CNA programs are to be taken by the students who are passed out from a high school and want to become certified nursing assistants to work professionally in nursing homes, hospitals, and elderly care facilities.
Regular or traditional certified nursing assistant programs generally last for about 6 weeks or maybe up to 3 months. They include technical and clinical sessions for the students.
Both these sessions train them in all the nursing aspects that are indeed essential while working as professional nursing assistants.
At the accomplishment of the course program, there is an exam for the certified nurse assistant certification and license.
Passing this exam enables the students to get the certified nursing assistant certificate and license that allows them to work at various medical or health care facilities across the respective state.
Accelerated CNA programs are those who serve to train the students in nursing at a very rapid pace so that they can obtain their degree and license in the shortest of time.
Many high schools, community colleges, and nursing homes offer such programs.
Accelerated CNA programs are specially designed for those people who have already experienced nursing assistants with all the knowledge of nursing, but still require additional training to get the license.
They can enroll in the rapid-paced classes, and after passing the license exam, the license can be obtained within a short time.
In spite of being experienced nursing assistants, Taking classes for a license is needed because of the significance and value of the license in the nursing industry.
The certified nursing aide license enables the nursing aides to get the best suitable jobs as well as to advance their careers gradually while working.
Due to it, they can apply for higher education and go up at higher positions in their arena. Higher positions mean higher payment.
BLS (US Bureau of Labor Statistics) also compels that the nursing assistants working at hospitals and nursing homes should be state-licensed.
Accelerated CNA Classes
While traditional classes take from 6 weeks to 3 months for completion, these classes last only for 2-3 weeks. Rapid-paced programs typically focus on the preparation for passing the license exam at the end of the program.
This is because almost all the students are experienced in nursing, which means they possess the essential talent concerned with nursing but do not have a license to make their career brighter.
The cost of these classes is almost similar to that of the traditional ones. The students have to attend classes 6 hours a day, for 5 days a week.
Topics Covered in Accelerated CNA Programs
- Medical terminologies
- Patient care basics
- Medication
- Medical disorders
- Patient assessment
- Determining vital signs
- First aid and CPR
- Infection control
- Clinical externship
Most of these are emphasized on a practical approach and are specifically designed to get prepared well for the state-certified nurse assistant exam.
Besides teaching nursing aspects, such crash courses prepare the students management and marketing of health care organizations, administration, business skills as well as interpersonal communication.
Minimum Requirements to Get Enrolled in Accelerated CNA Program
- The students should possess a bachelor’s degree or any equivalent degree
- The students must apply for and pass the entrance or admittance test if there is any
- The students should have credits from the previous school or respective graduation facility
- The students should attend the information session on accelerated programs before enrollment
- The students should present a driver’s license as identification proof
- English proficiency is must
- Criminal background check proof must be presented
- All the medical immunization proofs should be submitted, if required
Advantages of Taking Accelerated CNA Programs
- Less time-consuming programs
- Comprehensive course work, mostly emphasizing on practical sessions
- Online accelerated training can also be taken
- High probability of getting jobs faster due to quick licensing
- High paying jobs due to previous experience as well as licensing
- Rapid-paced classes are the most advantageous to those who are quick learners and can prepare for the exam in a short time
- This kind of training takes worthy students to get prepared to become registered nurses (RNs) soon
Disadvantages of Accelerated CNA Programs
- Unlike the traditional certified nursing aide classes, these classes provide with a little access to support systems and teachers
- Students desire self-study as the duration of the program and preparation time for the exam both are short
Looking at the plus points and minus points of the accelerated CNA programs, one should understand that taking rapid-paced certified nurse assistant classes would always be beneficial.
However, the students or professionals opting for these classes must understand the foremost basic demand for quick learning and comprehension by the students within a short time.
They also need to prepare for the state-certified nursing assistant exam at a fast pace and should successfully pass it.
In short, these programs facilitate to brush up the nursing talent of the students and professionals to get the license quickly.