The California CNA course requirements are higher than those set by OBRA. A total of 150 hours of training which includes the clinical portion are required by the state prior to students being able to qualify for the exam and registry. A live scan process for fingerprinting and a background check must be passed for students to be eligible for certification. The programs teach students the skills they need to be quality caregivers to hospital patients and long term care facility residents. Additional courses for medication aides and home health care are also available.
California CNA courses must be approved by the California Department of Health Services which also operates the state registry. The 150 hours of training focuses on 100 hours of clinical rotation and 50 hours spent in the classroom. Federal law requires students spend at least 16 hours in training prior to working with residents. Focus on infection control through procedures such as hand washing, respecting residents and their property and how to read and record vital signs are some of the skills which students learn during classes. Safely transferring patients through the use of items as simple as walking with a gait belt to more complex machines which are used to lift and move residents is a required skill which nursing assistants will use time and again. More mundane tasks which are equally vital to the health of the residents include helping them with toileting, oral care such as brushing teeth and dentures, and changing bedding are all important skills which are taught and tested. Practicing the skills until they are second nature will help students provide quality care to residents as well as pass their final exam. Nursing assistants work under the supervision of a nurse and are relied upon by the medical staff to notify them of any sudden changes in the health of their patients. Knowing how to recognize emergencies and being empathetic are two important parts of being a caregiver.
California CNA courses prepare students for a career in the health field. With an aging population this is a career opportunity which continues to see an upswing. Many certified nursing assistants consider this a stepping stone and go on through the use of a bridge program to become an LPN or RN. Employment is generally based on an hourly wage and a variety of shifts are available. Reimbursement may be given if the students meet employment conditions and sign on bonuses are also frequently offered by employers who are seeking qualified employees who have successfully completed California CNA courses.
California CNA Exam
Passing the California CNA exam will allow certified nursing assistants to be placed on the state registry for employment within the state. The exam is a two part test covering both a written and a skills assessment portion. Students may attempt to pass each portion of the test a maximum of three times prior to having to take additional training. Continuing education is required as well as a minimum of eight hours of paid work within a two year period in order for certification to be renewed. Provisions for reciprocity exist and require documentation and forms which can be found on the California Department of Health Services website.
The California CNA exam consists of both a written and skills portion. The written part of the test features 70 questions in a multiple choice format, which students are given up to 2 hours to complete. A warning that the test is about to end is given 15 minutes prior to the time limit. An oral test via cassette is also offered to students who have difficulty with a written test. A variety of skills are covered in the written test such as, physical care, psychological care, the role of a nursing aide and their sub chapters. Each category has a designated percentage of questions which will be found on the test. Students are able to study and use a practice test prior to taking the written exam in order to see what type of questions and format the test is given in.
The skills assessment portion of the California CNA exam is given in a setting similar to one where the nursing assistant will actually work. A volunteer is used as the resident and students will treat them as they would the actual patient. Asking to enter the room and explaining what they are doing while performing the tasks is encouraged. Students who are taking the exam are also asked to play the part for other students and will be given direction by the examiner. Critical element steps are fundamentals which if not completed, will result in the student failing the test. A list of skills and how to perform them, including the critical steps, can be found in the handbook. The skills assessment consists of performing 5 skills, one of which is always hand washing. The other 4 skills are chosen randomly for each student. Students may go back and correct a missed skill but must tell the evaluator when the skill should have been performed and must also do so prior to the evaluator telling them to do so. All students will also have one step of their skills assessment which includes placing a measurement on a recording sheet. A total of 25 minutes is given to students to finish this portion of their test. Passing the California CNA exam qualifies students to be placed on the state registry and be eligible for employment.
Related posts: