Certified Nurse Aide

The Certified Nurse Aide is an important member of the health care team who often holds a high level of experience and ability. The CNA’s role in the health care team is vital to the care and well being of their patients. In today's hospitals and extended care facilities a certified nurse aide is an important part of a health care team that includes many personnel outside of nurses. The nurse aide must not only be very skilled in the actual procedures being performed but must also be able to observe a patient's condition and report that information back to the nurse. Due to other responsibilities, the nurse cannot spend large amounts of time in the room with the patient so the nurse aide is often referred to as the nurse's "eyes and ears".

The Next CNA Class will start May 10, 2010
The class will meet at RESQ Health & Safety Training Center. 6845 S. Madison Ave. Suite I Indianapolis, IN 46227.

May/June schedule:
Class        Monday 5/10       5:30-9:30 PM
Class        Wednesday 5/12  5:30-9:30 PM
Class        Monday  5/17      5:30-9:30 PM
Class        Wednesday 5/19 5:30-9:30 PM
Clinical     Saturday 5/22      7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Clinical     Sunday 5/23        7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Class        Monday 5/24       5:30-9:30 PM
Class        Wednesday 5/26  5:30-9:30 PM
NO CLINICALS MEMORIAL WEEKEND
NO CLASS MEMORIAL DAY
Class        Tuesday 6/1        5:30-9:30 PM
Class        Wednesday 6/2    5:30-9:30 PM
Clinical     Saturday 6/5        7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Clinical     Sunday 6/6          7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Clinical     Saturday 6/12      7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Clinical     Sunday 6/13        7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Clinical     Saturday 6/19      7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Clinical     Sunday 6/20        7:00 AM-5:00 PM

Orientation & Registration Process: You may complete orientation and registration any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday 9 am till 1 pm. The registration and orientation process takes approximately 45 minutes. Registration and orientation is at 6845 S. Madison Ave. Suite I Indianapolis, IN (317) 786-7260 or email info@resqtraining.com) for an appointment time. You must complete the orientation, registration process before class is scheduled to begin.

Length:
105 hours minimum (30 Classroom + 75 Clinical Hours) as mandated by the Indiana State Department of Health. Classroom and clinical hours will be completed as scheduled per the course calendar.

Tuition: $650
Pre-Registration $150 (Non-Refundable), payable online, will reserve your seat for the next available class. No refunds will be given after the first week of class.

You must apply in person.

The remaining balance of $500 is due on the first day of class. Payment plans available with approval of the Course Director.

Registration:
Before registering for class make sure you must meet the following requirements:

16 years of age
Basic understanding of how to converse, read, and write in English
Understanding of basic math
State issued photo ID
Social security card (or proof of numbers)
Limited Criminal History Report - the student can not have a felony conviction for abuse of a dependent population
A link has been provided to the Indiana State Police http://www.in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch/

In addition to professional instruction, you will receive:
· Training Manual
· Workbook
· Identification Badge
· Copy of your File upon completion of the course
· Job Placement Assistance: We provide to you comprehensive search information as well as having want ad postings in our classroom, many times sent to us by facilities which know how well we train CNAs.

Certificate of Completion:
Upon completion of course the students will receive a RESQ Training Certificate of Completion. This certificate will enable the student to take the Indiana State Nurse Aide Certification Exam.

CNA Additional Information

Does the facility have to pay the nurse aides for the training costs?
Federal regulation at 42 CFR 483.152(c)(1) states that "No nurse aide who is employed by, or who has received an offer of employment from, a facility on the date on which the aide begins a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program may be charged for any portion of the program (including any fees for textbooks or other required course materials)." Also, the federal regulation states at 42 CFR 483.152(c)(2), that "If an individual who is not employed, or does not have an offer to be employed, as a nurse aide becomes employed by, or receives an offer of employment from, a facility not later than 12 months after completing a nursing aide training and competency evaluation program, the State must provide for the reimbursement of costs incurred in completing the program on a pro rata basis during the period in which the individual is employed as a nurse aide." Only Medicare/Medicaid facilities have to reimburse training costs. State regulations do not require licensed-only facilities to reimburse nurse aides for NATCEP. Only nurse aides who successfully pass the NATCEP may receive the reimbursement.

