• An indecisive approach to which field in nursing you want to enter, culminating in you picking the wrong course
• Choosing to train at a CNA school, in which your decision to learn there was based entirely on ‘rankings’
• Picking a school that doesn’t specialize in your field
• Failing to factor in your needs and desires when choosing a nursing school
• Not researching and actually visiting enough CNA schools to make a proper and informed decision
• Being ignorant to the ‘true’ financial cost

By reviewing the most common mistakes people make, you can learn to avoid them and by using sound logic, pick the cna course and cna school that is suitable for you and your needs. It’s very important from the ‘get go’ to decide exactly what type of nurse it is that you want to become, and the environment that you’d be happy to work in. Knowing this, can help save you cash and you’ll avoid going down a path that might not be necessary for your type of degree. In all nursing degrees, theres a certain amount of overlap in the types of training you’ll recieve, but you’ll notice that some schools will focus on some areas more than others. For example, you might wish to pursue an Associates Degree to become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), and in that situation, a community college would likely be your best choice, as you would incur a lot less financial costs than if you were to attend an expensive university. Make sure you take a focused approach and path when choosing a Health Care Career

CNA School Rankings

Finding the school which is most suitable for you can be a daunting task. There are numerous websites which declare the top nursing schools rankings and ratings, and each site will no doubt have its own methods and criteria in which they rank, so how do you know which site is the best when they all have different #1 schools and different ranking criteria?. Well, the fact is, none of these sites are right. The ‘right’ school for you does not need to be what someone else has decided is #1. The right school for you should be based on what you personally want and need. It is possible to develop your own list of top cna schools based on the information available and by what your own needs are, and thats how i advise you go about it.

The problem with these nursing school rankings is that they are totally subjective. Some of them dont even accept schools that do not have dual accreditation, they are just disregarded. Others have no requirements for accreditation at all!!. Some top ranking nursing schools sites actually base their rankings on student reviews, while others use test results and pass rates to decide which ones are best. Others use feedback from professors from all the schools to determine where they rank.

You simply need to look at the rankings, and at the same time keep in mind what type of nurse you actually want to become and your specific needs in a course. You need to be certain your school has a training program for your chosen field of work, and you need to ask whether it is accredited or not. Your desires are also important when choosing a course or school. Is class size important to you? What about accessibility to professors?. Would you prefer to work with the top ‘minds’ in your specific field?… all of these thoughts and desires will mean you’ll need to thoroughly research each school, and luckily its not that hard to do. Most colleges and universities have staff that can answer all these questions for you, so don’t be afraid to ask. Also, check out each schools website as they often offer a wealth of information. Remember that the actual schools location is another important factor when choosing where to study, you need to be certain that you can travel back and forth to your school within your travel budget.

Needless to say, actually visiting schools is the most effective way to ensure that the school fits your criteria, and it’s very important that you make sure and actually do this before enrolling on a course. I’d recommend you visit at least 3 or 4 different schools to make a reasonably informed choice. The truth is, a lot of info you find online can be outdated, and rankings are based on opinions, statistics and sometimes driven by a financial incentive. You’ll only truely get a good idea of what a school is like by actually visiting it in person. You’ll get to see what the labs and classroom facilities are like, you can approach and talk with the staff, lecturers and students, and see which other facilities are in place such as libraries, computer rooms, nursery facilities etc.

Many schools offer some great recreational facilities as well, like Gyms, Clubs, Days out, Work placements and more. You’ll likely discover that the school you are visiting offers more than you previously thought just by visiting their webpage.

