I was going to post this in the CNA forum but it doesn't seem to get as much traffic.
Does anyone know if CNA's can obtain additional certifications that they could carry with them? For instance, can a CNA be certified in LTC, Acute Care, Emergency Medicine (going out on a limb), home health, etc.-- much like how nurses can specialize and get extra initials behind their title?
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.
Maybe I'm just searching in the wrong place, but I can't find any, although I could have sworn there were some.
I looked everywhere but just couldn't seem to come up with results. Any more links you can find?
What about a general acute care cert for CNAs? Or a Med/Surg cert.
I spent a bit of time looking into this. There are training programs for acute care nursing assistants. I could not find a national certification program for them.
There are certificaiton exams for patient care technician
Any one can offer a certification but to become acccredited it needs to be desgned appropriatly. Not all certification exams are approved, for example none of the MD ones have gone for accreditation they have different mechanisms. Before you take a certification examinaiton make sure it will meet your needs and recognized by who you want.
I have several health care certifications and the process of preparing for the examiantions are a gret learning experience as well.
I was looking for something similar actually and I couldn't really find anything. I did however do a year long program that trained me as a phlebotomist and I also learned how to do EKGs and some basic medical coding. In the end I had a certificate from the college but because I didn't take national certification I am not considered "certified". Its all a little confusing but if anyone hears of any extra certification programs that a CNA can take then let me know.
Hello there. Read your post on Additional CNA certifications. If you are interested in Palliative/Hospice care, there is a certification for that. I don't remember the name off the top of my head, but try to google CNA Palliative Care Cert. Also, there is a CNA that I work with that has a membership to the Oncology Nursing Society. Check it out. It always helps to be certified with Management of Assaultive Behavior (MAB) regardless of medical specialty....patients, visitors, and sometimes co-workers can be so out of line that de-escalation and restraint is the only solution until security or the Po Po come up and tazer them.
jer_sd
369 Posts
there is a national certification for hospice for nurse assistants http://www.nbchpn.org/
then it is possible to gain additional allied health training certifications by either classes or on the job training.
orthopedic technician will require education or upto 2 years employment http://www.naot.org/certification.html
certified cardiographic technician (cct) through cci http://www.cci-online.org/appcct.html
american medical technologists has a lot of possible certifications related to health care www.amt1.com
there is a certification available in virtually every area of health care that you are interested in.