What is covered by the reimbursement?
NATCEP costs cover: All of the training coursework; fees for textbooks or other required course materials; registering individuals on the nurse aide registry; and any costs of giving or grading the examinations. If the nurse aide wants to buy extra books or tools that are not required by the training program, the facility does not have to pay for those extra materials. Only Medicare/Medicaid facilities have to reimburse training costs. Licensed-only facilities do not have to reimburse nurse aides for NATCEP. Only nurse aides who successfully pass the NATCEP should receive the reimbursement.

When does the nurse aide have to be reimbursed for the training program?
When a nurse aide pays for non-facility-based training costs and is hired within one year of successfully completing the NATCEP, the provider is expected to pay 100% of the costs. This can be paid at the time of hiring or can prorated over a reasonable period of time. A reasonable period of time can not be more than 12 months.

Does a nursing facility have to pay for the class for a nurse aide working in their facility or at a community college?
Yes. The nursing facility is responsible for paying for the class regardless of whether it's at the facility or at a community college, within the timeframes as stated above.

If the person does not pass the training program evaluation, does the facility have to reimburse the costs?
No. If the person does not pass both the written or oral and the skills tests, the facility does not have to reimburse him/her. A person only becomes a certified nurse aide after passing both sections, and the facility should only reimburse people who become fully certified.

Since the facility paid for the training, does the aide have to work for the facility for a certain amount of time?
No. A facility cannot make a nurse aide work for a certain length of time. As long as the person passed the evaluations, he/she must be reimbursed for the training.

How does the facility report the reimbursement costs?
All costs that have to do with nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs (NATCEP) should be reported on Line 321 (NATCEP Costs) of the Medicaid Nursing Facility Financial Report. These costs include: (1) reimbursement made to nurse aides who personally paid for the cost of training classes, (2) wages for trainers, (3) costs from train-the-trainer classes, (4) training materials and supplies, and (5) costs for nurse aide testing. Wages for nurse aides while in training should not be reported on Line 321, but should be reported on Line 314 (Nurses Aides).

How do I know if the nurse aide was reimbursed at a different facility?
The nurse aide should only be reimbursed by one (1) facility per one (1) training program completed. It is the responsibility of the facility to do an employee background check to see if the nurse aide has completed the training, and if a different facility has already reimbursed him/her for the cost of training. This might mean the facility has to contact previous employers to find out if the new employee has already been reimbursed for his/her training program costs.
Any additional questions regarding NATCEP reimbursement, please contact Karen Filler at 317-232-4651 or Karen.Filler@fssa.in.gov.

Class Text & Workbook: The Nursing Assistant: Acute, Sub-Acute, and Long-Term Care Fourth Edition: by Jolynn Pulliam

Equipment and Supplies Preferred: Internet and email access for valuable supplementary class materials/practice would be beneficial.

Dress Code: Requirements for clinical site dress last revision 8/05/09

Clean and pressed scrubs are the attire expected to be worn by all. Sleeves of garments worn under scrub tops must be at least short sleeved NO sleeveless tops. Hems of garments worn under scrubs should not show. Scrubs are to fit and be worn appropriately. Sizing should conform to the body so it doesn't snag on equipment. No pants are to be worn sagging down past the waist line. Shoes must be closed-toe and heel. No backless shoes or backless clogs. Shoes and socks must be unornamented and plain white. Students should be well groomed. Hair should be tied back for safety and worn above the collar. Long hair should be pinned up above the collar. Beards or mustaches must be closely trimmed. Fingernails should be neatly trimmed and clean. Nail polish, if used, should be a neutral color (clear is preferred). Heavy perfume and heavy make-up should not be worn, as it might create difficulty for others who are sensitive to fragrances to breathe. No elaborate or large jewelry or accessories, only small post-style earrings allowed. Heavy neck chains, necklaces, bracelets, or large rings should not be worn with a uniform. No headgear, hats, caps, neck scarves, wristbands or gloves. Outer garments: sweaters and jackets for warmth are allowed in the classroom.See instructor for further details.

Classroom Location: 6845 Madison Ave., Suite I, Indianapolis, IN 46227. Laboratory/Clinical portion of the class will be at clinical training sites with instructors.

Description & Outcomes:
This is an Indiana State Department of Health approved course. It provides the current fundamental knowledge and skills for nursing and other related health-care professions, including AHA Health Care Provider Basic Life Support. It is designed to prepare students to successfully complete the IN state certification exam for CNAs and for employment in hospital, nursing facilities and long-term care settings. Students will be taught how the nurse aide is an ever-increasingly valuable career based on ethical health care principles that respect the client.

