The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission evaluates and certifies programs throughout the country that help students prepare for their certification exam. Through the commission's website prospective nurses can locate the accredited institution closest to them providing online classes. In addition to the numerous community colleges, trade schools and universities offering nursing assistant training programs online, the Red Cross offers free online and practical training courses. Additionally, lists of state-approved nursing assistant colleges, online classes and programs may be obtained through your state nursing board.
There are many types of degrees offered at online colleges that help students prepare to become nurse's assistants. Though no degree is required, an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree in health care administration, nursing, medical assisting, health services or clinical medicine can both prepare you for your certification exam while allowing you to gain a degree useful for continuing your career as a nurse.
Online nursing assistant colleges provide rigorous coursework that prepares students for the written portion of their exam, as well as giving them step-by-step instructions on the proper way to carry out the practical portion of the exam. Preparatory coursework includes patient care and monitoring, documentation and record-keeping, laboratory work and testing procedures. Additionally, advanced online classes that may be put towards an associate's degree includes coursework in measuring vital signs, ambulating patients and emergency training. All of these skills are required of certified nursing assistants in the field and many of them are included on the certification exam.
The exam to become a certified nurse's assistant has both a written and a practical component. The written portion of the exam tests students on the coursework completed during online classes through 100 multiple choice questions. Prospective certified nursing assistants have two hours to complete this portion of the exam. For the practical component, students are asked to perform three or four common procedures, such as handwashing or the proper protocol to maintain patient dignity.
While online coursework helps students understand exactly how to complete the practical component of the exam, if the student is completing these tasks for the first time, he may have trouble with them. Additionally, classroom-based programs offer a more diverse array of classes, as many nursing assistant skills must be taught in person.