Basic Nursing Assistant Training

Basic Nursing Assistants provide the hands-on care for hospital patients, as well as for residents of nursing homes and assisted living communities.  In addition, as senior home care has grown by more than 40% in just the last 5 years, more and more senior home care agencies hire basic nursing assistants.

Basic Nursing Assistant training has become a newer term, replacing Certified Nursing Assistant, or C.N.A. training, as the name of college programs. This is because the nurses must become “Certified” to be official Certified Nursing Aides anytime they take a training course approved by their state.  As part of a career path in nursing, the Basic Nursing Assistant program provides the first stepping stone.  All Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses, as well as health professionals in radiation and other areas, first become trained as nursing assistants.  By taking a state exam, they become “certified” as a nursing aide upon passing the state certification test.

Schools are finding that potential students are more attracted to programs that seem to offer an entire career path and many times the term "Certified Nursing Aide" left the impression that this would be a limited certification. The term basic nursing assistant better describes the position of C.N.A. which does mean the person acts as an assistant to the nursing and medical staff. You may take a peek at the C.N.A. sample test to learn about some of the questions asked, based on the training.

The term basic nursing assistant is now being used at many schools as it better explains the first portion of nursing training.  Someday the term C.N.A. may no longer be used for college nursing training. In addition, this basic nursing training is part of the curriculum for all nurses as they progress through their training program.  Obtaining official certification is a separate process.

Just like accountants go to school to become an accountant and only become a “Certified Public Accountant”, or C.P.A., upon passing the state exam, the same certification process applies to basic nursing training.

Some of the job duties of a certified nursing assistant include:

• Monitoring Vital Signs

• Assisting with Bathing

• Assisting with Meals

• Setting-up Medical Equipment

• Assisting with Transfers

• Answering Patient’s Call-Bells

• Assisting with Daily Patient Schedule (Escorting to Service Areas)

Find Basic Nursing Training schools in your area to become a Certified Nursing Aide or C.N.A. Remember, the healthcare industry has been predicted to be the top employer in the coming decade as the large generation of Baby Boomers age.  Finishing a Basic Nursing Training course will be the first-step in joining this growing industry. You may also apply to a professional senior caregiving job on Caregiverlist's Career Center or refer-a-friend for a chance to win a free set of Scrubs and shoes.