Online CNA Classes

So you have been thinking of starting a career as a nursing assistant, but you are not sure that your schedule will allow you to attend on-campus classes?

Well one option would be online programs as they are designed for working adults, parents, commuters, and career changers. The coursework involves learning fundamentals and practical skills that you will need for your future career.

One of the most significant advantages of taking an online nursing aide course is the convenience. You can access online CNA from any location and at any time provided that you have an internet connection. Students are free to complete their assignments depending on their schedule. Also, online courses are flexible. You will set your timetable to fit with your busy lifestyle. Parents and folks benefit the most from this flexibility since they have an option to study whenever they are free. Students learn at their own speed as everyone has different levels of understanding concepts.

Online courses are useful for individuals who learn well on their own. You can redo a class if you find it to be difficult, or move to areas that feel easy to you.

Choosing the Right CNA Class Online

As there are many online options available you should consider the following criteria before applying.

1. The first criteria is definitely accreditation. Every CNA professional should have career advancement as a top priority, and if you do not choose an accredited school, it will be definitely to pursue higher levels of nursing education. In addition, an accredited school has another benefit: it is more likely to cover the certification requirements for your state than a school that has no accreditation behind it. Be sure to check very carefully; if necessary, you can always call the school and ask questions. It is safe to be wary of a school that does not allow you to seek out this vital piece of information, since it’s surely a sign that the school is not accredited at all. The Higher Learning Commission approves online schools that have various training programmes, and that they are also accreditors who specialize in vetting programmes that concentrate on nurse and nursing assistants. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is responsible for accrediting nursing education programmes. Since such CNA certifications do not require college degrees, The CCNE does not have the mandate to accredit nursing aide programs, but you can find information related to nursing on their website.
2. The second criteria that you will need to keep in mind is time. If you are on a strict timetable for accomplishing your goal of becoming a CNA, you may want to choose a class that has a shorter overall course length. However, if you can afford any time flexibility at all, you will want to select a longer course that gives you more time to really digest the information presented. Most nursing assistants usually take a few months to complete the online programs. Online courses are shorter than the campus-based training programs for certified nurses. The length of a CNA course may vary depending on the person who is taking it. Some accelerated courses can take three weeks to complete. Since courses can be set depending on your schedule, It may take some students a long time to complete these programs.
3. The third criteria are the school’s ability to connect you with the appropriate amount of hands on experience. In order to successfully pass the CNA course, you will usually have to complete a minimum amount of hours in an actual clinical setting. The best schools do not force you to go on your own to find welcoming facilities for students; they should already have plenty of associations with local facilities in your area that you can gain experience at.

The Structure of Online CNA Programs

CNA online programs have the same format as what CNA classes offer in traditional campuses. The online training programs include group discussions, lectures, and assignments. Attending lectures involves listening to videos on the topic you are studying from your computer. Reading materials can be downloaded from the website and assignments can be submitted to the site as well. Most online CNA programs also offer chat room and discussion boards.

Because the test is done online, you can receive your results immediately and you will know where you did well, and the areas you need to improve. Online programs allow you for better control of your time. Your only task is to make your school schedule fit into your other activities, like caring for your family or going to work.

What Do Online CNA Classes Actually Teach?

The things you learn from an online CNA class will help you to pass the written part of the certification examination. The test contains 50 multiple choice questions testing for both knowledge and intuition on how to approach different situations when you are working. Some of these situations are:

• A client is angry, and he or she starts to respond violently, how do you approach this situation?
• A patient is not eating well because someone close to him or her has passed away. You know that if he does not take food, he will become malnourished, what do you do?
• What is the first thing you should do when you start your shift?
• If you hear an alarm go off in another room while you are attending to a patient, what should you do?

These scenarios are examples of what you could expect in the exam. The tests will include an exam that test on your hands-on skills as well, where you need to show 3 to 5 nurse assistant skills. The online programs cover all the materials that you will use when you are caring for patients. This includes subjects like anatomy, nutrition, medical terminologies among others.

Which States Allow Online CNA Training?

There are currently only 9 states in US that allow CNA training to be done online- Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon and South Dakota.

All other states- Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West-Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming do not offer state approved online CNA programs.

