The career that we are talking about is no other than a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Although they are sometimes mistaken for nurses, the two are actually different professions. They have a more hands-on job since they act as the right hand or the assistant of nurses. When compared to nurses, certified assistants interact more with the patients assigned to their care. In the state of Indiana, assistants can earn a salary of around $23,000 – $25,000 annually. If you’re looking for a new career and you’re thinking of going for a job as in the nursing industry, training for it will require little time. When compared to pursuing a career as a nurse that requires training for 4 years, training takes lesser time since the whole training period will only take 3 months up to a year. In this article, we’ll tell you all about classes for training classes in Indiana, and the benefits of pursuing this career.

Why Become a Certified Nursing Assistant?

More and more Americans today are shifting to a career in the health sector. But what exactly are the reasons behind the sudden popularity of this career? Here are some of the benefits of becoming a qualified assistant in the state of Indiana.

• Increasing Demand – With the depreciating demand of most jobs in the country today, you’re probably wondering why the demand for for these roles is actually growing. This is because of the aging baby boomers. As this generation ages, they need more and more health care professionals to take care of them once they are incapable of doing so themselves. If you train to become a CNA, you will be guaranteed that you will find a job once you finish the training.

• Free Training – There are numerous establishments in Indiana that are offering free CNA training and classes for those who are interested. In exchange for the free education, these establishments will require you to work for them for a period of time. This can actually work to the advantage of the students since this training includes a salary and they can add it as experience for their resume.

• Honorable Job – Have you always wanted to have a job that involved helping people and changing their lives even in a small way? When you’re working as a nursing assistant, you will get the chance to experience to help other people when they need it the most. In fact, when compared to other health professionals, it is the nurses that have the most direct involvement and contact with the patients.

Classes for CNA Training in Indiana

Just like other members of the health care team, nursing assistants are expected be knowledgeable and competent with their work. They need to be aware of the skills that are expected from them and how they can deliver these skills. In order for someone to become a competent and skilled practitioner, he or she is required to enter a training course. Most institutions offering training will require their students to be a high school graduate. The training will take 3 months up to a year, depending on the institution and the student. While there are several institutions that will offer free training to their students, there are some that will charge a fee. Tuition fees for CNA training in Indiana can cost from $450-$2,000. The state of Indiana requires at least 105 hours of training classes, 30 of which are spent in a classroom lecture and the remaining 75 hours in practical training. After the training, aspiring assistants must then take a certification exam in order to become legally certified. The certification exam will include both a written exam and a practical skill test that will evaluate the skills learned by the students.

• Golden Living Center – Golden Living Center is one of the few institutions in Indiana that are offering free CNA training however the slots for their free training classes are limited. To have a slot reserved, call the Golden Living Center on 574-293-0364. Once you’ve been accepted into the program, you will be required to undergo a background check as well as a drug test. Students are also required to work for the Golden Living Center, with pay, after the training.

• Indiana Health Careers Training – Although their CNA classes are not free, the Indiana Health Careers Training is an institution that offers one of the cheapest training classes in the state of Indiana. The training at Indiana Health Careers Training only costs $450. This establishment has night classes for weekdays as well as weekend classes.

• Miller’s Merry Manor – Just like the Golden Living Center, Miller’s Merry Manor is also offering free training. Once the training is
over, students will automatically become certified nursing assistant trainees at the institution, however this training comes with pay. This on-the-job training will include a salary and students have a larger chance of getting a staff position in the institution.

A CNA trainee in Alabama must pass the National Nurse Aide Examination within a year of graduation. The testing center requires the candidates to bring certain items and if they don’t bring those items then they are not allowed to sit for the exam. There are some licensed healthcare facilities in Alabama which provide training free of charge. The cna programs are completed in about four weeks.  Two healthcare facilities which offer cna training in Alabama are Limestone Health Facility and Athens Convalescent Center.

If you are a trainee waiting to take the exam then you need to bring the following documents at the examination center:

• 2 forms of signature identification
• A photo id
• Social Security number
• 3 pencils
• Eraser
• Watch with a second hand

The test center bans you from bringing any other items and doesn’t allow you to sit for the exam if you don’t bring the necessary items. The State of Alabama Board of Nursing requires you bring a volunteer for the hands-on evaluation section of the exam. The volunteer you bring must be sixteen years old.

