Training for Certified Nursing Assistant in Virginia

All the certified nurse aides are overseen and certified by the Virginia Board of Nursing. The entire training program lasts for about 120 hours in total. Out of these 120 hours, the first section is allotted for the classroom learning session and the next section is given for the clinical hands-on practice session. In the classroom instruction, the students undergo a comprehensive teaching of all the theory which covers all the essential theoretical concepts behind the nursing practice. They learn and understand the technical basis of nursing and how to implement it during actual practice. In the clinical skills session, the students have to practice all the essential clinical skills under the guidance and supervision of the course instructors. They also get additional practical guidance from the nursing staff at a living health care setting at which the hands-on training is being conducted.

In the theory, the students study basic science, human body mechanism, medical terminologies, anatomy and physiology, infection control, basic health and hygiene, basic nutrition, restorative care, age-specific care, emergency services, basic life support system provision, residents’ rights and ethics of nursing. They also acquire and develop their practical knowledge in the second session. The clinical skills portion involves tasks like basic patient care, basic nutrition and medication, room preparation, simple dressing preparation, feeding the patients, bathing and grooming, recognizing vital signs by patients, health chart preparation, reporting health updates to the doctors and maintaining healthy environment around the patients.

Besides all these necessary skill sets, they learn certain additional skills too. They learn how to communicate between the patients and doctors, how to accurately measure BP, pulse rate and respiratory rate, how to comfort the patients in clinical environment, how to develop interpersonal communication and precise written communication, etc. Sometimes, the senior nurses and doctors also involve them while handling and operating the advanced medical equipment and diagnosis.

Immediately after completion of the state approved CNA training program, the students can take exam for the certified nurse aides. This exam is for the certification purpose and is administered by the state of Virginia and Pearson Vue. The exam pattern follows the NNAAP (National Nurse Aide Assessment Program). It is conducted in 2 sections – the technical knowledge competency test and the clinical skills competency test. The first test comprises of 70 multiple choice questions to be solved by the students; while the second test consists of any 5 randomly given manual skills from the available list. When the students are performing the tasks, they are being continuously supervised by the nursing examiners for evaluation. The students get evaluated as per the competency level shown by them.

If one passes in both the tests separately, then only one is declared to be successfully passed in the exam. Such candidates obtain the certification and licensure from the state licensing authority in a short time. Once certified and licensed, they become eligible to start their professional nursing practice across the state at any health care setting. They also get listed on the state’s nurse aide registry which keeps an updated record of the working status of all the candidates throughout the state.

There are no free classes for CNA in Virginia. However, the students can apply for the state and federal financial assistance for attending the certified nursing assistant training program. The worthy students from the low economical background usually obtain the financial aid. If one is approved for the enough scholarship amounts, then only one can receive the free tuitions. In another case; if one is hired as a professional CNA by a health care facility before completion of the 120 hour course work or immediately after the completion of the course work, then one is totally applicable for the reimbursement of entire fees.

As there are so many facilities and the Red Cross Chapters too, the state does not offer a completely online course program for the certified nursing assistants.