CNA Training – The Right Choice for 2012

CNA Training, is it right for you? If you’ve been considering a career as a skilled nursing assistant, there’s good news for your future. It is one of the most popular and needed positions to be filled in 2012.Why? There’s a couple of reasons for the nursing shortage in the United States.

CNA Training and the Nursing Shortage

First of all, if you weren’t aware of the nursing shortage, there definitely is one. Actually, it was first documented in 2000 when the demand for nursing professionals far exceeded the supply. This was measured in nurse to patient ratios. Hospitals, understaffed, were giving more responsibilities to the few certified nursing assistants, registered nurses, and licensed practicing nurses they had on staff. This caused a marked increase of patients for every nurse. The end result (as documented over a decade, from 2000 – 2010) was less quality and much more stress for the nurses on staff. Now, that’s just on a national level. Globally, the World Health Organization has estimated the nursing shortage to be over 4 million nurses, physicians and other health care workers worldwide. What does this mean for you? Bottom line, if you are thinking of CNA training and starting a new career, there’s no time like now.

CNA Training – What About the Economy?

With the economy in the state that it is and the unemployment rate tipping the scales at 10-11% in some cities nationally, CNA training is definitely a smart choice. Why? When times get tough and the nation has to pull their purse strings and close their wallets, there are several industries that continue to thrive. The health care field is one of them. Also, with new waves of baby boomers reaching retirement age each day since January 1, 2011, there will be more seniors with health care coverage, more seniors visiting their family physicians, and more seniors eventually making their way to adult care facilities. For you, the health care worker who has successfully completed your CNA training and has become a certified nursing assistant, this means job security.

If you are currently in a dead end job or an industry that is failing, such as retail sales, printing, newspaper, or any industry that can be considered a luxury, you may want to rethink your career. Even if you complete your CNA training in your spare time and have it under your belt “just in case.” That’s a smart move. You should always have a plan B. Remember, it’s usually much easier to get a job while you already have one then it is to find one when you truly need one. Why? Because of the stress level you are experiencing when you are in the middle of financial turmoil. Most people have much more confidence when they don’t really need the job. They present themselves in interviews as cool, confident, and rational individuals. This is exactly what a prospective employer is looking for. If you wait to take your CNA training until after you’ve lost your job, everything will be stressful and you may even have a hard time studying.

Our advice to you? If you are considering CNA training, go ahead and do it. You can never have too much education and your CNA training will provide you with clear options and alternatives to your current career.

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Your CNA Training and Career

Whether you’ll be starting your very first career after CNA training, or switching to a new field after years of employment in a completely different industry, there’s always a certain amount of anxiety to be expected. You’re not alone. According to research studies reported by Psychology Magazine, the top 10 causes of stress in an individual’s life include the following:

1. Death in the family
2. Move to a new location
3. Financial problems
4. Divorce
5. Starting a new career
6. Losing a job
7. Getting married
8. An addition to the family
9. Serious illness or accident involving yourself or family member
10. Being demoted

As you can see, the list above is not only filled with tragedies that we would expect to be a source of stress, but it includes exciting and happy occasions as well. Getting married and having a baby (or adding to the family) rank right up there in the top ten with starting a new career. Okay, so you’re not alone, big deal, right? You still don’t want to deal with the anxiety, loss of sleep, and headaches that often come with fear. Let’s break it down and learn how to get through your CNA training with minimal fear, stress and anxiety.

Dealing With the Stress of CNA Training Read the rest of this entry »

Career After CNA Training

The New York Times recently published an investigation directed toward unfair and illegal practices when it comes to medical and health care facilities paying their CNAs. If you’ve completed your CNA training, are working in the field, and have concerns about ethical pay practices, here’s a breakdown of signs to look for.

After CNA Training – Being Treated Fairly

There are many cases against improper pay practices for CNAs, especially those who are fresh out of CNA training, younger, and willing to do just about anything to keep their first job. One such case involves the St. Louis Labor Department and their case against area hospitals, medical centers, and clinics operated by SSM Health Care.

