The description provided by the Nursing Assistant Guide is that a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) is an individual who works in a health care setting providing the much needed assistance to patients and/ or residents, depending on the work environment. CNAs offer assistance to Nurses, hence the name.
As such, they always work under the supervision of either an LPN or a RN to provide care and assistance to patient. It is important to note that some medical liability laws prohibit CNAs to execute certain tasks and procedures, unless additional certification is sought for the specific tasks at hand.
Further, the Nursing Assistant Guide explains that depending on the state rules, a Certified Nursing Assistant can also be referred to as a Nursing Assistant (NA), A Certified Nurse Aide, A State tested Nurse Aide )STNA) or a Patient Care Assistant (PCA)
Basic qualification Requirements
The Basic requirements when seeking to apply for certification as a NA in Wisconsin include:-
- Candidates must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
- Candidates must pass a thorough criminal background check
- Must have a minimum of GED
With that being said, Education Portal reports that Wisconsin’s most notable training facilities are the Madison Area and Milwaukee Technical colleges. A typical CNA training program is made up of a single 3-credit score which will prepare candidates to become competent and highly skilled Nurse Aides through the competency examination that is administered by the State of Wisconsin. Upon successful completion of the training, and passing the competency test, candidates will have the pleasure of being featured in the Wisconsin Nurse Aid Registry, giving them the green light to work anywhere in the State.
Applying for CNA training in Wisconsin
There are basically seven recognized and accredited locations that provide CNA training classes in Wisconsin. Candidates are at liberty to decide whether they should to enroll in a training program that hires graduates immediately after licensure, or allow the graduates to select their own employer. Each has its pros and cons so it is upon the applicants to make their decision based on their circumstances.
Note that despite the basic admission requirements set by the state, there are specific admission requirements for individual colleges that must be met. For instance, the Milwaukee Area Technical Institution expects students to:- pass a medical text, comply with the Wisconsin Caregiver Law, and pass a thorough course appointment evaluation.
Education and Training
The Occupational Outlook Handbook cites that Certified Nursing Assistant training covers such things as nutrition, body mechanics, physiology, anatomy, communication skills, infection control, and resident rights among others. Additionally, personal care skills, like caring for patients, bathing them, feeding them, and grooming the patients are also taught to candidates.