CNA training programs teach skills such as changing beds, taking vital signs, assisting patients with ambulation and range-of-motion exercises, and documentation, providing students with the knowledge and practice to pass a certification examination; exact certification requirements vary from state to state.
CNA training programs are offered for a fee by private organizations such as the Red Cross, or through technical schools or medical facilities; programs generally last from 6 to 12 weeks.
Some hospitals and nursing homes provide "paid" courses, meaning that you are paid while being trained for a job at that facility.
Many nurses begin their careers as CNAs so that they can get into the medical field and work while in nursing school.
CNAs care for patients' day-to-day needs and have a great deal more personal contact with them than nurses do, in most cases.
Becoming a CNA requires a certain type of individual--one who is patient, compassionate and comfortable helping people with personal needs.