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nursing assistant

How to Find the Best CNA Training Program

3 months ago

Working as a CNA is an extremely rewarding career because you get to help people and feel good about the work that you’re doing in the world. But to become a CNA, you need to learn how to find the best CNA training program that works with the job you plan to pursue. We’ll cover various certified nursing assistant career opportunities, considerations for your CNA training program, key components of your training to ensure you’re getting the best education and certification, and where to find the best CNA training course for your needs.

Certified Nursing Assistant Career Opportunities

Once you obtain your CNA license, a bunch of doors unlock in a medical-based career. Jobs and environments that work well with a CNA certification include:

  • Nursing homes
  • Hospitals
  • Assisted living homes
  • Retirement communities
  • Home healthcare facilities
  • Clinics
  • Hospice
  • Schools
  • Government facilities
  • Rehabilitation facilities

If you intend to work in one of these areas, learning how to find the best CNA training program for your needs is crucial.

Why Should I Become a CNA?

Considerations for Your CNA Training Program

First things first, to learn how to find the best CNA training program, you need to know your current and future goals and how they correlate. Some considerations include:

  • Job requirements
  • Career advancement opportunities
  • State requirements
  • Prerequisite courses

If you plan on advancing in your career later, getting your CNA certification is often the first step. From there, you can easily tack on extra courses as needed. One of the biggest reasons most people get their CNA license is to give them job opportunities that aren’t available until the certification is obtained. Just make sure that the certification you’re trying to take matches the job you are applying for. On top of that, check to make sure that the course meets your state requirements for the position.

A Day in the Life of a CNA: What to Expect in This Rewarding Career

Key Components of Your CNA Certification

Getting your CNA certification takes a good amount of time since programs need to be a minimum length and all the course material needs to be covered within that timeline. As a result, most courses take between 4 and 12 weeks because they break them down into separate pieces. However, there are both virtual and in-person courses, and deciding which one works best is entirely up to you and how you learn. Oftentimes, virtual classes are the easiest for people to enroll in, but you also have to sign up early to ensure you get a spot since they fill up quickly. On top of that, some CNA courses may require in-person sessions to fully get accredited for the program, so be sure to look into your state requirements and job requirements before you enroll.

How Long Does CNA Training Take?

Where to Find the Best CNA Training Program

After learning how to find the best CNA training program, you’re likely ready to move on to the next step: finding and enrolling in a course that matches your goals and needs. Make sure that you’re finding a Red Cross-accredited course that supports your career goals and state requirements, and you’ll be good to go.

If you’re ready to enroll in a course today, HeartCert has great resources and CNA courses available. To find and register for one of our state-certified courses, get started by clicking below.

Register For a CNA Training Course

 


HeartCert is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more, throughout the United States.

Courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.We offer virtual courses and certifications, in all 50 states as well as in-person classes at our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan and major cities in Iowa, Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: CNA, cna training, HeartCert, nursing, nursing assistant

A Day in the Life of a CNA: What to Expect in This Rewarding Career

4 months ago

Choosing to become a CNA is one of the most rewarding jobs you can do in the medical industry. As a certified nursing assistant, you get up close and personal with vulnerable patients to help them with daily tasks to enhance their way of life. This often includes children, older adults, people with certain medical conditions, and others who need a little more help with their daily tasks.

While a career as a CNA is extremely rewarding, it’s also hard to understand what comes with the job if you’ve never experienced it yourself. So, what’s a day in the life of a CNA like? What should you hope to expect in this rewarding career? Keep reading to learn what a CNA is, what a typical day looks like, determine whether you should become a CNA, and learn how to become a CNA.

CNA nursing assistants standing side by side

What Is a CNA?

A certified nursing assistant (CNA) is someone who works in healthcare to provide care and assistance to patients in hospitals, clinics, assisted living homes, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. They work alongside nurses as a personal assistant of sorts, to handle the little tasks that would easily become overwhelming for nurses and doctors on their own. Usually, getting your CNA certification and becoming a certified nursing assistant is one of the first jobs that you can take while working your way up in the healthcare field. 

