A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) gives hands-on daily care to patients in nursing homes, hospitals, and home settings under the direction of a nurse. You help people bathe, eat, move, and use the toilet, you take vital signs, and you are the nurse's eyes and ears, noticing a new bruise, a drop in appetite, or a change in mood and reporting it. In the US you must complete a state-approved training program (federal minimum 75 hours, many states require more) and pass your state competency exam to be listed on the state Nurse Aide Registry. Most programs take 4 to 12 weeks, and demand is stead
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Stage 1 of 4 · about 6 weeks
Learn the basics of the body, infection control, safety, and communication. Know why handwashing, body mechanics, and resident rights come before everything else. Be able to explain and perform handwashing, taking a pulse, respirations, and temperature, and basic bed making. Check your state's approved program list and requirements.
Resident Rights, Dignity, and Communication
Every task you do happens to a person in their own home. Rights and respectful communication come first because they protect residents from harm and protect you from mistakes. They are also tested on every state exam.
Infection Control and Handwashing
Residents are older or ill, so germs that give you a cold can put them in the hospital. Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to stop infection, and handwashing is on nearly every state skills exam.
Body Systems, Medical Terms, and Normal Aging
You are the person who sees the resident most. To notice what is abnormal, you first need to know what normal looks like and have the words to report it.
Safety and Body Mechanics
Nursing assistants have some of the highest rates of back injury of any job, and residents fall often. Using your body correctly protects both of you, and it is the base for every transfer and repositioning you will learn later.
Temperature, Pulse, and Respirations
Vital signs are the fastest way to see that someone is getting sicker. As an aide you take them most often, and the nurse relies on your numbers to decide what to do.
Making a Bed and Basic Room Care
A clean, wrinkle-free bed prevents skin breakdown and shows respect for the resident. It is also a practical way to practice infection control, body mechanics, and organization together.
Finding Your State's Path: Approved Programs and Registry
CNA rules are set by each state, so the right first step is to confirm what your state requires. This saves you time and money and keeps you from enrolling in a program that will not let you test.
Then 3 more stages (about 80 weeks in all) with lessons, drills, projects, 10 interview questions with strong answers and free resources.