Nursing Assistant Central

Within your community and neighboring areas there may be a number of programs available to help you become a nursing assistant. Courses are often offered through community colleges, local health care providers, the Red Cross and sometimes even online. Students willing to commit to working at a particular facility may even be able to find free courses in their area at long term care facilities as well. There are few prerequisites to enroll in these types of courses and often students won’t need any previous experience or in some cases a high school diploma.

Programs can take anywhere from a few weeks to complete to a few months. Longer programs do not necessarily mean students will be better prepared, but each individual will have to decide what kind of program best suits their needs. Students will spend the first part of their training on site in a classroom setting where they will learn the basics of how to bathe, feed and medicate a patient as well as gaining some insight into recognizing problems like depression and dementia, learning how to prevent infections, and body mechanics and positioning patients in classes taught by a registered nurse. This textbook learning will form the foundation for the second part of the course, which is usually done through direct clinical experience. Students will work with an experienced nurse to go through the hospital and administer care to patients, getting helpful insight and assistance in improving their techniques. This clinical portion is essential as students will learn skills that will translate directly to working on the job.

To complete a nursing assistant program, students must take an exam to become certified to work as a CNA. The exam is composed of two parts, written and clinical that will test the skills learned during the program to ensure that students are ready for employment. The written part of the test will cover the material learned in the classroom and should be fairly straightforward. The clinical portion involves performing a variety of nursing duties for an observing RN, who will note the competency and cleanliness with which they are done. At the end of the exam, provided you’ve passed, you’ll be certified and ready to start an exciting career as a nursing assistant.

Top Online Nursing Programs

	South University - CNA Degree. South University provides you the ability to obtain your medical assisting degree entirely online. Students interested in becoming a nursing assistant will be able to use this degree to start a new nursing career.
	University of Phoenix - A.A. in Health Care Administration.. Offering affordable and convenient degree plans, University of Phoenix is an accredited university with a successful track record of preparing students for new careers in nursing. Phoenix offers campus and online options.
	American InterContinental University Online - The A.A.B.A. in Healthcare Administration. American InterContinental University has great course programs for students seeking their first college degree in the field of healthcare. With affordable degree plans, going back to school at an accredited online college has never been easier.
	Kaplan University - A.A.S. in Health Information Technology. Students interested in becoming a nursing assistant will be very pleased with the Associate's Degree in Health Information Technology that Kaplan University offers. Kaplan is a respected online institution with a history of providing high quality classes at affordable prices.
	DeVry University - Associate in Health Information Technology. DeVry University gives students the opportunity to work in the healthcare field alongside nurses, physicians, and other health care providers in a variety of settings. Their Associate in Health Information Technology program prepares students to work with information systems, applications systems, and databases that hold important health and patient information.
	Virginia College - The BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College Online is the perfect online university for students on the go. With classes online, students can take them when they have the free time to do so and from any location with internet access.
	California Coast University - A.S. in Health Care Administration. Individuals seeking to learn more about the health care industry and are interested in working with health care providers will find that California Coast University offers a wide array of programs to meet their specific goals. The A.S. in Health Care Administration degree will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for a career in the health care field.
	Keiser University - The Associate of Science in Medical Assisting. Keiser University offers an affordable and flexible online degree program that prepares students looking to pursue a degree in medical assistance. They prepare students to perform under the supervision of a physician or practitioner by providing the skills and knowledge needed to enter the fast-growing healthcare industry.