Certified Nursing Assistant – The Job Description and The Steps Needed to Get a Certification

A certified nursing assistant, or CNA, helps patients with their daily living activities and various other healthcare needs under the supervision of a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. While doctors and licensed practical nurse tackles the higher level and more critical elements of patient care, like diagnosis and treating patients.

So, if you want to help patients in a healthcare setting but you don’t want to spend years earning a nursing degree. Then enrolling in the certified nursing assistant program in Long Island may help you reach your goals. This guide will explore how to become a CNA, including the primary responsibilities a CNA performs and the qualifications individuals need to possess to enhance this career.

Roles & Duties Certified Nursing Assistants Perform:

The roles and responsibilities that a certified nursing assistant may perform include the following:

• Repositioning patients who are unable to get out of bed.

• Recording the patient’s symptoms and reporting information to the nursing team.

• Preparing materials for the MD or RN.

• Helping patients in their daily activities, like bathing, dressing, grooming, or using the restroom.

• Monitoring the vital signs, such as blood pressure and heart rate.

• Serving meals and helping patients with feeding.

• Taking patient calls.

• Providing patients with food and drink while keeping track of their consumption.

• Preparing rooms for new admissions.

Various Steps to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant:

Completing a certified nursing assistant program in Long Island prepares the aspirants to work as certified nursing assistants. While CNA training standards may vary from state to state, specifications may vary according to which state you live in.

Here, we will discuss how one can earn a nursing assistant certification.

Earning Your High School or GED:

A high school diploma or GED is the only requirement for entering a CNA training program in various states. If you have the credentials, i.e., a high school diploma or a GED already, you can enroll in the CNA training classes immediately. If you don’t have these credentials, you’ll need to prove that you have the educational equivalent of a high school diploma.

Completing the State-Approved CNA Training Program:

Though the length of the CNA training program may vary from state to state, various training programs will still require a minimum of 75 hours of classroom instruction. As you progress through this training program, you will be required to take multiple assessments to enhance your CNA knowledge and skills to enhance in your career. This training program includes the following course, i.e., an introduction to various aspects of the healthcare field, emphasizing specific aspects of nursing care, such as bathing, dressing, and patient feeding.

In a short time, this training course will teach you the skills you need to understand and cooperate with medical professionals, such as doctors and nurses, and provide primary care as needed.

Completing the In-Person Clinical Training:

After completing your CNA schooling, you must complete an in-person clinical training session at a healthcare facility or hospital before taking the nursing assistant exam and becoming a certified nursing assistant. According to federal regulations, all CNA training programs must include at least 16 hours of hands-on clinical experience.

During the phase of your clinical training session, you will work under the supervision or guidance of a Certified Nursing Assistant or Registered Nurse who will mentor and guide you about how to care for the patients. Apart from this, you will be given various opportunities to practice necessary skills, like taking vital signs, administering medications, and helping in other patient care activities.

Passing a State-Approved CNA Certification Exam:

Once you complete in-person clinical training, you become eligible to take a state-approved examination to become certified. This state-approved exam is designed to verify that you have all the required medical knowledge and skills to administer the appropriate nursing care. This exam will cover nursing-specific topics in various categories like physical care skills, psychosocial care skills, and the role of a nurse aide. Apart from this, subjects about anatomy, physiology, and emergency procedures are also included to test your ability to meet the specific requirements of clients who need health promotion, restoration, and maintenance.

So mentioned above is information one needs to know to become a certified nursing assistant. If you are searching for the best training institute to join an accredited nursing assistant training program in Long Island, consult an expert team at Joyful Career Center. Contact (631) 935-0440 now to consult with an expert regarding various career-focused training courses they offer.