A certified nursing assistant (CNA) performs nursing-related tasks and procedures that have been approved by the State health board where the CNA is licensed. Under the supervision of registered nurses, the CNA participates in patient care within a medical facility. Many caring people ask themselves, “How can I become a CNA?” Prior to participating in caring for others, the aspiring CNA must make some decisions, be trained in proper care techniques, pass an examination, and the ability to successfully conduct a job search.
Prior to enrolling in a CNA training program, anyone who desires to participate in fulfilling the medical care of other people must take a serious look at their personal ability to serve another person to determine if they really want to become a CNA. The person with a caring, nurturing temperament will find great joy in visiting people who need assistance and filling their needs accordingly. Patience, when the other person moves slowly and requires assistance for the most basic tasks, will bring comfort to the patient when their own frustration level rises. If these traits are yours, follow these steps to answer the question, “How do you become a CNA?”
When the decision is made to pursue CNA training, the first course of action is to contact the state board of health to determine which CNA training programs in your area are accredited. Training courses from a school that lacks accreditation will not be recognized by the state, and the examination will not be administered to students from unaccredited programs. With the list of programs in hand, do some research to determine the extent of each training program. Cost is a consideration, but most programs also have some financial assistance available to those who qualify. The most important consideration is the extent to which the program covers the material in preparation for the standardized state examination.
During the training program, which covers six to twelve weeks, take every task seriously and remember as much as possible so that studying for the exam is simply a review exercise. Working with others in the training class will prepare you for the interesting characters you will meet in the workplace. Listen well to the questions that others ask and learn from the answers. When you have a question, ask the instructor and if you do not understand the answer, ask again. The material taught within the program is the basis for the daily duties you will be assigned in a CNA position.
Each state conducts CNA examination sessions at prescheduled intervals depending on the need in various geographical areas. In more heavily populated areas, examinations will be scheduled more frequently, but the available slots will fill up quickly and well in advance because of the demand. The examinations have some standard questions, but there are also questions that are specific to the state requirements for the medical personnel who will practice within the state borders. If you move to another state, you will have to learn how to become a CNA under another set of requirements.
Probably the most challenging part of becoming a CNA is constructing a meaningful resume that does not have any experience on the page. One solution to this is to volunteer in a medical setting prior to completing the CNA training program. The demand for caring medical professionals is very high and one avenue for gaining some experience is to apply at home health care offices. Never falsify information on a resume. A resume that is truthful and does not contain experience is more valuable than a falsely embellished resume. When you fill out job applications, spend the time to fill them out neatly and completely. How you treat the application process will show the potential employer how you will handle the details of the job.
When you do receive the opportunity to interview for a job, dress in scrubs and have a relaxed and happy approach to the conversation. Enjoy talking with someone who has so much experience and learn anything you can from that person. Ask them to tell you how they became a CNA. Tell them about the first time you ask yourself, “How do I become a CNA?” The more of your personality you show in the interview the better chance you have of being offered the job.
