A CNA is a certified nursing assistant. Years ago the same job was done by what we called a Nurse’s Aides – someone who typically did all the dirty work and cleaning that wasn’t quite medical related, but not quite housework either.
Up till recently there were really no formal education programs. Nurse’s aides needed no training for their first job but most probably they had a structured type of orientation where they spent a few days learning the duties of their job and finding their way around a large hospital setting.
As time went on, medical laws changed and privacy issues were brought to the forefront. Nurse’s aides were upgraded to what is now a CNA, and formal training and educational programs were started at high schools and colleges and even private instructional centers. Courses lasted anywhere from a month to nine months depending on where you went and how much practical experience you were given.
There are two vital parts of this type of curriculum. One is classroom study where you learn theory, and the other is literally on the job training where you get hands on practical experience working in a medical setting, usually a hospital or nursing home.
There are some programs available that give you a mixture of classroom and online learning. Check out courses that include webinars and white boards where you can interact with your teachers and even other students. Of course, the practical teachings you learn in this manner are still very restricted. You might be able to practice changing a bandage, but when it comes to learning how to hook up an IV bag or maneuver a hospital bed with a post op patient, it’s impossible.
Although the practical part of these studies can be practiced on your own, and they should be, it’s difficult to figure out your mistakes right away if you don’t have the option of being with your instructor or class as you are learning. A CNA might be responsible for changing post op dressings in large hospitals, so you’ll obviously need to perfect this particular task before being asked to do at work.
The problem here is that if you choose to study for your certification online, you miss this level of practice and participation. Some of the large college programs do have a web based instruction phase that uses various online programs, sites and even web cams so that you can interact with and participate with your instructor in a pseudo class setting. In some cases this might be effective as a learning tool, but there are many aspects of a CNA’s job that simply can’t be learned or perfected online. You need some sort of classroom practice and interaction.
If you are hoping to land a job in a large hospital that pays well, you’d be better off enrolling in a program that offers plenty of practical experience. Without that level of training, you might end up at a smaller facility at a lower pay rate.
Make sure to check out Kevin’s excellent writing on CNA Certification and Red Cross CNA Certification.
categories: elder care,nursing programs,nursing,online schools