CNA Classes and Financing

A great mistake many people make, is that they ignore the financial aspect of cna training. There are plenty of schools out there that offer financing that goes above and beyond the usual financial aid and scholarships you can recieve. Some schools however do not, and will not, accept financial aide packets. If your finances are an issue, and for the majority of people they are, then be certain to know and understand what amount of financial support you are likely to need.  Alongside financial aid, its important to know how much aid you’ll need for a specific school. Many schools have ‘hidden’ fees that you may not be aware of at first, and until its too late. In these economic times, its a sad fact, but schools and universities are becoming quite creative and you can sometimes find extra charges for things like parking and healthcare. Make sure you research a school thoroughly and discuss the financial aspects with the staff before you decide to enroll, otherwise you make be lumbered with unforeseen charges after you start your course, which ultimately could mean you might need to drop out due to lack of finances.

For those who have yet to enroll in a course, or are thinking about it, its always worth remembering that although you can’t beat proper, paid tuition, there ARE free options available to you if you wish to go down that route. There is a wide range of sources available for free cna training via hospitals, online courses, free information websites, job training groups and of course there are local training classes held throughout the country that you can enquire about enrolling in – the red cross cna class being one of them.

Make sure you fully investigate all your options before enrolling in a cna training program, there are free options available and it can save you a LOT of money going down this route.

In the State of California, they follow a set of guidelines or ‘rules’, as set out in the OBRA 1987 mandate. The guidelines are there to try and ensure that CNA (Certified Nursing Assistants) employees administer a certain quality of care whilst doing their jobs in long term care facilities. Laws have been put in place by the state to help benefit not only the residents and patients of care facilities, but for the CNA’s themselves. The Department Of Health Services Office is responsible for maintaining, monitoring and approving all suitably qualified CNA’s.

In California, several LTC Facilities (Long Term Care Facilities) offer a large range of job opportunities for CNA’s who wish to experience life and a career in the medical industry.

Here’s a list of requirements you’ll need, to work as a CNA in the State of California:

• You’ll need to have passed both the written and skills sections of the state CNA Exam
• You will need to be mentally and physically fit.
• You must have a good record of employment.
• Your CNA Certification must be ‘active’

Average Salary for a CNA in California:

• Average salaries are between $19,000 to $36,000 per annum
• Average hourly rate is typically $8 to $10 dollars per hour. (depending on experience)

Already an approved CNA? Apply for Reciprocity:

If you are already an approved CNA, and you move to California from another State, you must have an active CNA certificate and a good record of employment. If you have these, then you may qualify for CNA certification in California without having to re-take the CNA training evaluation. To be fully qualified to work as a CNA, you’ll need to submit the required documents.

California State Contact Information for CNA Certifications:

For more detailed information, you may contact the CA Nurse Aide Registry at:

CA Nurse Aide Registry
CNA/HHA/CHT Certification Unit
Licensing and Certification Division
1615 Capitol Avenue, MS 3301
P.O. Box 997416
Sacramento, CA 95899-7416
Phone #: 916-327-2445
Fax #: 916-552-8785

Looking for a State Approved CNA training class in California?

One of the essential pre-requisites of a CNA is to be trained in a state-approved training program. You’ll find a few listed below:

Allan Hancock College

800 South College Drive
Santa Maria, CA 93454-6399
Phone #: (805) 922-6966 ext. 3384 and 3541 (Nursing-CNA Program)
Fax #: (805) 922-1403

Cost is $312 ($26/unit) other fees are not included
12 units in one semester

American River College

4700 College Oak Drive
Sacramento, CA 95841-4217
Phone #: (916) 484-8011

• Tuition for:
• Resident is $156 ($26/unit)
• Non-resident is $1296 ($216/unit)
• International is $1404 ($234/unit)
• Other fees are not included
• Six (6) unit per semester, 63 hours for theory and 135 hours for clinical instructions

Antelope Valley College

Main Campus
3041 West Avenue K
Lancaster CA 93536

Palmdale Campus
1529 E. Palmdale Blvd
Palmdale CA
Phone #: 661-722-6300 ext. 6402

• Tuition for:
• CA Resident is $130 ($26/unit)
• Non-resident is $305 (additional $175)
• Other fees are not included
• Five (5) units per semester and 50 hours for classroom instruction and 112 hours for clinical training

