What are the Requirements for CNA School?

The medical field is one place that has yet to be affected by the bad economy as much as other career fields. That makes it a very good career pick! If you are considering going to Certified Nursing Assistant School, there are several career options you can go into. However, before you can be accepted into one of the CAN training schools, you have to have graduated from high school or have a GED.

Education and Training

CNA regulations are governed by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. This federal regulation makes it a requirement that any state certified CNA program ensures its pupils take at least 75 training hours, and 16 of those hours must be done in a clinical setting with supervision by an instructor. Once these requirements have been met, if the pupil has a passing grade, they go on to become CNAs or STNA (state tested nurse aides). They are also put on the state registry list of CNAs.

Even though requirements may vary from state to state, a CAN pupil must finish a six to 12 week certificate course. A majority of CNA schools are found in medical facilities or in community colleges. Also, besides the hands-on work students get at these clinics, they must also complete any required class work.

CNA Curriculum

CNA curriculum involves training in several topics. Some of these include infection control, patient rights and confidentiality. Other than that, there are also the classes geared towards direct patient care. These include classes like teaching patient’s activities of daily living (ADLs) and those that show the CNA students basic nursing skills and procedures to allow them to help with bedside nursing care.

ADLs mean exactly that, activities that are required daily by patients. CNA programs must teach, review and test for how well students know these things and their knowledge in those topics.  While most of us take for granted being able to move around on our own, it’s not that easy for those that struggle with poor sense ability to get around. CNA pupils will be shown the right way to help people depending on the patient’s own unique situation.

Students are also taught how to give someone a bath. While it may sound simple to give a bath to a non-ambulatory or non-responsive person, it is actually very challenging. Daily things like these are what are taught during the entire CNA course.

CNAs will interact one-on-one with patients and help at their bedside, along with nurses and doctors.  Due of this, CNA Schools also has classes that speak on nursing procedures. The main goal of a CNA is to make sure their patient is safe, -to-day things that they need help with and work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.