Attendance Policy:
Students must attend all classroom and clinical instruction. Students must be on time and stay for the entire class session. If you miss any portion of the classroom or clinical instruction time, make up time and instructor compensation will be determined by the program director’s discretion. Instructor compensation is $50 an hour.

Guidelines for Success:
For the state exam: daily reviewing the material and asking questions while completing the course up until the time of the state exam, and knowing all the vocabulary and skills specified in the Indiana CNA Handbook. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE the skills according to the Indiana CNA Handbook. Study the supplementary materials and practice games and questions. Do all activities for all chapters, including:
-Reading all chapters
-Doing the workbook (Daily check offs of material covered)
-Reviewing objectives and content outlines: being able to demonstrate knowledge and skills according to these
-Slide presentations review
-Communication with instructors as needed regarding progress and participation in Chapter Topics as directed.
-Chapter Reviews (Feedback results for student regarding their knowledge acquisition prior to taking Chapter Tests)
-Chapter Tests REQUIRED (Feedback for the instructor and proof of attendance and participation). Aim for 90-100% scores.
-Researching and asking questions to assure absolute understanding
-Attending, being on-time and appropriately dressed for “on-site” activities
-Following all on-site facility rules
-Laboratory Skills Demonstration: knowing the general and specific expectations for all procedures and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE so expectations will be met in the clinical experience and the state exam
-Clinical Grading Criteria: knowing performance expectations and performing accordingly

DO NO HARM! RESIDENT SAFETY FIRST!

Never do anything you are not sure of in the clinical setting.

Additional useful information:
In the United States, a Certified Nursing Aide (CNA), Patient Care Assistant (PCA), State Tested Nurse Aid (STNA) or Nursing Assistant-Registered (NA/R) is a person who assists individuals with healthcare needs (often called "patients", "clients", "service users") with activities of daily living (ADLs) and provide bedside care—including basic nursing procedures—all under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) (Meyer). Activities of daily living (ADLs) are "the things we normally do in daily living including any daily activity we perform for self-care (such as feeding ourselves, bathing, dressing, grooming), work, homemaking, and leisure." [1] A number of national surveys collect data on the ADL status of the U.S. population. [2] Health professionals routinely refer to the ability or inability to perform ADLs as a measurement of the functional status of a person.[3] This measurement is useful for assessing the elderly, the mentally ill, those with chronic diseases, and others, in order to evaluate what type of health care services an individual may need. There are several evaluation tools, such as the Katz ADL scale and the Lawton IADL scale. Most models of health care service use ADL evaluations in their practice, including the medical (or institutional) models, such as the Roper-Logan-Tierney model of nursing, and resident-centered models, such as the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Patient Rights
It is the job of the entire health care team to make sure that a patient's rights are always adhered to. These include, but are not limited to the right to privacy and dignity while care is being given, the right to be informed of their care plan, the right to be included when making their care plan, the right to accept or refuse treatment, and the right to confidentiality of their patient information.

Certified Nursing Assistant Skills Learned

Universal Precautions:
Proper hand washing is an important part of nurse assisting. It is the first step in preventing the spread of germs. Hand washing must be performed both before and after contact with a patient. Hands that do not appear soiled can still spread disease. It is important to wash hands even when using gloves as they do not provide an absolute barrier to the transmission of disease.

Gloves should be worn as needed, such as when exposure to bodily fluids is likely, when any care is given, or when the patient is infected with a pathogen that is spread by direct contact (such as MRSA).

Ambulation:
Ambulation assistance is a set of techniques for helping patients to walk. One example is the use of a gait belt or transfer belt for patients who cannot stand on their own. The gait belt is put around the patient's waist and enables the assistant to lift the patient safely without straining his or her back. It can be used to help patients get in and out of bed, get up from a chair, or enter a walker. Walkers help the elderly get exercise. Many elderly patients cannot walk on their own due to osteoporosis or other conditions. Exercise promotes movement, helps with circulation, helps the patient heal faster, be in better health, and ultimately have a longer, happier life.

Applying antiembolic stockings:
An antiembolic stocking is a device that is used on patients under observation for (or at risk for) circulation problems. It is a high sock which applies pressure on the legs to prevent blood clots. It may also have a hole on the top or bottom of the foot for comfort, and easy access to the feet, so that the nurse assistant doesn't need to remove the sock every two hours to check circulation.

