What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a healthcare worker that can provide personal care to patients in a variety of settings. CNAs can be employed in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice centers, private homes, and more. CNAs help patients with a variety of tasks, including personal care, feeding, bathing, and administering medications.

Working as a team member, the CNA provides assistance with essential daily tasks such as dressing, eating, toileting, and personal hygiene. They take vital signs, record intake and output and help with procedures.

A Certified Nursing Assistant works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) to give personal, hands-on care to patients, residents, or clients. Thanks to CNAs, each patient receives individualized care that maintains the best possible quality of life.

CNA Certification Requirements

Nursing Assistant applicants must complete a formal training program. The training is a three-week program and consists of 40 hours of classroom and lab instruction and 80 hours of clinical training approved by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). Classroom hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Each applicant MUST attend all classroom sessions and complete the clinical rotation. The Certification Exam will be administered upon completion of the training program.

Requirements:

• The applicant must be at least 16 years of age to participate in the CNA Certification Program.

• Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to read, write and perform basic math functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

• The State of Indiana also requires that the applicant pass a written and skills competency exam upon completion of the training to be eligible for employment.

• Limited criminal background check is also required.

• Three forms of valid identification, a physical exam, and Two-Step PPD Test is also required.