There are several steps to becoming a CNA and that’s why our site offers free online CNA training courses to help get you up to speed on the roles and responsibilities of a CNA and also to introduce you to concepts and skills you will learn when you enroll in an accredited CNA program near you. Our courses are not for credit, but our modules are designed to do two things:
- Introduce you to the full range of roles and responsibilities a CNA is expected to perform on the job.
- Help you become familiar with the specific skills and knowledge you will be expected to learn, retain, and perform in an accredited CNA program.
- Help you pass your state’s CNA examination to earn your certification.
Our CNA course is focused on providing you with nine modules that offer an overview of the CNA position. The following nine modules will help build your understanding of what will be expected of you as a CNA.
- CNA Roles & Responsibilities
- Health and Safety
- Residents Care 1: Personal Care
- Residents Care 2: Restorative
- Residents Care 3: Psychological
- Specialized Care
- CNA Skills Test Practice
- CNA Exam Preparation
- Continuing Education
The Role of the CNA
The role of a certified nursing assistant (CNA) encompasses many varying aspects of healthcare. As a CNA, you may assist patients with day-to-day tasks they cannot easily complete on their own, provide basic care, take and record vital signs and assist other healthcare professionals involved in the management and care of the patients you serve. The CNA maintains a high level of personal contact with patients, making the CNA role one of central importance. As a key member of the healthcare team, the quality of your CNA training material directly impacts how well you carry out your role as a CNA.
- Qualities of a CNA
- How Do CNAs Compare To Other Nurses?
- Communication
- Liabilities
- Patient’s Rights
- Ethics
- Continuing Education
- Data Collection & Reporting
Health and Safety
As a CNA, it is your responsibility to keep patients safe and comfortable. You may function in this capacity during a patient’s hospital stay, in a long-term care facility, hospice or in the patient’s own home. Your work in this area involves training to minimize fall risks, adapt the environment to a patient’s needs, care for a patient’s skin to prevent skin breaks, assist in pain management and infection control.
- Communicable Diseases
- Medical & Surgical Asepsis
- Protective Gear
- Sharps Care and Disposal
- Equipment Care & Maintaining a Safe Environment
- Linen Care
- Resident Safety
- Effects of Aging on Patients
Residents Care
To support you in successfully passing the CNA test, we provide extensive training in residents’ care. In this role, you combine restorative and psychological skills with compassionate personal care techniques. Additionally, you are trained to properly record patient information and to communicate your findings to medical staff in a professional manner. This is especially important to ensure correct communications regarding critical patient issues which can impact the patient’s well-being and the general course of treatment.
- Bathing
- Oral Care
- Shaving
- Manicures and Pedicures
- Hair Care
- Nutrition
- Using the Toilet
- Rest & Comfort
Restorative Skills
Psychosocial Care Skills
Specialized Care
Working with patients requiring specialized care involves utilizing all the skills used for traditional patient care, in addition to specialized skills required for a patient’s specific needs. Specialized care may be psychological in nature, physiological, or a combination of the two areas of practice. CNAs providing specialized care should receive extra training in focus areas and should function as a highly skilled member of the caregiving team.
- Vision Impairment
- Hearing Impairment
- Speech Impairment
- Respiratory Problems
- Cardiovascular Problems
- Paralysis
- Infections & IFT
- Digestive & Urinary Tract Cancers
- Chronic Illness
- Diabetes
- HIV & AIDS
- Confused Residents
- Aggressive Residents
- Dementia
- Depression
- Terminal Illness
Clinical Skills
In the role of CNA, you must know how to take a patient’s blood pressure, monitor respiration rates, transfer a patient properly, and various other clinical skills. To pass the test and qualify as a CNA, your training should walk you through the proper steps and help you practice necessary clinical skills until you reach a level of clinical skills mastery. Thorough explanations and clearly developed checklists make it convenient to remember the required points and easily assess your progress as you move through the material.
Practice Exams
One of the best ways to pass the CNA exam is to be well-prepared. We provide extensive practice exams so you know what to exact when you sit for the actual CNA test. The practice exams build your confidence while showing you where to devote your study time to make it count the most. While the questions on the practice exams are not identical to the questions on the actual CNA test, the practice exams cover everything you need to know to walk away from the test with a passing score.
Continuing Education
After CNAs earn their license many states require CNAs to complete annual or bi-annual continuing education credits to stay up to date on the most recent legal standards and health care practices for patients. Even if continuing education units (CEUs) are not required in your state, it can still be beneficial to partake in these courses to earn advanced certifications, improve your skills, and possibly improve your job opportunities and earning potential.
