CNA verses Certified Caregiver

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Specializes in DD, Mental Health, Geriatric.

I thought they were one and the same; A CNA is a Certified Nurse's Aide/Assistant and a caregiver and a certified caregiver is a CNA, etc, vice versa....

But I have been told that they are two completely different things. That there is a month to six week long course to becoming a CNA and another, separate course that's only 75 hours to become a Certified Caregiver. I have always thought of myself as a Nurse's Assistant/Aide-Registered but am I in fact a Caregiver-Registered? My license says "NAR".

I'm so confused! My superiors have been telling me to "just take the 75 hour certified caregiver course that way you don't have to take any more classes other than continuing Ed ever again and you don't have to be a CNA if you don't want to to work at an Adult Family Home, as long as you're a certified caregiver within 150 days of hire."

Thank you!

~Ami

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

In AZ a certified caregiver and CNA are different. CNA are certified by the BON. Caregivers are given certificates of competency usually through the hiring institution.

If you plan to go into nursing you may want to check with your intended school. At mine you have to be a CNA to enter the program.

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Specializes in DD, Mental Health, Geriatric.
In AZ a certified caregiver and CNA are different. CNA are certified by the BON. Caregivers are given certificates of competency usually through the hiring institution.

If you plan to go into nursing you may want to check with your intended school. At mine you have to be a CNA to enter the program.

So if I take the 75 hour certified caregiver class I won't be a nursing assistant any longer but a Certified Caregiver instead? Right now I'm a Nursing Assistant Registered. (NAR).

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I think if you take the caregiver class you will be a caregiver and a NAR until you complete your NAC class. Then you will be a CNA and a caregiver. How did you become a NAR? If the class was for being a nursing assistant than I would assume you are a nursing assistant registered.

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Specializes in DD, Mental Health, Geriatric.
I think if you take the caregiver class you will be a caregiver and a NAR until you complete your NAC class.

Then you will be a CNA and a caregiver.

How did you become a NAR? If the class was for being a nursing assistant than I would assume you are a nursing assistant registered.

I took the 28 hour Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving in December of 2011, then CPR/First Aide, HIV/AIDS Awareness, sent in my application and money to the folks in charge of nursing in Wa state and they sent me a license saying I am a Registered Nursing Assistant and put me as active on the nurses' aide registry.

What I am trying to find out right now is what is the name of the 75 hour Certified Caregiver class? I was told I need to take this class which will also include a section to be completed online and then a prometrics test at the end. I was told that it was being offered this month at a small teaching facility ran by a retired RN and her husband in my town but when I called to ask about registration they had no clue what I was talking about! So, I don't know.

If I had a name for the class I could look it up online and see if any place else near me offers it. I've googled "75 Hour Certified Caregiver Classes In Wa State" but all I get is info on CNA classes! Grr!

I THINK I they are talking about the 75 hour Home Care Aide course!

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Why don't you just call Prometric in Washington State and find out the difference between a CNA and a NAR? Explain your situation, and they will refer you to what you should do.

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Specializes in DD, Mental Health, Geriatric.
Why don't you just call Prometric in Washington State and find out the difference between a CNA and a NAR? Explain your situation, and they will refer you to what you should do.

I know what a CNA and an NAR is. What I wanted to know is the difference between a CNA and a Certified Caregiver.

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That's why you should call Prometric :) I have dealt with them before and they are very helpful. You can even email them. Good luck :)

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