While doctors worry about diagnosing and prescribing treatments to patients, nurses manage care plans and administer medications while monitoring health and CNAs provide basic patient care like bathing, feeding, and assisting with daily activities. The level of education usually differs as well: doctors require a bachelor’s degree and medical school, RNs (nurses) require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing, and CNAs require a diploma and a short certification course.

 

What Does a Day in the Life of a CNA Look Like?

You can easily research to find out the day-to-day duties and job description for CNAs, but it’s hard to know exactly what goes into the job if you’ve never lived it. So, we’re going to go over the exact daily duties that you’d come to expect after getting your CNA license with a Red Cross certification course. We’ll cover your day from the time of your arrival down to your departure at the end of your shift.

Arrival: Beginning-of-Shift Tasks

At the beginning of your shift as a CNA, you’re essentially covering the brief of your “mission(s)” for the day. Typically, you’ll receive a report from the previous shift covering each patient’s conditions and needs for the day (or night). This report includes tasks done in the previous shift, what needs to be done in the new shift, it offers an assessment of the patient, and helps give you the information you need to start your day as a CNA.

Support: Companionship and Emotional Stability

As a CNA, you’re working 1:1 with numerous patients during a shift. From helping patients with their daily activities to monitoring their health and simply being a companion to becoming someone they trust. You offer your presence to patients as well as a source of emotional stability throughout the day. Oftentimes, being a CNA means that you’ll be helping people with their most intimate needs throughout the day, and a lot of trust is needed so they feel comfortable. On top of that, your emotional resilience and stability are always a must in healthcare.

Reporting: Vitals, Records, and Reporting

Multiple times throughout your shift, you’ll be reporting on your patients during each vital check, taking notes, and creating records of what you’ve done throughout the day or at night. These records are essential to the care and well-being of your patients and allow the next CNA to take over responsibilities during their shift without losing crucial information.

Assistance: Daily Activities

After receiving your patient reports, you’ll make your rounds to assess each patient and their needs. You’ll check vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate, etc.), take care of hygiene (bathing, brushing hair and teeth, dressing, washing linens, etc.), help patients get out of or into beds and wheelchairs, ensure patients are drinking fluids and get refills, and fill out records as you progress.

Departure: End-of-Shift Tasks

At the end of your shift, daily duties and tasks need to be completed before handing off your patient to the next CNA. From updating final records to pass over to completing end-of-shift duties, you have some extra things to wind down your day. This may include cleaning up your work areas, completing any remaining tasks for your patients, doing a final round of vital checks, or updating your reports. Once everything is done, you hand off your reports and get the CNA taking over for the next shift the rundown on what was done and what’s still needed.

 

Should I Become a CNA?

If you are a compassionate individual with goals of helping others and want to make a positive impact in other people’s lives, becoming a CNA is one of the best careers you can start. In the role, you will help keep people safe, healthy, and happy by helping them with their day-to-day activities.

Some of the benefits of getting CNA training and becoming a certified nursing provider include:

    • High job demand in the industry
    • Making a positive impact
    • Flexible work schedules
    • Career advancement opportunities
    • Variety in daily tasks
    • And more

Related Blog: Why Should I Become a CNA

To answer the question, “Should I become a CNA,” ask yourself if your goals align with the daily duties within the job description and whether you would feel happy with that work. If you answered yes to those questions, becoming a CNA could be an extremely rewarding career move.

 

How Do I Become a CNA?

After seeing the day-to-day responsibilities of being a CNA and having a positive reaction to them, you might be wondering, “How do I become a CNA?” The easiest way to get your CNA license is to take the CNA training program and pass the exam. From there, you’re good to start applying at your favorite hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living locations, and other facilities.

Related Blog: How Long Does CNA Training Take?

If you’re wondering, Is there CNA training near me, HeartCert currently offers CNA training courses in several states across the country, including Minnesota, Iowa, and Georgia. If you’re ready to get your Red Cross CNA training to become a certified nursing assistant, our courses are one of the best ways to get started. To find and register for one of our state-certified classes, get started by clicking below.

Register For a CNA Training Course

 


HeartCert is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more, throughout the United States.

Courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.We offer virtual courses and certifications, in all 50 states as well as in-person classes at our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan and major cities in Iowa, Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: CNA, cna training, HeartCert, nursing, nursing assistant

Why Should I Become a CNA?

8 months ago

Healthcare professionals of all kinds, from doctors and EMTs to nutrition workers and cleaning staff, are the backbone of our medical system. The hard work and sacrifice of medical workers have become even more apparent in recent years. Their ongoing dedication helps to ensure the well-being of medical patients and a smooth operation within healthcare facilities. If you’re looking to join the healthcare industry but don’t want to spend a lot of time or money on school, consider becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA.

Certified Nursing Assistants are among the most sought-after professionals in health care for many reasons. CNAs are versatile members of a health care team, working in many different settings and performing a variety of tasks, making them valuable staff members.

Register For a CNA Training Course
CNA with tablet device in hand

And, on the other hand, there are many benefits to working as a CNA! We’ll discuss a few of those here.

Ease and Affordability of CNA Training Programs

You can become a Certified Nursing Assistant in a matter of weeks, with an investment of less than $2,000. And because CNAs are in such high demand, it is likely that you will find employment quickly and easily.

Find out more about How Long Does CNA Training Take?

A Career that Makes a Difference

CNAs perform daily tasks that help people live safe, healthy and independent lives. They often develop relationships with patients and families, and are a highly valued member of any health care team.

Learn more about What Kind of Work a CNA Does.

Versatility and Variety

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and even in private homes. If you want to work with a certain population or in a specific setting, you’ll most likely have that opportunity. If you want to make a change, it’s easy to switch to a different healthcare facility.

Job Stability and Security

In Minnesota and across the United States, health care providers are grappling with a shortage of nursing professionals. With an aging population, this is only likely to increase. This gives CNAs the power to dictate where they want to work, and the comfort of job security.

Identify Passions and Preferences

Beginning your nursing career as a Certified Nursing Assistant will allow you to explore different settings and roles within the health care industry. If you decide to further your career, you’ll already know the setting, role and people you want to serve.

Steppingstone to A Nursing Career

The foundations gained in a Certified Nursing Assistant training course and professional experience allows prospective nurses to start nursing coursework a step ahead.

Don’t wait to begin your health care career. Register for a Certified Nursing Assistant course with HeartCert today.

This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2021.


HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR and First Aid in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Certified Nursing Assistant training. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications, as well as safe in-person courses at our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: CNA, HeartCert, nursing, nursing assistant

What Kind of Work Does a CNA Do?

2 years ago

A Certified Nursing Assistant or a CNA is primarily responsible for providing basic patient care. This basic care may include assisting patients with bathing, eating, using the restroom, or simply walking. Their healthcare involvement may consist of taking vital signs, assisting with medical procedures and more. With their versatility and wide-ranging tasks, Certified Nursing Assistants have become highly sought-after healthcare professionals, proving to be invaluable team members in the healthcare industry. Find out more about what CNAs do.

CNA nurse graduate
photo credit : Patty Brito on Unsplash

What does a CNA do?

Basic Patient Care

One of the main responsibilities of a CNA is providing patients with basic care. This can be basic everyday functions such as eating, dressing and grooming. In short, they help patients maintain personal hygiene and comfort.

Why Should I Become a CNA?

Vital Signs Monitoring

Another duty of a CNA includes monitoring vital signs. CNAs are trained to measure and document vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respiratory rate. Regularly monitoring these vital signs is crucial for healthcare professionals when assessing a patient’s overall health. 

Medication Support

A CNA will help with administering medications under the guidance and supervision of a licensed healthcare professional or registered nurse. CNAs will ensure that patients are administered the correct medications at the appropriate times.

Learn More: Trained Medication Administration (TMA) Course

Procedure Assistance

Certified nursing assistants may assist nurses and medical staff with medical procedures. This could include tending to wounds, assisting patients by transferring them from various areas within their room, specimen collection and more.

Observation

CNAs are responsible for carefully observing patients and promptly reporting on changes in their condition. This is an essential function as it can help healthcare professionals detect and address any potential health issues. 