According to reports, the Labor Department allegedly recovered close to $2 million dollars in back wages for thousands of employees.

Another case involves Partners Health Care System of Boston, which had to repay over $2.5 million dollars in overtime in order to close a pending lawsuit involving 700 employees who allegedly had their rights violated according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

So, what’s happening here? How are these companies taking money out of the pockets of CNAs and how can you make sure you are not being mistreated after CNA training?

Unfair Handling of Wages? What to Look for After CNA Training Read the rest of this entry »

Career Topics After CNA Training

So, you’ve completed your CNA training, and now you are hard at work at your new job. Well, you’ve made a few mistakes, and actually you came in late a couple of times. Then, of course there was that time you didn’t show up because you had car trouble. Now your peers and the head nurse seem to be avoiding you, or are they? Is it just paranoia or should you start looking for a new job? A lot of new CNA’s have trouble with their first job right out of CNA training. There is a lot to adjust to and a lot to learn. You also probably found out pretty quickly that CNA training didn’t fully prepare you for a real career and all of the stress and demands. If you think you’ve gone too far and may be next on the chopping block, take a look at the following list.

First Job After CNA Training? Here Are 5 Signs You May be Fired Soon

• You’re left out of conversations and decision making: If you used to be in the loop but find yourself increasingly treated like an outsider, especially when the registered nurse in charge is discussing new ideas for the future, you may have reason to worry.

• New CNAs have recently been added to the staff: If two or three new CNAs, fresh out of CNA training are suddenly taking over some of your hours, or are being cross trained for the same position you hold, you may be in trouble. Unless this is a normal part of this facility, your time there may be limited.

• You made a major mistake that’s still being talked about: Let’s face it, although you are responsible for your actions and mistakes after CNA training, your floor nurse is responsible to her boss for whatever you do, or fail to do. If you made a major mistake that staff or patients are still feeling the effects of, this too could be a sign of trouble. Read the rest of this entry »

CNA Training – A Bright and Growing Future

The medical field (and CNA training) is in a constant state of learning, growing, and reaching for new truths. This is one of the reasons so many are drawn to this industry. Unlike other careers, which may be high stress without the ability to discover new things, the medical field is very different. Every rung of the medical ladder, from the certified nursing assistants on up to the heart surgeon and specialized medical staff members are ideally doing all they can to improve the quality of life and provide optimum recovery or rehabilitation for their patients.

So, what’s the latest discovery in patient care? Well, advancements are being made on almost a daily basis, but one new therapeutic tool which is not only interesting but can be used by every member of the medical staff, is music therapy.

Music Therapy and CNA Training

Now, it may be a few years until music therapy is actually taught in CNA training, but it is a hot and growing trend among caregivers. When Congresswoman Gifford, from Arizona, suffered a gunshot wound to the head in early 2011, which left her with a traumatic brain injury, music therapy played a major role in her treatment plan, and is reported to have greatly accelerated her progress. In fact, her recovery, which has received much news coverage, is being touted by many medical experts as being absolutely remarkable in nature.

Not only is the use of music therapy being reported as a contributing factor in her overall recovery, but specialists are saying that the recovery of much of her speech and motor skills are a direct result of songs, which actually help create new speech pathways in the brain that repair damaged areas.

Music therapy in itself is a type of career, which requires a bachelor’s degree, but after CNA training, when you are out in the field, you can definitely incorporate this remarkable information into your own form of treatment. Read the rest of this entry »

Some major cities, which are generally those with the greatest need for qualified CNA’s, are now offering a type of Express CNA Training. If you’ve heard of it, you may be wondering whether it is a legitimate type of CNA training, or if it can benefit you in any way. Let’s take a look:

Express CNA Training

After investigating Express CNA training services, here’s the breakdown of what the classes offer:

• 120 hour CNA Training Program
• 8 hour EKG Workshop
• 80 hour Home Health Assistant Certification Class
• 8 hour Phlebotomy Workshop
• 80 hour Phlebotomy National Exam Prep Workshop
• CPR
• Basics of First Aid Course
• HIV and AIDS Awareness and Safety Course

Now, just to clarify, an aspiring nursing assistant looking for CNA Training would not have to take all of the classes offered above, so what are the benefits? Read the rest of this entry »

Free CNA Training in 2012

2011 was a stellar year for CNA training. According to statistics by the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the need for professionals in the medical field, especially those with CNA training, is greater than ever. On January 1, 2011 the first wave of the Baby Boomer generation officially turned 65 years old, the largest group of seniors to hit our population of all time. Because of the increase in the senior population, which will continue for the next two decades, the need for Certified Nursing Assistants with the proper CNA training will continue to grow.

Have you been considering CNA training so that you too can join the ranks of those in this rewarding field? Each year we bring you the latest information on CNA training. We scout out the best schools, warn you of CNA training scams, and make you aware of changes in certification laws, standards, and new avenues that have opened up for education, such as online.

For those of you who are interested in free CNA training, we’re going to cover that for you today. If you’ve bothered to Google the phrase “free CNA training,” you’ve probably met up with quite a few dead ends. Most websites don’t report the latest CNA training information, and very few of them are aware of free CNA training.

Free CNA Training – As Reported in 2011

Last year we provided you with information on free CNA training provided by the Red Cross. This is still a good first step for you. Contact your local branch to inquire about the medical courses they offer. Read the rest of this entry »

What To Expect From Your CNA Training Inservices

When many CNAs complete their CNA training, they think they are done sitting through lectures and learning new information about their occupation.

They couldn’t be more wrong.

Depending on the health care environment you work in, you will have to attend a number of  hours of continued CNA training each year, mandated by your particular state. Some facilities provide these inservice hours each month, while others provide their workers with several hours of training every few months.

If you are just completing your CNA training, you may be wondering what to expect from your CNA inservices. Here is a little inside information.

Additional CNA Training Through Inservices

CNA inservices are typically paid, educational courses a facility provides to keep their employees up-to-date on the latest important information, products, and services. Many times, these inservices are mandated by the state and must be completed if a CNA wishes to working in the health care field as a nursing assistant.

To encourage attendance of these inservices, some facilities will hold these educational courses on pay day, only providing paychecks at the end of the inservice. Others make the occasion a light and fun time by providing a catered or potluck meal before or after the inservice. No matter how your facility chooses to encourage additional CNA training, there are a few subject you can be sure will be addressed. Read the rest of this entry »

Your CNA Training

We have discussed previously a few practical tips for choosing the right CNA training. Today we are going to make the decision just a little bit easier for you by providing you with ten great schools where you can earn the education you need to become a fantastic certified nursing assistant.

Choosing From The Top 10 CNA Training Schools In The US

With these CNA training schools, you will be able to perform any of the responsibilities asked of you in your CNA career. You will be trained to:

• Monitor patients, record changes, and present any changes to the head nurse
• Prepare meals, deliver meal trays, and feed patients
• Record the intake and output of each patient
• Take the vital signs of your patients
• Assist patients with daily activities, such as walking, dressing, bathing, and toileting Read the rest of this entry »

Career Tips After CNA Training

If you have been experiencing constant stress after CNA training, which has left you feeling worn out, helpless, or disillusioned, you may be suffering from burnout. Every problem seems like an uphill battle, your whole world looks bleak, and you don’t have the energy left to care about yourself, let alone anyone else.

Burnout can be a devastating problem after CNA training, because this career depends on your mental and physical ability to care for other individuals. However, it is often experienced by CNAs due to the stress of this occupation.

Recognizing Burnout After CNA Training

Burnout after CNA training is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion due to stress that is excessive and prolonged. It reduces the amount of energy you have and lowers you productivity. You are left feeling resentful, cynical, and hopeless about your job and your life. Some other symptoms of burnout include: Read the rest of this entry »