In order to train to be a certified nursing assistant in Alabama you must be at least 16 years age and one does not need a high school diploma to take the training. There are some courses which enable students to take nurse assistant training while being in high school. The candidate is expected to work as a certified nursing assistant upon graduation. Counselors are there for providing details of admissions into training. The CNA training programs in Alabama consist of:

• Patient care
• Communication skills
• Infection Control
• Safety Measures
• Vital Signs
• Basic Anatomy
• Nutrition
• Skills required for employment

Nursing homes provide clinical training under supervision. Minimum of 40 hours is devoted to clinical training. There may be some additional clinicals in hospitals and health agencies. The nursing homes must be licensed by the state and the cna courses must be approved by the state.

Courses consists of 120 hours and the Patient Care Assistant Training is of 290 hours. On successful completion of the course, the student prepares to take the National Nurses Aid Assessment Program.

Following is a list of a few CNA training centers in Alabama:

Faulkner State Community College
Bay Minette
Toll Free: 800-231-3752

Lawson State Community College
Bessemer
205-925-2515

Lawson State Community College
Birmingham
205-925-2515

Caroll Place Nurse Aide Program
Fairhope
251-928-5555

Shelton State Community College
Tuscaloosa
205-391-2211

Westminster Village
Spanish Fort
251-626-2900

The Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training Program of Philadelphia County can be found at Red Cross House, 4000 Powelton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104. This facility provides shelter to individuals or families that are temporarily or permanently displaced due to a disaster. It is a great center for training and has two large and modern classrooms designed for lectures and a large skills laboratory which is use for the clinical skills training. Students are able to use the skills and knowledge they learn to help provide care and support to the residents in both the long term care facilities in the city center of Philadelphia or Yeadon. There is free street parking available and it is easily accessed by SEPTA. This facility can accommodate up to 18 students.

Landsdale, PA
The Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training Program of Montgomery County is located at Saint Mary Manor 701 Lansdale Avenue, Lansdale PA 19446. Again this facility has a modern classroom which is great for lectures and a skills lab which is where the clinical training is conducted. The students then use the skills they learn to provide car to the local residents at Saint Mary Manor’s long term care units. This red cross facility is slightly smaller and can accommodate 10 students, there is free onsite parking but it is not accessible via public transport.

The duration of the courses are about 12-13 weeks.

Call (215) 405-8536 for information or visit the red cross website.

Applicants should agree to a background check, a comprehension test and a physical exam before admitting themselves to the program. Nursing graduates must pass all the written exams to be listed as certified nursing assistants in the “Health Care Worker Registry”
Other than these two colleges there are several nursing homes, community centers and the American Red Cross offering similar courses in Philadelphia.
The training classes in Philadelphia train you from the basics to the more important skills required. You are also trained in handling medical instruments and medical procedures. Patient and doctor assistance is also an integral part of the program. Sixteen hours is devoted to clinical training out of the minimum forty hours allotted for the total course.

1. Infection Control - basic precautions such forgetting to wash your hands, changing gloves when required or picking something up off the floor.

2. Safety –  the main points here are not locking wheels on the bed or wheelchair  and leaving the bed rail down.

3. Privacy and Dignity – not pulling the curtain closed for patients or not knocking and doing the introduction and explanation part.

4.  Forgetting to reset / zero out the scale when weighing an ambulatory patient.

5. Dressing the patient from the wrong side, they should always be dressed from the weak side first before the strong side.

6. Counting the correct pulse – again nerves can sometimes mess people up on this, practice makes perfect!

The main reason people fail on these points is not because they don’t know the correct way of doing it but is due to exam nerves!! This can be very frustrating as candidates will usually kick themselves when they find what they failed on. It is important to take it slowly and try to remain calm during the exam.

“There are similar programs, but this is the only one I’m aware of that incorporates an actual yearlong curriculum,” said Genevieve Gipson, a registered nurse and director of the Ohio-based National Network of Career Nursing Assistants. “This is definitely a positive development. I’m anxious to learn more about it.”

The program resulted from a Federal Health Care Sector Grant and the realization that no educational program existed that specifically addressed educating and training certified nursing assistants in the eight additional tasks the Maine State Board of Nursing assigned CNAs two years ago, such as drawing blood, checking blood sugar and helping with IVs.

“They’re able to do tests and competencies that other CNAs cannot do,” said Barbara Hannon, MDI Hospital’s chief nurse. “They’re able to assist the nurses at each hospital in a better way.”

Boal said the idea was to raise the skill levels of CNAs to better address gaps and areas previously assigned to registered nurses and specialists. That approach has been of keen interest and value to Maine’s rural hospitals.

Several rural health care facilities took part in the program. In all, the following hospitals contributed staff, facilities and CNA students: MDI Hospital, Blue Hill Memorial, Down East Community, Maine Coast Memorial, Mayo Regional and C.A. Dean.

“Last August, we were dead in the water because we were unable to find anyone to take us on as an accredited program,” Boal said.

Then Boal made a presentation to EMCC President Larry Barrett and Mike Ballesteros, the school’s dean of development and business services. It took 10 minutes for them to say yes.

“And there was more resistance to this project than I would publicly admit. It was difficult,” Boal said.

Several medical professionals questioned the need for experienced CNAs and wondered how the extra training would make a difference.

“Initially there was a lot of resistance because it was change, it was different,” Boal explained. “We have a scope of practice in nursing where there are tasks you do and don’t do, and this changes some of that.”

Deborah Thomas, director of Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Education and Training Center, was one of those cynics.

“She wasn’t sure what the point of this was, as a lot of people weren’t,” Boal said. “But at one point later on, she said if she had a choice for hiring someone between a CNA and a CNA who did this ECNA program, she’d take the ECNA every time.”

Each of the 14 members of the inaugural ECNA class received 104 hours of training and class time over a 12-month period. Of the 14, only one didn’t finish and that’s only because her doctor ordered her to get bed rest during her pregnancy.

“There’s a lot of dedication here,” said Hannon. “Some of these graduates traveled the entire state to do this. They’ve gone from Greenville to Blue Hill to MDI, and some of them travel four to five hours a day to go to an eight-hour class.”

Cheryl Kolodziej, a CNA since 1976 who now works at MDI Hospital, is also a graduate of the first ECNA class.

“For me, it was more of a boost to get back into school and broaden my knowledge in the field,” said Koldziej. “But getting to work with the other staff members at other hospitals was great in terms of experience and seeing what they do.”

Hannon said the program offers rewards for participants, patients and the profession in general.

“This changes their role in the hospital, it changes their salary remuneration, and now the program is being extended to other hospitals in the state and outside,” she said.

St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston already has adopted the model for this program and partnered with Central Maine Community College to create a similar curriculum for elderly care.

“This program is an unequivocal success and offers a model of how valuable partnerships can be in the pooling of limited resources to achieve a common goal,” said Boal.

The nursing school will offer a nine week course for individuals wanting to become a certified nursing assistant. This includes 50 hours of learning in the classroom and 100 hours of clinical experience. The courses will take place in the both the daytime and night in order to accommodate different individuals schedules.

One of the reasons that the care home have chosen to make this step of opening their own nursing school is because they feel there is a shortage of qualified staff available in the current workforce. The school will be using the latest technologies in their courses to help communications by transmitting patient information digitally. It is important that new CNAs are comfortable in using these new technologies in the workplace. As well as being trained with the new technology students will also be trained in the regular practices such as patient care, patient assessment, infection control, physiology, first aid core principles, and CPR.

The certified nursing assistant certification is a great opening pathway to a career in health, which offers the opportunity for individuals to become a registered nurse by attending nursing school.

As the increasingly elderly population of Ventura County continues to grow, so will the need for care givers and nursing assistants. As the popular does age, the need for extra care and nursing will also increase – this means more work and job opportunities for certified nursing assistants and home caregivers.

The courses are available to anyone interested and fees are $1,800, however financial aid is available.

For more information visit: Select School of Nursing 

It is running  a 13 week course which will take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5.00 to 9.00pm. The course is being held at the School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206, Derby.

