Courses to prepare students for the CNA exam may be offered through local community colleges, the Red Cross or at local care facilities. Each has benefits and all students are required to pass the same examination covering both written and skills assessments. The length of the course may vary from two weeks to several months. Having the ability to work with clients in a real setting will help students to improve their skills and obtain hands on practice. This is a field which will continue to see increased demand for many years due to increases in an aging population. The classes are relatively inexpensive and many employers will reimburse the cost of the course and books after working for them a predetermined length of time.
These CNA exam courses provide students with an excellent education and the opportunity to be fully prepared when testing regardless of where they are taught. Community colleges may have more time to focus on the written skills and for students who benefit from discussion this is an excellent setting. Courses which are given through a nursing home or other long term care facility allow students the opportunity to go onto the floor to practice their physical skills.
Since the CNA is the person who sees and interacts with patients regularly it is vital that they recognize any problems and report them immediately. They are considered the eyes and ears of the profession and need to be alert to any changes in the patients. The training courses teach students to look for signs which may indicate problems in the patients. Symptoms such as confusion, severe headaches, loss of balance, difficulty walking, or weakness may indicate a stroke. By recognizing these symptoms and obtaining treatment as quickly as possible, the CNA may be helpful in alleviating some of the negative long term side effects.
The physical skills portion of the CNA exam covers measures which are used to protect the spread of disease and protecting both the patients and the medical profession. Teaching caregivers to wash their hands thoroughly both before and after helping with physical care such as brushing teeth, dressing and bed making will help eliminate the transfer of disease. Wearing gloves is mandatory for most types of personal care such as changing clothing and bedding and helping with the use of the toilet. Caregivers are required to measure urine output and check catheter tubes as part of their duties and skills tests pertaining to this include using alcohol wipes, measuring and recording the quantity of urine which also includes proper hand washing and gloves. The spread of disease and pathogens is a serious issue requiring students taking the examination to be fully prepared and tested on these subjects.
A thorough course will provide the student with everything required to pass the CNA exam. Most importantly, the student will be fully prepared with the skills necessary to perform their duties in a healthy and positive manner. Asking questions during training and when first working on the floor will help create superior caregiver.
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