| If you are considering a career in nursing, you may be | | | | communication skills. Students are also instructed in |
| eligible to enroll in free accelerated nursing programs | | | | patient personal care and hygiene, such as bathing |
| online through your employer or potential employer. | | | | patients and teaching patients to bathe themselves, |
| Currently, the U.S. Federal Government offers health | | | | feeding patients and teaching patients to feed |
| industry employers reimbursement for the expense of | | | | themselves, and grooming patients and instructing |
| training for certain occupations through Medicare. One | | | | patients on how to groom themselves. Additional |
| of these includes training for CNAs, who by law must | | | | training is obtained while on the job, usually under the |
| meet the Federal requirement that all home health | | | | supervision of experienced aides, registered nurses, or |
| aides pass a competency test. Usually, a home health | | | | licensed practical nurses. |
| aide will receive free training before taking the | | | | By Federal law, aides who work in nursing care |
| competency test. Additionally, the National Association | | | | facilities are required complete a minimum of 75 hours |
| for Home Care and Hospice offers voluntary | | | | of state-approved training as well as pass a |
| certification, i.e. free training, particularly in states that | | | | competency evaluation. CNA certification is awarded |
| require aides to be licensed. Free training to prepare | | | | to the aide upon completion of the Medicare funded |
| individuals for nursing certification is also offered by | | | | free training course. Once certification is obtained, the |
| some high schools. While most home health aides and | | | | licensee is then listed in the State registry of nurse |
| potential nursing assistants are not are generally not | | | | aides. |
| required to hold a high school diploma, most do. | | | | As the demand for health care workers continues to |
| Some states, such as Florida, require that CNAs | | | | escalate, accelerated nursing programs online are |
| complete a minimum of 12 hours of in-service training | | | | being offered by more and more schools. The |
| per year. However, certain exemptions may apply if | | | | projected job growth rate for CNAs and nurses aides, |
| the nurse can document that he or she was on active | | | | according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Office |
| duty in the Armed Forces for a period of 6 months or | | | | of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projection, |
| more during the calendar year. Additionally, he or she | | | | is expected to grow a combined 28 percent, far |
| must have been in good standing with the Board of | | | | outpacing the expected 14 percent growth of LPNs |
| Nursing and Certified Nursing Assistant Council at the | | | | (Licensed Practical Nurse) between the years 2006 |
| time active duty began. Alternatively, if a nursing | | | | and 2016. While the job growth rate for CNAs is |
| assistant is married to a member of the Armed | | | | tremendous, sometimes opportunities for advancement |
| Forces whose duty required the member leave the | | | | maybe somewhat limited in comparison to LPNs. It is |
| state of Florida prior to completing the minimum 12 | | | | advised therefore, that after gaining valuable |
| hours of in-service training, he or she must submit | | | | experience in the nursing field that CNAs continue their |
| proof of their spouse's military status as well as | | | | education to obtain LPN, medical assistant, or RN |
| appropriate documentation proving that the family was | | | | (registered nurse) certification. After completing the |
| forced to leave the state due to active military service. | | | | training courses and certification, most Certified Nursing |
| Accelerated nursing programs online must include | | | | Assistants work under the supervision of LPNs - |
| basic topics such as anatomy, body mechanics, | | | | obtaining an invaluable on the job training experience. |
| physiology, infection control, nutrition, and | | | | |