcare workplace every day, which makes it a satisfying occupation for those interested in working in the health care field and contributing to their communities. That doesn’t mean that being a CNA is a good fit for everyone, however.
Answering the following questions can help you decide if a CNA career makes sense for you:
- Do you enjoy interacting with people on a daily basis?
- Are you able to emotionally deal with severely sick and injured patients?
- Do you handle yourself well in emergency situations?
- Are you good at anticipating potential problems before they arise?
- Are you good at working in a team?
- Are you able to stand up for long periods of time?
- Can you display patience and compassion to people who are in severe pain?
- Do you have strong communication skills?
- Do you have the physical strength needed to lift and transfer patients?
- Do you have a strong attention to detail?
Source: Nursing Assistants, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
If you answered “yes” to these questions, then a career as a certified nursing assistant may be the right choice for you. Next, we’ll explore the various educational paths you can take to get your CNA training.
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Explore CNA Course Options
CNA students need formal training that will prepare them to perform the job successfully. In addition, each state has its own standards and requirements for CNA practice, making it imperative that CNA training qualifies students for state certification.
For example, licensing requirements may mandate that students take coursework in specific subjects such as nutrition, communication skills, rehabilitation, and vital signs. States may also have specific requirements for the number of classroom hours students must complete and the amount of clinical training they should receive.
Where to Get Your Training
People interested in becoming a CNA have several options for obtaining the training they need. Here’s a look at the most popular of those options:
Community Colleges
Students who enroll in CNA programs at community colleges typically complete their studies in about two to four months.
These programs provide the comprehensive education students need to begin their careers, as well as the opportunity to complete some of their coursework online. However, they do tend to take longer than other training options.
Hospitals
Hospitals that provide CNA training give students a convenient way to experience what the job is like on a daily basis.
These programs are offered as part of hospital recruiting efforts (meaning that graduates will likely be hired by the hospital immediately upon program completion) and are almost always free of charge. However, training is typically in-house with little or no online components.
Completion times are around one to two months.
Red Cross
The Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training Program teaches students to provide compassionate care at health care facilities of all kinds. These programs combine small class lectures, audio and video training, and on-site clinical experiences. Topics covered include:
- Motion exercises
- Patient safety
- Infection control
- Vital signs
Classes are typically taken during daytime hours. Program length is one to two months.
Vocational Schools
CNA programs at vocational schools equip students with the fundamentals of delivering efficient and safe patient care, mastering essential communication skills, and understanding the legal and ethical considerations governing professional conduct.
These programs offer considerable flexibility, allowing students to complete some coursework online and attend in-person classes in the evening. Program lengths are typically one to three months.
Online or On-Campus
Hands-on training is part of all CNA programs, so 100% online study is not available. Therefore, depending on your individual needs and preferences, you will enroll in a CNA program that is either attended entirely in-person or combines both in-person and online components.
Here’s a brief look at both program types:
CNA programs delivered entirely in-person give students the benefit of direct interaction with instructors and peers on a face-to-face basis. However, with regularly-scheduled classes (sometimes attended during the day) that require travel to and from campus, students with job and family responsibilities may not be able to opt for a 100% in-person program.
CNA programs with online components are a great option for students working full-time or with other pressing life commitments. Online students can watch pre-recorded lectures at times that are convenient for their schedules and complete assignments at their own pace without sacrificing the academic quality of in-person classes.
Partially-online CNA programs, however, may not be a good option for students who are not tech-savvy or who learn better in a more structured class environment.
Sources:
Nursing Assistant & Certified Nursing Assistant, Glendale Community College
Nurse Aide Training, Community College of Philadelphia
Research Eligibility Requirements
Every state has different requirements that students must meet for CNA program eligibility. So, it’s crucial for you to understand these requirements before you enroll in any program.
Below are requirements common to most CNA programs:
High school diploma or GED
Negative drug screen
Negative TB test
Current immunizations
CPR certification
First aid certification
Recent physical examination
Enroll in Your Accredited CNA Program
Deciding to become a CNA is an important step towards building a fulfilling new career. Once you’ve made the decision, it’s time to research schools and begin the application process. This section aims to guide prospective students through the details for and enrolling in a CNA program.
When considering CNA program options, proper accreditation is an absolute must. Accreditation is your way of ensuring you’ll receive a quality education that meets state guidelines.
There are several key areas where states may have different standards, including:
- Minimum classroom hours required
- Minimum clinical hours required
- Examination requirements
- Certification requirements and fees
Program costs are a concern of all prospective CNA program students. It’s important to know that the total cost of CNA programs, online and in-person alike, vary (sometimes substantially) from provider to provider.
Bearing that in mind, here’s a look at the types of charges and estimated costs most CNA students will encounter:
- Application fees: Generally, applicants can expect to pay application fees of around $50.
- Program tuition: Tuition rates are commonly charged either per-credit or per-semester. Rates typically range from $70 to $260 per credit and $4,500 to as much as $27,000 per semester.
The wide variation in program costs is due, in most cases, to whether the student resides in-state or out-of-state. - Tuberculosis test and physical examination: Additional program fees often apply, with the most common concerning requirements for a TB test and physical exam.