You can find state approved online CNA classes below:

Colorado

Compass Nursing Arts (Partially Online)
108 West Baseline Rd
Lafayette, CO 80026
303-484-9650

Kansas

Allied Health Career Training LLC
2622 W Central B112
Wichita, KS 67203
(316) 854-3892

Midwestern College – Overland Park
9545 W 87 Street
Overland Park, KS 66212
(913) 385-2144

Allen County Community College
1801 N Cottonwood
Iola, KS 66759
(620) 364-1367

Pratt Community College
348 NE SR 61
Pratt KS 67124
(620) 672-5641

Butler Community College
110 E 21 St
Andover, KS 67042
(316) 323-6072

Neosho Community College
800 W 14 ST
Chanute KS 66720
(620) 431-2820

Kentucky

Health Education Center
3903 Vantage Place
Louisville, KY 40299
(502) 762-5151

Missouri

Preferred Futures Healthcare Academy
234 NW 41 Rd
Warrensburg, MO 64801
(660) 422-8377

Meds-Medical Educational Development and Support
1425 S Noland Rd
Independence, MO 64106
(816) 373-6337

MO Association of Nursing Home Administration
4100 Country Club
Jefferson City, MO 65109
(573) 634-5345

Montana

Miles Community College
2715 Dickinson St,
Miles City, MT 59301
406-874-6100

North Carolina

Care One Health Training Institute
319 Chapanoke Road, Suite 104,
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
(919) 773.7165

North Dakota

Lake Region State College (Hybrid)
1801 College Drive North
Devils Lake, ND 58301
1 (800) 443-1313

Williston State College
1410 University Drive
Williston, ND 58802
(701) 774-6236

Oregon

Caregiver Training Institute
12790 SE Stark St Suite 100
Portland, OR. 97233
(503) 257-0117

South Dakota

Avera
3900 W Avera Drive
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
(605) 668-8475

CNA Competency Examination and CNA Registry

When you complete your training, you will be a nursing aide but not a Certified Nurse Aide. Some facilities will hire you without the certification, but some will require that you be approved. To acquire the certification, you will have to sit for the nursing assistants competence test and pass it. The tests are different for each state, but generally, they will contain a multiple choice segment and a written segment and a portion that will require you to demonstrate the necessary skills you learned from the training.

When you pass the competency examination, in some states you will need to be listed in the nursing assistant registry. The registry makes it easy for employers to find out whether you have completed and passed the CNA training and whether you are certified to work as a nurse aid. CNA registry also contains information about reported abuse for any individual.

While it is still possible to get employment even without certification, most employers would consider that a nursing assistant is certified to work in their facility. You will have the upper hand when you seek employment if you are found in the registry and are certified as well.

The Cost of Taking an Online Program

An online CNA training program is less expensive as compared to campus-based courses. However, this may vary depending on the institution. Most institutions offer reasonable fees for their online courses. A good strategy is to look for an institution that allows you to pay for classes in part as you work on completing your course. Also, check to see if the courses you are looking for are available for scholarships or if you can fund them through grants.

The cost of completing a CNA program ranges between $500 to $2500. Online courses from within the state are cheaper than programs from private or out of the state colleges. You can consider seeking financial aid to help you pay for these classes. Federal Aid is an example of a place where you can find assistance with the funding for your education.

To get funding from Federal Aid, you are required to complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid. The aid will include scholarships, low-interest loans, and grants. You can also get financial assistance from family and friends. Having a support circle that is interested in your education will keep you accountable.

Are There Free Online CNA Programs?

Yes, there are free online CNA programs, but websites that offer these free courses don’t give credit for the programs. Free online CNA programs teach about patient safety, medical terminologies, human nutrition and other areas on caring for patients. If you are using a free online program, ensure that you will earn credits. An online program that is free may be useful but may not be officially accredited.

Things To Keep In Mind Before You Sign Up

If you really are motivated to become a CNA but don’t have enough time to attend the classes or cannot afford to quit the running job, then signing up with online classes may be the right option for you. As because, for enrolling into an online nursing assistant degree, you don’t need to follow the learning schedules fixed by institutions but can design your own learning schedule according to your daily schedule. You can choose to take classes from home at any time you choose, be that be in the evening or at dawn or in the morning times. However, while enrolling into online classes you need to prepare yourself. Following points will help you to get prepared for online classes:

• The first and foremost thing you need to prepare is to make sure that your PC is in well working condition. Also make sure that your internet connection is working at the right speed.
• You should be proficient with the email and internet browsing skills. Be prepared to search or find things easily in the internet without investing unnecessary time. Also, managing the folders in your PC will also help you to decrease the time to access the information and other study resource materials.
• You should be prepared to face the challenging deadlines for submitting your assignments. Do not try to run away from the deadlines but make necessary preparations beforehand. Every assignment in CNA course is equally important, thus you should be ever ready to complete each task on time.
• Good study skills and skills to analyze the studied information is also necessary for home learning. You will not get instructors or professors at home, thus making yourself able to analyze and interpret the information independently is more important. For these skills to develop, you can read self-help books or similar reading materials from the internet. Also, practicing to write will also help to increase the analytical skills. Nevertheless, you will realize your skills from the past education history.
• The most important thing, above all, is to manage your daily schedule so that you get enough time for study. Allocate equal time on regular basis and do not compromise on your study hours to complete the other task, unless very important.