Los Angeles Harbor College

1111 Figueroa Place
Wilmington, CA 90744
CNA Program Coordinator: (310) 233-4360
Application/Information: (310) 233-4447
Admission: (310) 233 – 4090
Fax #: (310) 233 – 4662

• Estimated cost is $556 these includes:
• Course fee
• Student Health Fee
• Associated Student Organization Fee
• Student Representative Fee
• Uniform
• White Nursing Shoes
• CPR course
• Malpractice Insurance
• Fingerprint Processing
• Application Fees to state
• State Exam
• CNA Textbook
• CNA Module
• Five (5) units per semester

Preferred College of Nursing

Preferred College of Nursing, Bakersfield
1415 18th Street #205
Bakersfield, CA 93301

Preferred College of Nursing, W. Covina
421 S. Glendora Ave., Suite 101
West Covina, CA 91790
Bakersfield: (661) 324 – 2509; (661) 324 – 2677
West Covina: (626) 917 – 0111

One semester class only

Palo Verde College

One College Drive
Blyth, California 92225
Phone #: 760-921-5500
Phone #: 760-921-5504 (Nursing and faculty secretary)

One semester class

As of February 2nd, 2010, The American Red Cross has in excess of 36 CNA Training programs available across the United States. It goes without saying, that the Red Cross CNA Class is a great way to begin your training as a CNA, and is reputed to be one of the best. For many people, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is merely a stepping stone on the way to becoming a fully Registered Nurse (RN), although many people have had lifelong enjoyable and immensely satisfying careers by staying at the CNA level. The choice is entirely up to you, depending on how far you want to go and what type of work you wish to do.

All CNA training programs ran by the American Red Cross meet the Federal CNA training standards, although each chapter has the ability to design their own program to meet specific state requirements and laws, including the number of hours you must spend on a course, and also the clinical training standards of practises and procedures. As an example, the San Bernardino chapter in California consists of a 164 hour course in total, whilst The ARC of Maryland course consists of only 114 hours. It is worth keeping in mind, that the more hours in a course there are, does not mean that they provide ‘more’ (or a better level of) training, the difference in hours can be attributed to many different variables, including of course different states having different laws.

CNA training course costs also vary in price. The San Bernardino chapter CNA training course costs $1,750, while the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter charges $1,400 . (prices are accurate at the time of writing)

Below, you will find a list of the American Red Cross chapters that offer Certified Nursing Assistant training (CNA):

• Madison/Marshall County, Huntsville, AL
• American Red Cross of Central Alabama, Montgomery, AL
• American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
• Inland Empire, San Bernardino, CA
• American Red Cross, Sonoma & Mendocino Counties, Santa Rosa, CA
• South Central Connecticut, New Haven, CT
• Northeast Florida, Jacksonville, FL
• Central Panhandle, Panama City, FL
• Space Coast, Rockledge, FL
• Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
• Southwest Georgia, Albany, GA
• Northeast Georgia, Gainesville, GA
• Coosa Valley, Rome, GA
• Hawaii State, Honolulu, HI
• Louisville Area, Louisville, KY
• American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay, Cambridge, MA
• Berkshire County, Pittsfield, MA
• Pioneer Valley, Springfield, MA
• American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
• Central Maryland, Baltimore, MD
• Southeastern Michigan, Detroit, MI
• American Red Cross of the Twin Cities Area, Minneapolis, MN
• Elizabeth H. Dole Chapter, Salisbury, NC
• Concord Area, Concord, NH
• New Hampshire, West Keene, NH
• Great Bay, Portsmouth, NH
• Greater Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
• Keystone, Johnstown, PA
• Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
• Allegheny Region, Reno, PA
• Black Hills, Rapid City, SD
• Hiwassee, Cleveland, TN
• Greater Richmond, Richmond, VA
• Green Mountain, Bennington, VT
• Chippewa Valley, Altoona, WI
• Lakeland, Green Bay, WI

You can get contact details and up to date program information about these CNA training classes and other American Red Cross training courses from the ARC website

This includes training for Certified Nursing Assistants, who by law, must complete a competency test. Usually, although not ‘always’ the case, a home health aide will receive free training before taking the state exam. In addition to this, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice offers voluntary certification, particularly in states that require nursing aides to be licensed.

