Are you one of those many people who want to pursue an exciting career as a CNA but don’t have much idea about the CNA career itself? If your answer is yes then we are here to give you all information required to kick start your career.

A CNA, which stands for Certified Nursing Assistant, is a medical officer that is in charge of various activities related to patients. A CNA takes care of all records of a patient and updates the RN, or doctor. Additionally, a CNA is the first person most patients see before the RN or doctor comes in to the hospital, nursing home, or patient room at a doctor’s office.

CNA career

To become a CNA, there are certain requirements that you must meet in order to get legal permit to work. The requirements may vary from one state to another; however, the general requirements are usually the same at all the states. To start a reputed career of a CNA, the first thing that you need to consider is getting the best possible education. Usually, you can take CNA training classes at various community colleges, universities, nursing homes and hospitals as well as American Red Cross. The cost of CNA training usually ranges from $800 to $1200. You can also get financial aid at community colleges for your studies. At some nursing homes and hospitals, you can even get free CNA trainings. Usually at such nursing homes, you will have to work for them for a certain period of time.

If you don’t have enough time to attend a CNA training class, you can also take online CNA class. You can take the theoretical part of the CNA training through online classes and then register at a local medical facility for the practical session. In order to appear the CNA certification examination, you will have to complete 75 to 125 hours of classes. After you complete your training classes, you can register for the CNA certification exam of your state. The exam consists of two sections: the written test and the clinical test. In order to get the CNA license, you will have to pass both the test in the same setting.

After you pass the CNA certification exam, you are ready to start your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant. The last but not the least, to get a job as a CNA, you should start hunting for CAN jobs and vacations. You should tailor a strong CNA resume that will help you get a well paying CNA job. Also, you should prepare yourself for the job interview. You should confidently express yourself and your qualities that will persuade the employer to hire you. If all done as said, your CNA career will flourish.

Good luck!

Often paying for CNA classes can bring hard times to many families. But finding free CNA classes aren’t really as easy as finding paid CNA classes. The CNA class has a huge cost because of various training and instructional materials such as CNA instructors, CPR training, books, stethoscope and other clinical utilities. These costs combine to form a huge price tag which is hard for many to pay. For those who really can’t afford to pay for the courses, there are free CNA classes available too. You just need to head in correct direction to find it out.

High Schools: Some high schools also offer a CNA program. In such case, the program can be a part of the graduation and be actually be free for you; however you might be charged the registration fee. If enrolled early enough, you can graduate with both, a high school diploma and a CNA certificate. Doing so, you can enter any medical or healthcare facility as soon as you graduate from the high school.

Government fund and state programs: The US government offers various funds and scholarships to different community colleges. Most community colleges offer CNA training classes. So student who is a veteran or has family income less than $25000 is more likely to get government funds in form of grants. Also, in some states, the state might offer different grants and scholarships for those who are financially qualified or interested in learning.

Joining Nursing Home: Some nursing homes prepare students for CNA examination at free of cost. Because nursing homes are based on donations and are non-profit organizations, they often provide free CNA classes to students desiring to pursue a career in this field. However, they often require the students to sign a contract stating them to work for the nursing home for a certain period of time.

Healthcare Entities: Finally, you might find advertisements in newspapers or just contact your local medical centers or elderly care facilities and inquire to find out about free CNA classes or any kind of scholarship or funding available for CNA classes. If there are no advertisements, you can find free CNA training classes offered by retirement homes or medical centers by visiting their websites.