CNA Additional Certification

november17, ASN, RN · Jan 13, 2008

I've never heard of them. Not to say they don't exist. I don't know why it would really be necessary though, even if such certifications did exist, unless you just wanted the honor of having some sort of an acronym after your name. I don't think I've ever seen a nursing assistant job that required anything like that. I suppose it would depend on the state but I don't know that much about Texas.

JaredCNA, CNA · Jan 13, 2008

I've never heard of them. Not to say they don't exist. I don't know why it would really be necessary though, even if such certifications did exist, unless you just wanted the honor of having some sort of an acronym after your name. I don't think I've ever seen a nursing assistant job that required anything like that. I suppose it would depend on the state but I don't know that much about Texas.

I suppose it's mainly for personal knowledge, but it could also show pts/family members/employers that you have extra knowledge in a certain area. For instance, at my job, I hold the cert of being an orthopedic assistant. It means nothing more than that I'm trained to apply most types of traction, have special training in the ambulation/repositioning of post-op ortho pts, and that I know some of the "warning signs" to watch out for and notify a nurse of pre- and post-op.

But if I went to work at a hospital across town that knowledge would mean nothing because they don't let their CNAs do traction and what-not. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if there are any certs that are, universal, for lack of a better term?

ccyrrus · Jan 13, 2008

There are different levels of being a CNA. I am a CNA II, which doesn't mean a thing, except a small raise, once I passed the class. There are also CNA III, which is another class, and you have to work at each level for a certain length of time before you can advance to the next one. Each class teaches things learned in the initial CNA class, just more in depth.

There are also CNA-M classes offered in some states. That is where a CNA can go back to school to learn how to pass meds. Again, you have to be working as a CNA for a certain length of time, before you are even eligible for the class. The class is usually 120-150 hours long. It consists of classroom work, lab work and clinicals. Not all states allow Med Techs and usually they can only work in LTC facilities, never hospitals. At least, that is how it is, where I live. I am currently taking a Med Tech class and am finding it to be very interesting.

I hoped this helped. Again, every state is different. Your state may or may not offer these classes.

LfmVigilo · Jan 13, 2008

I currently live in Cleveland Ohio and most nursing homes, hospitals and the American Red Cross off STNA training. If done at the nursing home its usually a 3 week paid class when you agree to work with them for a year or the cost is about 450, after the training is complete you have up to 4 months to become state tested which the nursing home usually sets up the testing on site before the 4 months are up. Once you are state tested you get a raise and are able to work anywhere STNAs are hired. Hospitals here are usually the ones that give the the special certifications, but they seem to be a little more useful here we pretty much have 3 main hopitals which are The Cleveland Clinic, University Hopital, Metro Health, and all have many affiliates where the certifications are still valid.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jan 13, 2008

I think that it depends on the state that you are in. Where I am at there is a CNA, a CNA II, and a medication aide. The med aide is a CNA that is trained to pass meds. The CNA II can do more than a CNA and the hospital that I work at now has made it a requirment to have the CNA II.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 14, 2008

You can possibly be certified in phlebotomy, EKG, or maybe medical billing. Multi-tasking is the wave of the future. Many of the CNAs that work in my hospital obtained their phlebotomy certifications and have become Patient Care Associates. In addition to the CNA skills, they draw blood, obtain EKGs and are taught the most dangerour rhythms that can cause death, doing glucose fingersticks and wet to dry dressings. See if they have any of these courses in the community colleges or vocational schools in your area. Good luck!

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jan 14, 2008

In addition to the CNA skills, they draw blood, obtain EKGs and are taught the most dangerour rhythms that can cause death, doing glucose fingersticks and wet to dry dressings. See if they have any of these courses in the community colleges or vocational schools in your area. Good luck!

I dont think that there are certifications for that. Doing EKG's, dressings, CBG's, HCG and urine dips, are part of the CNA II. Which has been on the job learing.

casi, ASN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

I really think that it depends on the state. In MN I've seen certificates such as Home Health Aide, ER Tech, Acute Care, Phlebotomy, EKG, Trained Medication Aide.

JaredCNA, CNA · Jan 14, 2008

There are different levels of being a CNA. I am a CNA II, which doesn't mean a thing, except a small raise, once I passed the class. There are also CNA III, which is another class, and you have to work at each level for a certain length of time before you can advance to the next one. Each class teaches things learned in the initial CNA class, just more in depth.
There are also CNA-M classes offered in some states. That is where a CNA can go back to school to learn how to pass meds. Again, you have to be working as a CNA for a certain length of time, before you are even eligible for the class. The class is usually 120-150 hours long. It consists of classroom work, lab work and clinicals. Not all states allow Med Techs and usually they can only work in LTC facilities, never hospitals. At least, that is how it is, where I live. I am currently taking a Med Tech class and am finding it to be very interesting.
I hoped this helped. Again, every state is different. Your state may or may not offer these classes.

In Texas, our "CNA-M" is simply a Medication Aide. It would be very hard in my position to attend the classes, which are offered at a local community college, evenings, for about 3 months.

The only catch is that you have to get a signed letter from a LTCF in the area stating that they will let you do clinicals at their site...which has proved tricky because most of the local NH's will want you to currently be working there as a CNA. Can't figure out why.

I would love to do med aide but they are not really used in acute care...with the exception of big cities like Houston (MD Anderson I believe uses med aides) and Dallas (John Peter Smith uses them)...and that is the capacity where I want to work. I don't have a desire to do LTC.

I dont think that there are certifications for that. Doing EKG's, dressings, CBG's, HCG and urine dips, are part of the CNA II. Which has been on the job learing.

I can't seem to find any information on CNA II training in Texas. I think it is offered by the facility you work for...it's not a universal certification that you could carry from job to job, which is what I'm looking for.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone.

showbizrn · Jan 15, 2008

hi all,
i know that different facilities will train their cna's to do things like ekg's or blood draws and they can perform these skills in that facility, but i wonder if there are any certs that go with you anywhere you work as a cna.

:flowersfo

there you go.

some facilities do offer certifications, training, titles but you can't transfer the credentials to another facility.

see what other short-term training/crednetials that are health-related are offered by your state.

state-approved credentialling is worth its salt on paper.

much success to you!

JaredCNA, CNA · Jan 16, 2008

:flowersfo
See what OTHER SHORT-TERM training/crednetials that are health-related are offered by your State.

Thanks.

That's the problem though, I can't locate any information on this.