Some high schools also offer free training to prepare individuals for the CNA certification test. While most home health aides and nursing assistants are not required to hold a high school diploma, most do anyway.

You can also do your training and your CNA certification test via The American Red Cross. This method of training is relatively inexpensive compared to other programs you have to pay for, however the Red Cross CNA Class is not free. Another alternative is to look for some free CNA Classes Online , but it is worth taking into consideration that some of these courses only cover specific topics and skills, and may not cover absolutely everything you need to pass the exam.

Some states, like Florida for instance, require that Certified Nursing Assistants complete a minimum of 12 hours of in service training each year. Certain exemptions may apply if the applicant can prove that he/she was on active duty in the Armed Forces for a period of 6 months or more during the calendar year. In addition, he/she must have been in good standing with the Board of Nursing and Certified Nursing Assistant Council at the time they began their active duty.

Some of the basic topics covered in CNA training classes include body mechanics, physiology, anatomy, nutrition, communication, hygiene, basic use of equipment, taking vital signs, how to bathe patients, how to groom them, and also how to instruct and teach the patient to do all or some of the above, depending on their own ability. As a CNA you will obtain additional training while on the job under the supervision of registered nurses, other experienced nursing aides and doctors.

Federal law dictates that aides who work in nursing care homes/facilities are required to complete a minimum of 75 hours of state approved training, in addition they must also pass a competency test. CNA certification is awarded upon successful completion of the medicare funded free cna training course. After CNA certification is obtained, the CNA will then be listed in state registry of nursing aides.

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Without doubt, one of the best places to find affordable nursing assistant training is the American Red Cross. You should contact your local Red Cross Chaper and ask for information on their scheduling for the Red Cross CNA Class. The Red Cross CNA Class is a fast paced course that can normally be completed in about 5 weeks or so, so its worth remembering that during this time you might need to free up the majority of your schedule to accomodate this. All of the courses are taught by registered nurses, and after completion you will become eligable to take the CNA certification test. For start dates and tuition rates, contact your local American Red Cross.

Another worthwhile resource for low cost CNA programs is your local community centre or college. The majority of community colleges will have short term nursing aide programs, just ensure that any nursing aide course you register for through a community college is state certified, so that you are able to sit the state certification exam at the end of it. Payment for courses like these are normally taken upon registration for the course, and courses like this normally start at various times throughout the year so you should be able to start a course very soon.

There is another option to take your nursing assistant training, at no cost to you. Some nursing homes and long term care centers offer CNA programs for people who wish to pursue a career in the medical field. They do this in order to supply their organisation with fully qualified CNA’s, so you will likely be asked to sign a contract in which you will be required to work for them after passing your CNA exam for a specified period of time (normally a year). Be sure to read the fine print and make sure you are fully aware of the contract you are entering into. Most of the time, these type of programs are perfect for anyone wishing to begin a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant. You get your course and certification paid for, and you also gain a year of vital work experience afterwards, setting you up for other jobs or promotions you may wish to pursue.

Many people decide to stay on at the company they trained with, and have very successful careers as a CNA there.

Needless to say, if you have the hunger and the willingness to shop around, phone some nursing care homes, do some enquiring about free training programs, then you will find some free cna training that suits your needs.

An important character trait of a CNA is the need to be thorough. You must be dependable, and reliable. Your employer will rely on you to show up to work when you are scheduled to do so, and failure to do this can leave patients without the proper care they need, and can put further strain on the existing staff of the facility you work within.

