Tyler Kendrick
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07:34:55 am on May 20, 2011 | # |
It is very important that you gain CNA certification if you want to pursue a career as a nursing assistant. The study course that you need to take will last anything between four and 12 weeks, depending on where and how you study. The guidelines set down by the authorities insist that there is at least 75 hours of formal training completed. You will find that the course includes classroom work as well as practical.
Once you have completed the course you will be required to take an examination to prove that you have understood everything that was taught to you. This examination must take place within 90 days of course completion. You will find that the course does not only teach you how to pass the exam, but also the fundamentals you will need to be a nursing assistant.
The requirements of the examination board will vary from state to state, but it will always take the same format. There will be a written exam that will cover the basic concepts and procedures of your chosen profession, but these will all have been covered in your course. The second part will be to show that you can put everything that you have learned into practice.
The second part of the examination, the clinical portion, requires you to prove that you have mastered, by demonstration, between three and five skills that you would be expected to use as a nursing assistant. As you perform these tests you will be closely monitored by the examiner. The skills that you will be asked to show will all involve patient care. They could include such things as taking the temperature of the patient, allowing the patient privacy and some dignity in their situation, and other similar functions.
It could be that you regard these tasks as those that will be performed by anybody with common sense. However, you must realize that these factors affect how the patient feels and how quickly they can recover. One thing that would have been stressed on your course, and you must show the examiner that you understand its importance, is hygiene and cleanliness.
It would not be surprising if you do show some nerves during this part of the exam. If you have studied well and prepare properly you should have nothing to worry about. Make good use of the online practice tests and study guides that are available.
The examiners will take into consideration that it is a stressful situation that you are in. However, be aware, in your day-to-day duties as a nursing assistant you could find yourself under pressure. This is a skill that most people will actually attain while doing the job.
The importance placed on gaining CNA certification is shown by the fact that certain employers insist that you take the exam within a specified time-frame. If you do not, they will terminate your employment. The number of times you may take this exam varies from state to state, and there is also a period specified before a retest may be taken.
Tips and advice on how to prepare for CNA Certification now in comprehensive guide to all you need to know about how and where to find the best CNA Programs .