Bedpan Use and Output Measurement:
A bedpan is a device that is placed under patients who are unable to get up and use a bedside toilet or go to the restroom. It is used to catch all of the urine and feces. The patient must be properly wiped and cleansed after elimination to prevent infection. The color, odor, consistency, and amount of urine is often measured and recorded. If a bowel movement has taken place, that is noted along with any significant characteristics of the stool.

Oral care:
Denture and mouth care is very important in providing proper hygiene for patients. Teeth must be cleaned in the morning and after each meal. This will help prevent tooth decay or gum conditions that could lead to tooth loss. When providing oral care, it is important to check the patient's teeth, lips, mouth, and tongue for bleeding and discoloration, sores, odor, cracking, or coating, and to report unexpected observations to the nurse immediately.

Dressing:
For the dependent patient, dressing is not an easy task. In fact it is very difficult and needs to be done properly. The best way to ensure that it is done right is to dress the weak side first so that the patient can help with their strong side, and to undress the strong side first so they can help undress the weak side as much as possible.

Feeding:
Patients must not be overassisted in feeding or they may stop helping themselves. Assistance should be confined to those parts of the task they cannot accomplish for themselves. For example, a patient who cannot load a spoon but is capable of conveying it to their mouth should be assisted only in loading the spoon. They should convey it to their mouth themself, even if it would be faster for the assistant to do this for them.

Hair care:
Providing hair care will help patients feel good about themselves. Long-term care facilities may have a salon where residents can have their hair done once a week just as they would at home. Hair must be maintained every day as well. Hair should be brushed from roots to ends, and care should be taken to avoid irritating the patient's scalp.

Bedmaking:
Bedmaking as practiced by a nurse assistant is a skilled task that must be performed precisely. The bed must be wrinkle-free to prevent bedsores, which not only cause discomfort to the patient but can cause serious health problems, and the open end of the pillow case must be facing away from the door to prevent an infection control issue. There are specific bedmaking techniques for use when a bed is occupied by a patient.

Nail care:
Nail care is important to ensure that bacteria do not enter the nail bed and cause serious infections in elderly patients. It is helpful to soak nails for at least five minutes to help loosen dirt and germs that are lodged in nail beds.

Bed bath:
Due to lack of staff, patients may only get a full bath once or twice a week; on other days, patients get bedbaths. This involves cleaning the underarms, torso, and perineal areas.

Serving water:
Fresh ice water should be offered frequently (at least once every 8 hours) to promote hydration. It is important to encourage drinking, because it is not unusual for elderly patients to be unaware of thirst and thus be easily subject to dehydration.

Positioning:
Positioning refers to a set of techniques for changing the posture of a bedridden person in order to avoid health problems such as bedsores. Many states require that bedridden persons be checked and repositioned at intervals of two hours or less.

Range-of-Motion Exercises:
If not exercised, joints gradually lose their ability to move. Nurse assistants must be able to assist patients in performing a series of range-of-motion exercises that flex the joints of their arms, wrists, legs, fingers, hips, and feet. This aids circulation, prevents arthritis and stiffness, and speeds recovery from such conditions as strokes, seizures, and falls.

Vital signs:
Vital signs (such as the patient's temperature, respiration, blood pressure, pulse, and level of pain) are often taken and recorded at least once a day depending on the physician's order. Increasing temperature can indicate infection or other disorder, while decreasing temperature can indicate shock or decreased cardiac output; increasing blood pressure may require medical treatment and special diets while decreasing blood pressure may indicate shock or hemorrhage; and irregular, weak, fast, or slow pulse can indicate heart problems. If a patient's vital signs have changed significantly within a short period of time, a double check for accuracy may be warranted. Any unusual findings should be brought to the attention of a supervising nurse or doctor.

“There is a light in this world a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is too much suffering, too much pain. Then suddenly the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.”
-Mother Teresa

A few interesting websites:

http://www.asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/069912.pdf

http://cna_munchkin.tripod.com/cna54.htm

http://nursingassistantcentral.homestead.com/TakingtheCNAExam.html

http://www.nursingjobs.org/cna/indiana

Registration Cost:

Available Certified Nurse Aide Training Class Dates in Indianapolis, IN

Certified Nurse Aide

CNA Additional Information