These are just some of the meaningful contributions that Certified Nursing Assistants make in caring for patients. With an extensive range of responsibilities, CNAs assist nursing teams and other medical staff with delivering quality healthcare services to those they care for. Certified nursing assistants are critical to the care and well-being of patients in the healthcare system. If you would like to learn more about becoming a CNA or would like to start your career supporting others, sign up for our CNA Nursing Certification.

Register Today

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more, in Minnesota and throughout the United States.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications, as well as safe in-person courses at all locations and our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: certified nursing assistant, CNA, CPR, HeartCert, HeartCert CPR, nursing assistant

What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?

5 years ago

HeartCert CPR recently began offering an American Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant training course. The certified nursing assistant, or CNA, position is one of the most versatile in health care, which means that it is also a bit misunderstood. To help clear the confusion, we’re going to offer a brief overview of the common duties and responsibilities of a CNA.

assistant
photo credit: @bongkarn-thanyakij-683719 accessed 7/16/20 via CC0

Certified nursing assistants work in a variety of different settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities and private residences. Regardless of the facility in which a CNA works, their responsibilities are similar. CNAs are supervised by nursing staff members, such as registered nurses or licensed practical nurses.

Here are a few of the most common duties of certified nursing assistants:

Perform Daily Care

The most common and essential care that CNAs provide is providing assistance with everyday living tasks, such as cleaning and bathing, hygiene and toileting, transporting to and from activities, serving food and transferring between furniture and wheelchairs.

Measure Vital Signs

CNAs take vital signs such as temperature and blood pressure, which helps nursing staff monitor patient health.

Light Cleaning

As CNAs help patients with daily care, they will also straighten up the living space. Depending on the type of facility, CNAs may also be tasked with deeper cleaning of bathrooms and kitchens.

Provide Medical Care

Patients under the care of a certified nursing assistant will likely have a variety of health issues. CNAs will provide care as appropriate, and will also work to ensure that the patient’s physical limitations don’t create new issues, i.e. bed sores.

Listen to Patients

This is perhaps the most important task of a certified nursing assistant. CNAs tend to spend quite a bit of time with patients, and will get to know them well. By establishing this relationship, CNAs can identify potential issues and help patients get the care they need.

Certified nursing assistants are one of the most vital and versatile members of a care team, and they are also in high demand. Get your CNA career started with HeartCert CPR’s certified nursing assistant training course.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR and First Aid in the Twin Cities and throughout greater Minnesota. HeartCert offers a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Certified Nursing Assistant training. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: CNA, HeartCert, nursing assistant

Become a Certified Nursing Assistant with HeartCert

5 years ago

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, many Minnesota health care facilities are finding it difficult to hire and retain workers to provide essential care for residents and patients. To help meet this need, HeartCert CPR is now offering a Certified Nursing Assistant training course.

The American Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program contains both online and in-person training and testing, taught and monitored by experienced licensed nurses. The curriculum is rigorous and meets or exceeds both state and federal standards.

certified nursing assistant
photo credit: @zvessels55 accessed 06/21/20 via CC0

After all portions of the course are completed, students may register for the Minnesota CNA competency exam and/or apply for employment. (In order to speed hiring during COVID-19, clinical rotations and state licensing and testing have been temporarily waived. Students may seek employment without certification. However, they will have to take the exam in order to become certified by the state.)

Certified Nursing Assistant Course Components

There are two components to the Red Cross Nurse Assistant training course. All portions must be passed in order to graduate and seek employment or take the Minnesota CNA competency exam.

  • Blended Learning: First, students will take 43 hours of online training. This must be completed prior to in-person sessions.
  • Classroom Learning: After completing the online portion of the class, students will attend 35 hours of in-person practical and testing sessions. Social distancing and sanitizing measures will be undertaken to keep students and instructors safe.

Prerequisites

In order to take the course, students must have a high school diploma or GED. Students must be at least 16 years old.

Register

Learn more and register for the Certified Nursing Assistant Course here. Please contact us with any questions – we’re here to help!

Register For a CPR Class

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR and First Aid in the Twin Cities and throughout greater Minnesota. HeartCert offers a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Certified Nursing Assistant training. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: American Red Cross, nursing assistant

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