Nursing aide certification is needed to ensure that individuals wanting to work as CNAs or certified nursing assistants are duly qualified to perform the tasks when they are released into the medical care environment.
Nursing aide certification exam tests the candidates’ knowledge and ensures that they have received the required extent of training. Candidates for certification are required to pay a fee, arrive at the testing site fully prepared for the written exam and properly attired for the clinical exam.
Both sections of the nursing aide certification exam (written and clinical) must be passed for the participant to be included in the state registry.
Nursing Aide Certification
There are 2 portions to the examination:
1. Written – this is multiple-choice type and the length varies by State. This tests the participant’s comprehension about various nursing assistant skills. A specified amount of time is given for participants to complete this test. After completing this portion of the certification exam, nursing aide candidates will then take the clinical or technical exam.
2. Technical – this portion lets students show or demonstrate proper patient care procedures. Candidates are required to be in the appropriate attire to complete this test.
The result of the nursing aide certification exam is usually announced by the Board of Nursing or by the testing center. If applicants have successfully passed both written and clinical exams, their names are included in the State Registry. In some cases, applicants who passed the certification are issued CNA cards.
Some states have different kinds of nursing aide certifications. Such certifications provide additional skills to participants which allow them to tackle additional tasks. CNAs that are able to perform additional duties are offered greater wages than their counterparts.
Additional certifications include the following:
• Geriatric nursing assistant (GNA) certification – this allows CNAs to work in long term care centers.
• Home health aide (HHA) certification – this allows CNAs to work with home health care agencies.
• Certified medicine aide (CMA) certification – this allows CNAs to administer medicine in long term care facilities. This certification program require participants to have at least a year of experience working as a nursing aide and 60 hours of accredited medical aide training course.
As long as CNAs are certified, they can get employment in a variety of health care settings and provide quality patient care to the disabled, the elderly and children under supervision of Registered Nurses or RNs and Licensed Practical Nurses or LPNs.
Related posts:
- How to Get a Nursing Certification
- CNA License Information and Requirements
- Know What CNA Certification Test Covers
- Nursing Assistant Certification: First Step to A Better Employment
- CNA Certification: Finding State-Approved CNA Programs