A further benefit of being thorough is when caring for your patients. Ensuring you clean your patients body, change dressing, and bed covers thoroughly will raise the comfort levels of your patient, while also preventing un-needed disease and infections from arising. Being meticulous in your work and duties, however large or small, is a crucial part of being a CNA, and your employers will count on you having this trait.

Patience is also a vital trait for a Certified Nursing Assistant. In your job you will deal with people who need your assistance for a variety of different reasons, your patients will be fully aware that there are certain tasks they cannot perform by themselves, and as such they will rely on you to help them with this. As a qualified CNA, you will already have the necessary training required to take care of someone, but one thing they do not teach is patience!. This is a quality that if you do not already have, you must ensure you develop it. There will be times where a patient may have difficulties explaining what it is they need or want because of speech or mental difficulties, so you must be prepared to be patient and understanding of this. In a similar vein, some patients may be elderly or physically impaired, and as such cannot walk or move very fast, patience is key to dealing with people like this.

Patience is a vital trait needed to be a good CNA.

Another good trait to have is to be tactful. Your patients will not always be happy, some may be in a mood for one reason or another unknown to you, and some may show little appreciation for the tasks you perform for them. However, as a trained nurse assistant, you must remain civil and cordial. There are certain ways to get a patient to complete their physio exercises, or to move so you can make their bed, without being harsh or abrasive towards them. At no point should you ever show negative behaviour to the patient, whether they are being negative towards you or not. Of course, there is a line that must be drawn, and at no point you should give in to being a patients mental or physical outlet, ie: a punching bag!. As a CNA you must have the ability to express your concerns to the patient (and your superiors) in a civil, respectful and cordial manner.

CNA Training Classes provide you with the technical know how and understanding to perform the job of a nursing assistant successfully. Further developing the above qualitys and traits will be of great service to you and your own character, as well as to the job you perform as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

The CNA Training DVD’s will cover each of the required skills of a CNA, which are broken down into examples and descriptions of the correct way to complete certain jobs and skills. Basic care duties covered are things like sanitation, moving patients, ambulation, applying dressings and/or stockings, and other general patient care skills such as dressing the patient, feeding them, helping them with hygiene, and also room maintenance.

Other things the training DVD’s cover are things like recording patients vital signs (breathing, respiration, pulse, blood pressure, height, weight etc).

Most CNA training DVD’s will have a section covering legal issues that you may encounter on the job. These sections address the real issues that CNA’s sometimes face. A CNA that is found legally liable for something may result in fines, and possible imprisonment. In addition to this, you may possibly lose your certification and license to work as a Certified Nurse Assistant. Most of the time, it’s common sense to realise whether what you are doing is legal or not, however its a good idea to fully read up on the legal side of things so you are 100% sure where you stand.

Some of the legal topics include things like misuse of restraints, neglect of a patient, theft, abuse, and other definitions that a CNA must be aware of.

Since the CNA Certification Exam consists of a written and a practical exam, the training DVD will likely have videos which show you how to give a patient a bed bath, how to correctly move them into and out of the bath, how to perform a skin assessment, how to make a bed properly, infection control, body mechanics for proper posture and positioning, movement and R.O.M (range of movement) exercises, and more.

When considering which of the CNA training DVD’s to buy, bear in mind that the CNA requirements can differ slightly from state to state, and your duties may also differ depending on the location and facility you work in. The requirements for a home health care worker for instance, will differ greatly from that of someone who works in a geriatric nursing home, or a hospital facility.

Which CNA training DVD to buy?

It’s easy to get lost when looking for the right training material. When i was doing my CNA training, my lecturer referred me to one single training package. It was expensive (over $700 when i first purchased it), however it contained absolutely everything i needed in the one package. It has workbooks, training manuals, and of course a fully comprehensive training DVD. If i were to recommend one single all-in-one training package to any CNA student, it would be this one, without a doubt…. it was an essential part of my training and it has paid for itself thousands of times over throughout my career. It’s called Mosby’s Textbook for Nursing Assistants , its very rare (not many left i’m afraid) , however you can still purchase it here:

If this is a bit too expensive for you, then i’ve selected some cheaper alternatives that will help you out with your training:

The CNA test consists of both theory and clinical tests.

