Becoming a nurse's aid typically doesn't require any education or work experience, however obtaining CNA certification does. Additionally, home health agencies that are approved to accept Medicare are required to have their staff pass competency tests. CNA certification requires a minimum of 75 hours of training and a maximum of 150 hours depending on which state you live in.
Some of the areas of training include communication skills, patient care documentation, measuring patient vital signs, patient hygiene and grooming, how to move a patient and nutrition. Other courses are basic human physiology and anatomy.
At the end of the training period, a test is administered and those who pass are certified with the State. CNA classes are available in some high schools, community colleges and career colleges. Because of the physical labor involved in being a CNA, potential students should be in good physical shape and able to lift and bend as part of their daily work.