This program is open to all adults over 18 with either a high school diploma or a GED. The classes will cover infection control, legal & ethical responsibilities, communications, moving and positioning residents, personal care skills, body mechanics, nutrition, measuring vital signs, and restorative care skills. Some of these topics can be found in our training videos section.

When the students successfully complete the course and the clinical experience, they will then be qualified to take the state exam for certification as a nursing assistant in Connecticut.

For this particular course there is a $1,200 tuition fee which includes the course book, workbook, and malpractice insurance coverage for the clinical rotation.

If you are interested and would like more information about the course please call the School of Allied Health Careers at 203-732-1276.

If you have ever thought of doing your part to fill the nursing shortage, have you considered taking up your certified nurse assistant training with the American Red Cross? The Red Cross (and the Red Crescent) are an international humanitarian movement with 97 million volunteers across the world. They work in poverty and war torn areas mainly to alleviate human suffering and provide a variety of health care options to those that need it. They also distribute aid and care packages.

American Red Cross CNA training
The prestigious American Red Cross is unlike any other CNA certification program, as it is not just recognized in your particular state, but also nationally and internationally. So if you ever want to relocate to another state to deal with a particular nursing shortage, or if you move to another country to be with family or a spouse, then you will still be able to use your qualifications. The program allows you to be certified to work as a nursing assistant within 6-12 weeks of having started your studies. It is a very practical course that prepares you for working in the field. It does have more stringent requirements for eligibility though, so these are things you should consider before applying:

• minimum 18 years of age
• no infectious diseases
• not pregnant

Funding your course
To fund your Red Cross CNA training, you can explore the option of government grants, for which you can apply using the FAFSA website and online application form. If you are not eligible for this type of funding then you could consider a student loan, or even one of the many scholarships available for certain subjects. You can get in touch with the American Red Cross for more information about potential funding possibilities for your CNA training course.

There are a number of government grants and even student loans that you can use to finance your nursing career studies. You can unfortunately make the wrong decision when trying to find funding for your nursing studies; student loans may not be something you would consider because of the necessary repayments once your studies have been completed.

Government grants are superior
Without a doubt, government grants are far superior to students loans and other options to complete your CNA training. This is because the government has a huge budget for health care that includes earmarks for student funding. Nursing and the health sciences in general are a field that is highly in demand and it is not hard to find government grants in the subject.However, you do need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for government grants. They need to look at your income, your parent’s income, the education level of your parents, your current lifestyle and situation, any dependents and so on. Government grants and the amount that you can receive as a grant are determined by how close you are to the poverty level.

How to apply for your grant
The only way to apply for a government grant is by completing an application on the FAFSA government website. There are deadlines involved for every year so be sure to check what they are for the year you are applying. Something else to consider is that you are limited in the locations that you can apply to for your training courses. This is of course based on where you reside, but in some circumstances, if there is a nursing shortage then you might be able to take up training in that area so it is easier to secure employment after you’ve applied for and obtained your government grants.

You may be surprised after you complete your CNA training to find out that there is a nursing shortage in many places around the world. These shortages often occur in rural areas, but sometimes it can become an issue in big cities as well. In recent years, while nursing is still certainly a popular topic, the pay has not been as good as other jobs. In many jurisdictions, nurses and hospital staff have gone on strikes to get better wages. If you are located in one of those areas it could be tough getting a job as hospitals cannot hire staff to replace striking workers.

However, if you broaden your horizons then you could certainly find a nursing shortage somewhere and fill in that niche and you may even be able to secure certain government grants to help you get set up in your new residence.

Check hospitals and care homes in your area first
If you look carefully around the area where you live, you may find that there is a nursing shortage in a particular care home or hospital. It is unlikely that your main general hospital will have this issue, but try some of the smaller hospitals or retirement homes. If there is a particular care institution that you would like to work in, but they don’t currently have a nursing shortage, then you might like to volunteer as that could give you a foot in the door for the next time a position comes up.

Further afield
Going further afield, contact your state health department careers office or even another state’s career office to see if you can land a nursing job elsewhere. You do not have to go as far as Alaska (although there is a pretty big nursing shortage there and this is something you might like to consider if you are brave enough) as there are likely to be rural areas in your own state where nurses are greatly needed.