CNA training is available on campus, and online. The advantage of doing it online is that you can study from home, and the prices are very affordable compared to their on campus counterparts. The only downside to online training is that it cannot cover the physical aspects of training, like being shown and then attempting to move someone, being shown and attempting to use equipment etc. This can of course be done at a facility, and many online courses offer the chance to book a few hours in one.

The length of training can range from anything between 2 weeks to several months, depending on the course you take, and the demands and requirements of the state.

After you complete your CNA training and gain your Certified Nursing Assistant certification, you will be able to perform many health care jobs with efficiency and confidence, including:

• Measuring Vital Signs (eg: Temperature, Pulse, Breathing, Blood Pressure etc.)

• Recording Vital Signs and history for each patient, for reporting back to a supervising nurse.

• Moving around,  and helping patients up, when required. Helping the patient with physio at the advice of a Physical Therapist.

• Dressing Wounds

• Feeding Patients, and helping maintain food tubes

• Inserting and maintaining catheters as advised

• Disinfecting the patients room, keeping the room clean and organised.

• Communicating with the patients, and also relaying vital information to the supervising nurses and doctors.

As a qualified nurse assistant, you’ll gain confidence and become an expert in many basic health care jobs. This is why you have both theory and practical training. The theory training will help you with the ‘hows and whys’ of the job, and the practical will give you hands on experience, teaching you to have good presence of mind for the job.

The list above are the requirements that the CNA Training Class will train and equip you with. The CNA Training Program teaches you all the required amount of confidence and knowledge you will need to pass the test with flying colors.

Whichever CNA Training Program you choose, train hard and you will succeed , good luck!.

CNA’s are there to deliver direct patient care. In some ways, being a Certified Nurse Assistant can be a demanding job, but most people who complete their training and get a job find it very rewarding. If you are a ‘people person’, then becoming a CNA is the job for you. What does being certified actually mean? – A Certified Nursing Assistant is someone who has a certification from the state (state of which they passed the exam), which indicates that a person has a designated and required level of training to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant

States in the USA set the regulations for the training required to become a CNA seperately, ie: Each state has different requirements by law. The Federal Government sets the guidelines for the qualifications for Certified Nursing Assistants who work in Medical Care funded facilities. To meet the guidelines set out by the government, a CNA must have at least 91 hourse of training, including 16 hours of training in a supervised clinical facility.

Its worth remembering that where you get your training is very important, there are a load of options to choose from…. so how do you go about picking the right training facility for you?. You should definately ask some questions before enrolling in a training program, and it’s highly recommended that you make an appointment and talk to an admissions rep or course leader before signing up. It’s also worth taking a tour around the building to get a feel for the place. Some places will even let you sit in on a class so you can get a good idea of what the training will be like. Remember, always ask! if you dont ask you dont get.

Another great thing about sitting in on an existing class is that you will have the chance to talk to some current students and recent graduates and ask them what they think about the level of training they receive (or received). As with most training programs, some are better than others, so make sure you are confident that whichever one you choose is the correct one for you.

There are also opportunities for free CNA training, eg: free CNA classes online, or training that is sponsored by a facility – most of these require that you work for them for a specified period of time after passing, so make sure you know the finer details before signing up.

A word of caution: Be wary of places that try too hard to enroll you. A lot of places will give you a very high pressure sales pitch, or seem reluctant to answer your questions and provide you with solid info about the course. If you feel at any point that you are being pressured into signing up before you have really made a decision, remember you can always say “Thanks, I’ll think about it” and be on your way.

You will be investing a lot of your time and money in your CNA training, so you want to make the best informed decision that you can, be vigil, use your common sense and you’ll be fine….. and most of all – Good luck on your path to choosing the right CNA Training Class!