Finish Classes & Clinicals
CNA programs are a combination of classroom instruction and clinical work designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills required for competent patient care.
During the classroom portion of the program, which can often be completed online, students learn about:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Cognitive impairments
- Medical terminology
- Mobility
- Vital signs
During the clinical portion of CNA programs, students build on their didactic coursework to gain practical skills such as:
- Applying heat and cold to different parts of the body
- Helping patients with hygiene maintenance
- Taking patients’ vital signs
Students additionally become familiar with the physical demands of the job, like lifting and transferring patients.
Source: Certified Nursing Assistant, Maine College of Health Professionals
Pass Your CNA Competency Exam
Following completion of your CNA education program, you will sit for the CNA competency exam leading to state certification or licensure. Here’s a look at what to expect:
State Requirements
CNA licensure/certification requirements vary by state, but the process always begins by taking the mandated competency examination.
State exam requirements also vary from state to state – from the number of questions asked to the actual content of the test. So, be sure you have a clear understanding of all aspects of your state’s licensure rules before you enroll in any CNA education program.
CNA Competency Exam
The CNA competency exam is made up of written and clinical sections designed to test students’ understanding of the concepts and skills learned throughout their training programs. Here are the details:
Written portion: During the written portion of the exam, students are given (in most cases) up to two hours to answer between 50 to 70 multiple-choice questions demonstrating knowledge of the following:
- Managing patient behavior
- Role of certified nurse assistant
- Patient observation skills
- Safety measures
- Bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases
- Legal and ethical concerns in nursing
- Client rights
- Hygiene
- Mental and emotional health
- Emergency procedures
Clinical portion: Students may be asked to bring a volunteer with them on exam day to act as the “patient” upon whom they will demonstrate their hands-on mastery of the following skills:
- Taking vital signs
- Transferring a patient from a bed to a chair or a bed to a stretcher
- Providing catheter care
- Making an occupied bed
- Dental care
- Helping patients use a bedpan
- Dressing patients
- Measuring urinary output
- Updating patient records
- Bathing patients
Exam Prep
To aid their exam prep, CNA students can obtain study materials and practice tests, many of which are accessible online. Through these materials, students familiarize themselves with the types of questions they can expect to encounter and measure their strengths and weaknesses to determine what areas they need to focus on as they study.
To get the best results, students should time themselves while taking practice tests.
Source: CNA Practice Test
Consider Career Advancement Options
After working as a CNA for a while, you may decide to expand your opportunities by going back to school to pursue a more advanced nursing career as a licensed practical/vocational nurse or registered nurse. The following are some examples of the education paths a CNA may take to becoming a LPN/LVN or RN.
CNAs interested in becoming an RN or LPN/LVN can get the training they need by enrolling in an associate degree nursing program. These programs include coursework in a wide range of general education and nursing-specific subjects such as nutrition, microbiology, anatomy,
Most associate degree programs require around two years of full-time study, and many include online course options.
By building on the knowledge, skills and experience gained as a working CNA, bridge programs allow students to prepare for LPN/LVN or RN career advancement without having to start their educations over from scratch.
Bridge programs are similar to CNA programs in that they combine didactic coursework (often accessed online) with hands-on clinical practice. And, like associate degree programs, bridge programs include general education courses in subjects such as English composition, psychology, and algebra.
Bridge programs are also available to CNAs interested in becoming medical assistants.
Another option for CNAs seeking to move into advanced nursing careers is to earn a nursing bachelor’s degree. In many cases, employers of registered nurses give preference to those who have earned their bachelor’s.
Four-year bachelor’s programs provide a more in-depth education leading to becoming an RN as well as providing graduates a springboard to pursuing a graduate nursing degree and advanced nursing practice and managerial positions.
Prepare Your Resume & Apply for Jobs
Once you’ve completed your CNA training and obtained state licensure, it’s time to pursue and land your first CNA job. And your first order of business in that pursuit is to craft a resume and cover letter that effectively outlines your education, certification, professional skills, and more.
Below are links to several useful resources to help you in preparing your resume and cover letter:
- Nursing Aide and Assistant Resume Examples and Templates
- CNA Resume Example
- Certified Nursing Assistant Resume Objective Examples
- CNA Resume Examples
- Nursing Assistant Cover Letter Example and Template
- CNA Cover Letter Examples
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Interviewing 101
Interviews can be a stressful part of the job-hunting process. But by preparing for the types of questions employers are likely to ask, you can walk into any interview situation with confidence.
The following are examples of the types of questions that you may be asked during CNA job interviews:
- Describe a time where you had to deal with a demanding or difficult patient.
- How would you handle seeing a coworker mistreating a patient?
- What would you do if a patient refuses care?
- What do you do first upon entering a patient’s room?
- Why did you choose to pursue the health care field?
- In what ways are you different from other CNAs?
- What would you do if you weren’t getting along with a nurse you’re working with?
- Describe your strengths and weaknesses.
- How do you feel about working in a team?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Keep Learning
CNA Classes Online: Finding the School for You
Do 4-Week Online CNA Programs Exist?
Online Resources & Scholarships for CNA Students
