For those who are interested in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in the state of Washington, it is prudent for the student to understand that the state of Washington differs from most other states in that there are two distinct state agencies that govern the process of becoming a certified nursing assistant. In most states, there is but one agency that governs the process by which one becomes a certified nursing assistant.
However, in the state of Washington, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Department of Health (DOS) both share responsibilities for the certified nursing assistant. Generally, the role of the Department of Social and Health Services is to ensure that certified nursing assistants who seek employment in nursing homes are indeed qualified by meeting the federal requirements. It is also the responsibility of this department to approve and monitor the many certified nursing assistant programs that exist within the state of Washington and the Seattle area.
Job role of a CNA in Seattle, Washington
Certified nursing assistant programs in the Seattle area as well as other parts of the state of Washington prepare the student for challenging the nursing assistant certification exam and the entry level positions in the health care environments. The certified nursing assistants in the Seattle area perform functions much like those functions found in other states in the country, such as:
- taking care of the immediate needs of the patients
- changing the bedding
- bathing patients,
- feeding those patients who require some form of assistance
- taking care of the activities of daily living
- ensuring that the patients remain in a safe environment.
The certified nursing assistant works under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or other health care professional, and typically, the CNA can be held responsible for a maximum of six patients at one given time in a nursing home environment. This situation could change in a hospital environment, depending on the number of registered nurses available.
What can the certified nursing assistant expect to earn in the Seattle area?
As a certified nursing assistant who graduates from an approved learning institution, one can expect to earn approximately $24,000 to $28,000 per annum. This is rather competitive with the national average, but it falls somewhat short as compared to some states, such as Hawaii.
CNA training schools in Seattle, Washington
Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway, Seattle, Washington 98122
Phone: (206) 587-3800
CNATraining School – Tukwila
625 Strander Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98188
Phone: (206) 575-2010
Kin on Health Care Center – Seattle
4416 South Brandon Street, Seattle, WA 98188
Phone: (206) 721-3630
North Seattle Community College CNA Course
9600 College Way North, Seattle, Washington 98103
Phone: (206) 527-3790
Kindred Healthcare Corporation CNA Course
914 6th Ave. North, Seattle, Washington 98109
Phone: (206) 217-9419
Shoreline Community College CNA Class
1601 Greenwood Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: (206) 979-9268
Queen Ann Health Care CNA Training Program
2717 Dexter Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109
Phone: (206) 284-7012
What are some of the requirements established in order to become a certified nursing assistant in the Seattle area?
Like in all of the other states in the US, there is a wide disparity between CNA training requirements in the Seattle area as compared to the other states. While according to federal law, each nursing assistant course is to have at least seventy-five (75) hours of instruction and clinical hours, those institutions in the Seattle area generally require a minimum of at least eighty (8) hours of classroom instruction and clinical training.
Once on completes the classroom instruction and the clinical training, the individual is expected to take can pass a final examination and then apply for a license in the state of Washington. Generally, one can be ready to start work as a CNA within a week following the graduation process.
How to become a CNA in Seattle, Washington
In the state of Washington, in order to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, one must complete an Washington approved CNA training program within the last two years, or complete an approved nurse aide training program in another state that was at least 75 hours in length (and met the Washington state approved 1987 standards) within the last two years, or complete training as a military corpsman or medic and have at least 400 hours of paid employment in a nurse-related capacity within the last two years. You may also graduate from an approved nursing education program within the last three years and all candidates must complete a national criminal background check.
What does the Oregon state Examination for CNAs consist of?
The Washington Certified Nursing Assistant testing is provided by Headmaster Testing Service. The examination is administered in several different locations around the state. The two-part test is comprised of a multiple choice written examination, which is administered in a group setting and a manual skills test. You will be tested individually in a clinical setting.
You will be given five skills to perform as well as the necessary supplies and equipment to complete such tasks. There will be actors who will serve as clients for this part of the CNA examination. You will also be observed by a Registered Nurse using different forms of objective criteria. Upon completion of the skills test, you will have to pass at least four (4) of the different skills in order to pass this portion of the examination.
Educational recuirements to become a CNA in Seattle, Washington
In the state of Washington, there are several colleges and universities (especially in the Seattle area) that offer courses that lead to the Certified Nursing Assistant. Individuals who are looking to become a certified nursing assistant can receive fundamental nursing training as well as practical experiences in a clinical setting. Two exceptional schools that offer such programs are the Seattle Community College and the Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington.
The Seattle Community College District offers four campuses in the Seattle area and it is accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. All four campuses offer the nursing assistant certificate program that prepares graduates to take the Washington State Nursing Assistant Certificate Program as well. Therefore, one can obtain the education in the immediate area of Seattle and actually become employed in any area between the two, that is, Washington (the southern portion of the state) and Seattle. The 14-credit certificate program includes both classroom and clinical training that prepares the student to work in such areas as hospitals, nursing homes and community health agencies. The curriculum provides such instruction in safety and hygiene, first aid, physiology, and patient care, all of which are essential not only to become employed as a certified nursing assistant, but also to pass the two portions of the state administered examination in order to become a CNA in the state of Washington.
The Highline Community Collegeās CNA Training Program was founded in 1961 and was designed to help fill the gap in the work force as it applies to the certified nursing assistants, as there is an extreme shortage in the field of medicine. It is a 2-year program serving almost 19,000 students. It has a nursing assistant program that also offers both the clinical and classroom instruction that will lead to becoming a certified nursing assistant in the state of Washington. The college is located approximately 15 miles outside of Des Moines, Washington.
Wages of CNA’s in Seattle, Washington
According to the national pay guide for the certified nursing assistants, the average pay is about $8.34 to $14.18 per hour, with a total pay expectation of about $17,480 to about $31,333 per annul. According to the statistics available recently, the average certified nursing assistant working in or around the Seattle area can expect to make approximately $7.45 per hour to about $10.75 per hour, depending upon, of course, where you are working and how many years you have been employed as a certified nursing assistant. This is somewhat above the national scales, but it takes into consideration some of the differences in the standards of living and the cost of living in the general areas.