Certified nursing assistants (CNA) must secure their education from an accredited school or website where the instructors are also qualified to teach the subjects. In this regard, many professionals in the healthcare industry are starting to consider the viable opportunities in training the future nursing assistants employed in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.
To become a CNA instructor, your first step is to attend nursing school to secure the appropriate degree and, subsequently, to become a registered nurse. Keep in mind that all states in the United States require CNA instructors to be registered nurses with valid licenses as a minimum prerequisite.
You can choose from either the 2-year associate's degree in nursing program or the 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Obviously, the BSN program requires more time, energy and effort, not to mention money, than the associate's degree program but we must say that the former provides for more job opportunities than the latter.
After graduation, you should apply for and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in order to become a registered nurse. Registration with the state nursing board comes next, said registration of which has its own set of requirements.
Lest you think that you can now immediately become a CNA training instructor, think again. All states require CNA instructors to possess nursing experience, which may vary from one to two years depending on specific regulations. Said work experience should be in caring for chronically ill patients and/or for the elderly in long-term care facilities (i.e., nursing homes and rehabilitation centers) although experience in hospitals may also be considered to a limited degree.
Why the specific requirements for CNA instructors? This is because the CNA training instructors must teach students about the proper ways of dealing with the elderly, the chronically ill, and other types of patients in the abovementioned settings. Practical experience begets knowledge that can then be passed on to students in the program.
Since we are on the topic of the roles and responsibilities of CNA instructors, let's take a look at a few of these duties:
• Prepare educational materials, review course content and identify issues in the curriculum
• Instruct students in both classroom and clinical settings including but not limited to matters of taking vital signs, serving meals and caring for special needs patients. We must note that students should work hard toward their CNA certification because the welfare of their future patients lies in their able hands.
Under the law, all CNA instructors must also take the equivalent of a train-the-trainer certification course. The course can take 15 to 25 hours depending on the state law on this matter.
When you have your registered nurse license, your work experience and your train-the-trainer certificate, you can then apply for jobs as a CNA instructor. Your best bets are in colleges, community schools and technical-vocational schools as well as online sites offering the program. Good luck on your applications!
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