A CNA is a Certified Nursing Assistant who works under the supervision of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Registered Nurse (RN). Certified Nursing Assistants are caregivers who provide essential daily care and support to patients in settings like hospitals, rehab facilities, nursing homes, and more.
What are Certified Nursing Assistants’ Responsibilities?
Certified Nursing Assistants are responsible for helping patients with daily tasks. These typically include:
- Monitoring and charting vital signs
- Helping with personal care like bathing, dressing, and feeding
- Maintaining proper hygiene and ensuring a clean environment
- Answering patient calls and bed alarms
- Listening to patient health concerns and reporting them
- Turning, repositioning, and transferring patients
- Providing emotional support
What is the Difference Between Certified Nursing Assistant 1 and Certified Nursing Assistant 2?
In Oregon, there are two levels of CNA certification — 1 and 2. A CNA2 performs the same duties as a CNA1 but also receives specialized training to assist with more complex care.
Becoming a CNA1 requires completing a state-approved training program, passing a background check, and passing a certification exam. Becoming a CNA2 requires completing a state-approved CNA2 training program.
How Long Is a Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program?
CNA1 Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN)-approved training programs consist of at least 105 hours of instruction, with a minimum of 37 hours of classroom instruction and 28 hours of lab instruction.
CNA2 programs are made up of 88 hours of instruction, with a minimum of 60 hours in the classroom and 28 hours of supervised instruction in a clinical setting.
Different Certified Nursing Assistant Program Schedules
All CNA training programs in Oregon are required to meet the minimum requirements, but many programs offer different schedules so you can find one that best fits your schedule.
These include hybrid programs, with portions taught over Zoom and the rest in person. Day, evening, and weekend classes to fit in with any schedule, as well as accelerated programs, are available.
For example, at Caregiver Training Institute we offer an accelerated class schedule where the instruction and lab portion of the program is completed over the course of two weeks, and clinical hours are completed over the course of another week.
When choosing a CNA program that works best for you, consider the following questions:
- Does the program offer full-time, part-time, or weekend classes? Will the schedule fit into your current commitments?
- Are there evening or online class options? If you need flexibility, can you attend courses outside of typical daytime hours or complete some coursework remotely?
- What is the overall length of the program? Does the program offer accelerated or extended schedules to meet your availability and learning pace?
- Are clinical hours flexible? Can you choose when and where to complete your hands-on training, or are there set times you must adhere to?
Ready to Begin Your CNA Career? Enroll at Caregiver Training Institute Today!
You can start on the path to a rewarding career in healthcare today at Caregiver Training Institute. We offer CNA1, CNA2, and Medication Aide training programs. Call Caregiver Training Institute today at 503-257-0117 or register online here!