Do you love working in a healthcare setting, helping the sick with their daily living activities and providing basic comfort services to needy patients? You might want to consider a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant… a career that pays between $11 and $15 an hour depending on several factors. Even though it is not the most attractive of jobs out there, it is a very rewarding career nonetheless.
How to prepare for the course
For you to be a CNA, you must get CNA certification by sitting a state-approved examination. First of all though, the minimum requirements for CNA include a high school diploma or G.E.D, and are at least 18 years of age to enroll for the course. Once you meet all requirements, you will need to look for a certification course – the course that will prepare you for the exam and subsequently a career as a CNA.
Training classes could be through different chapters of the Red Cross, or can also be offered in community colleges, hospitals, and some nursing care facilities. You can take a full-time CNA training course that can last for several weeks, or opt for part-time classes which last for several months. There are even classes offered entirely online, but of course you will need to complete your clinical experience offline in a hospital or clinical setting.
CNA Certification Exam
Upon successful completion of your CNA certification course program, you must sit the certification exam in order to be fully certified to practice as a CNA, or nursing assistant. Your instructor will always help you in obtaining and completing all necessary paperwork so that you can schedule your certification examination. After forwarding your request, you should check your mail as you will be sent details about the date and time of the certification examination.
As is with any other examination, it is important to study well and prepare in advance for the examination to avoid having to re-sit the exam and wasting your time. Go over your handouts and notes that you used during the course of training and review any CNA books that you could have. Practice all acquired skills that you need to complete as a CNA and if possible, have a friend or relative serve as the model patient when practicing the skills to ensure you do everything as required.
You should even consider buying practice test papers or browse free CNA practice test online. These examinations can give you an overview of what to expect from the certification examinations. There are even CNA study guides which can be bought entirely online and which serve as a great resource when studying and preparing for the test.
The CNA certification examination will have two sections, with about 100 multiple questions that you need to answer correctly. Further, you will have to demonstrate different CNA skills to the examiner. Some CNA certification exams will allow you to choose the skills to demonstrate while others you will have no choice. Upon successful completion of both parts of the exams, you can then get your CNA certification and become a legal practitioner.