Why should there be a certification to be a nursing assistant?

allnurses Guide · May 17, 2014

I wish they could have more training.

Sure you can teach anyone how to do tasks, but understanding why you're doing them goes a long way in (hopefully) ensuring that these tasks are taken seriously and done correctly.

If I simply show you how to do a blood pressure without telling you why you are doing it, then you won't see the importance in doing it properly... that is, if you don't decide "Oh, well, I'm a little behind... the last one was 120/80, so I'll just say this one is is 122/82. It'll be okay...".

If I explain to you how you could actually endanger someone if you don't do it right or don't do it, then you might reconsider being so cavalier about it.

This concept can be applied to many many aspects of the CNA's job.

So... who would be teaching who on the job? Could we trust that all new aides are being trained by other competent and responsible aides? Can we be sure they are learning the right information?

Seems to me, the best way to ensure they are getting the right information is through a reputable program.

If you think being a CNA is "easy" and there is no thinking involved, you need to think again.

Is it rocket science?

No.

But don't you think that the most vulnerable human beings in our society deserve well-trained aides?

giraffe4 · May 17, 2014

Of course there is thinking involved. But what I am saying is, if there needs to be training, why do we have nursing assistant jobs out there that doesn't have certified in front of it? Go to plenty of nursing homes and there job titles are "Personal Care Assistants" or "Personal Care Associates". They are the exact same thing. The reason they aren't easy is because they don't require a lot of education. Therefore they work harder. Have you noticed the more education you have the less you have to do? (Not saying any CNA has no knowledge, in fact I want to become a CNA before I get my RN to get experience).

And yes, trained aides, but in fact, the training is mostly what you can aquire from a nursing home without going to classes as I once said. Or even a hospital. My local hospital which is a 4 star hospital, has nursing assistants everywhere and I am not talking CNAs. I shadowed a nursing assistant and she said her only experience is from nursing homes. So that led me to believe then, why is there certifications for nursing assistants? That is what I mean.

Missingyou, CNA · May 17, 2014

Years ago, it used to be that way...aides in LTC didn't need to be certified. Apparently that didn't go over so well which is why we are required to be certified by the state and not just "trained" according to "just nursing home standards"...which, apparently, haven't always been the best or the state wouldn't have stepped in...

giraffe4 · May 17, 2014

Oh ok. I just always wondered that. Thank you.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · May 17, 2014

There are also important things like body mechanics, the right way to transfer someone, so the aide doesn't injure him or herself or the patient. What to alert the nurse to right away, red flags. Diets like soft, pureed, choking hazards...there is a lot to learn about safety.

If it were just using the machine to check blood pressure, all aides would have been replaced by machines already.

PersnickityChick · May 17, 2014

Some states require certification, and some LTCs require that you are either trained, or in the process of being trained because of liability issues. I would hate to be a director, and have someone come to me and say, "So-and-so did something wrong," and then have to say that they didn't know what they were doing because they hadn't been trained, or demonstrated proficiency in the skill. That is an indefensible position, and most places aren't willing to take it.

Where I am the CNA certification is required to get into nursing school, and once in, a student is required to keep their status active. i imagine that this is totally about liability during clinicals.

funtimes · May 17, 2014

More education is usually a good thing. CNAs starting out in LTC often find the job overwhelming even WITH the formal training and proficiency testing, imagine how much worse it would be if you just threw anyone into the job with no training.

My state requires you be a CNA to work as an aide in a LTC facility. I'm assuming this was done to cut down on abuse and neglect from poorly trained employees and to improve the quality of care. So there you go, that's why there is certification.

verene, MSN · May 17, 2014

At lot of stuff that can be considered common sense, isn't always so common. The ALF where I work has some grandfathered in staff from before the CNA training was required to work there. You can tell the difference in understanding body mechanics and WHY certain things are done certain ways with the staff who've had CNA training. Not to say that the older staff are terrible, (they aren't) many of them have learned from the school of hard knocks and experience and their knowledge is valuable, but there is definitely a different paradigm in approach to how the two groups think about the role of caregiver.

Fortunately for all of us, even though it is not required by the state our ALF believe in on-going training and mandates a certain number of hours per year for all staff, which I think helps quite a bit.

Also just because the job doesn't say CNA in the title doesn't mean the training is not mandated. My job title is "Caregiver" but I still had to have the CNA training and license to be hired. Most of the hospitals around here don't hire CNAs as aides, if you are lucky enough to get a job with CNA training in the hospital you are a "patient transporter" or "unit tech" or something of the like.

hookyarnandblanket · May 18, 2014

I think being certified lends more professionalism to our job and it also holds people to a higher level of accountability when it comes to abuse and neglect.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · May 18, 2014

CNAs have to be certified in this state. And I think there should be some training involved when doing vitals. I was a student athletic trainer in high school. We gave physicals for all of the athletes for each season. Our school district provided everything for its athletes and no one had to pay a dime to participate in a sport. We supplied every ounce of gear including practice stuff. When I mean everything, I mean everything. We supplied the jock straps and mouthguards. We supplied goggles to the swimmers. I learned how to do vital signs when we did physicals. So I have had lots of practice doing BPs and such. There are some people who have no idea how do that stuff or how to listen for the sounds. I want someone who understands all of that stuff if I am putting a family member in a home. They need to know how to properly bathe, check BP, and how to move someone. They need to understand what to look for and communicate with a nurse. I am very glad they are certified.

giraffe4 · May 18, 2014

You all have great input. I completely agree. Certification should be needed! It is very important to learn how the body works and why you are doing a certain task. I know the Nursing Assistants in the hospital near me aren't certified and that leave me petrified knowing they may have had training on how to do certain tasks in the hospitals but not certified through the state.