Continuing Education or Just Another In Service?
Posted by Patti on December 31st, 2004 / 
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Continuing Education or Just Another In Service?
A Perspective For CNA’s
We have all been there. In a room at work, sitting in front of a TV monitor watching YET another in service video. Usually no one is actually teaching us anything. And often we are doing this in a hurry to make sure we have enough “hours” to count towards our state requirements for yearly on going training.
This is not the fault of the CNA. Because of budget issues and time factors, many nursing homes and other facilities do not bother to consider that CNA’s deserve better in services, better continuing education. Everyone agrees that CNA’s deliver 90% of all hands on care, yet we are often the last to receive important new information to help us stay up to date with new practices and procedures. Many CNA’s do not feel supported by their management teams to request attending seminars and conferences. And many CNA’s don’t really care- they have a life outside of work and don’t feel they should have to spend extra time learning things they think they already know.
I would like to address the first issue mentioned above- budget and time concerns- this might catch the attention of the management of a nursing home. This is really a simple to fix in my opinion. There are so many talented people who work in nursing homes, hospitals and similar facilities. We have dieticians, activity professionals, pastors/priests, nurses, OT’s, PT’s, Speech therapists. These are just a few folks who have a wealth of knowledge that can be shared. Some topics for consideration might be:
• Nutrition and Dehydration (DT)
• Socializing and Activities for residents (Activities Director)
• Religions- learning the basics (Pastors)
• New skin care protocols (Nurses)
• Understanding the Nursing Process (Nurses)**
• Feeding Techniques (Occupational Therapists)
• Range of Motion Exercises (Physical Therapists)
• Special communication devices and techniques (Speech Therapists)
**Many CNA’s do not know exactly what the nursing process is.
Also, many facilities have specially trained psyche nurses and doctors who regularly make visits. This person is a great resource for helping CNA’s learn to cope and deal with behaviorally challenged residents. I have heard from CNA’s who work for forward thinking organizations that actually request from their CNA’s what THEY would like to learn about.
Some of the ideas shared with me were:
Working together issues- communication with peers; how to deal with negativity in the workplace; how to re-direct angry co-workers, how to deal effectively with superiors….
Keeping up to date with all the new skin care protocols. Many, many a CNA has shared with me their despair of being certified years ago and not being told/taught about new trends. An example given was from one CNA in GA who told me about how she always massaged her residents’ reddened skin after washing the area. Of course new evidence suggests we don’t do this but she never got this, and she first learned of it online 13 years after she became a CNA.
Documenting/Language: I am always amazed at the numbers of CNA’s who just do not understand how important their role is in the entire care giving process, part of which is good documenting. Down this road also comes a need for CNA’s to understand and know the English language well enough to communicate with residents. It would always be a good investment to send foreign speaking aides to a local college to learn ESL (English as Second Language) classes. Not only is spoken language covered, but written language as well.
With a little thought, planning and research anyone can come up with content for the above mentioned ideas- online there are many good web sites to tap for info. Local colleges will work with facilities and may even come onsite to do training.
Finally I would like to address those CNA’s who think they know everything and don’t need any extra education. Smile- you’re not alone but you are going to become a DINOSAUR real fast. The young and up-coming CNA’s are motivated by learning and continuing to learn. You deserve to have opportunities to better yourself, to deliver better care to your residents. Since you have to keep your “hours” up to date, wouldn’t you rather learn something new and different vs. sitting in front of that silly monitor watching an infection control video that is 7 years old??
February 20th, 2005 at 12:37 am
It’s that possible to know there i can take continuing education for CAN inservice
March 14th, 2005 at 5:21 pm
Are there advanced classes for CNA’s in the state of Ga. (i.e. Restorative Care, CMA’s, MRD’s, Activity Directors/Social Service Designees?).
March 22nd, 2005 at 2:37 pm
I would like to say that a C.N.A.’s are too often overlooked for the jobs that they do. I am lucky that I work at a Home Health agency, where the majority of the staff are C.N.A’s. I’ve heard some stories from co-workers about how at other places they have worked at, where the supervisor and fellow R.N.’s treated them like crap. Here at home health, it is nothing like that. The R.N.’s need us as much as we need them. It is understood here that we are all a healthcare team, not just titles.
March 29th, 2005 at 6:14 pm
I am lucky in that I work with some really awesome nurses; some of my co workers leave nothing to be desired…others are my best friends. The team makes it work…it’s the ones who don’t what the word means that can ruin it.
May 10th, 2005 at 9:49 am
Hello:
I am a research coordinator at an SNF in New York City. I am curious about the CNA perspective on caring for caring for a person in the end-of-life stages. I am particularly curious about the stress associated with caring for someone who deteriorates in an apparently painful way. What kind of preparation do aides get for these experiences in training?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Ayana Duckett
Research Coordinator
Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center
aduckett@chcsnet.org
May 10th, 2005 at 12:32 pm
Ayana, I took your question and posted it up, and asked CNA’s to come over and answer this for you.
May 29th, 2005 at 3:31 pm
WHAT IS LEVEL 2 NURSING ASISTANT CNA TRAINING.
June 14th, 2005 at 10:23 pm
hi how i can do to became a lpn i’m a cna a new one! and i having difficult time finding a job i like hospital setting but i has been applying evreywhere! do you think if i refine my skills maybe became a lpn o something else more advance i may found a job? I LIVE IN OCALA,FL, THANK YOU.
September 15th, 2005 at 8:45 pm
I have been a CNA for one year now. When I decided to get into the program I had no clue what a CNA did. When I got my first job in a nursing home I loved it. We were a team and that is what makes a great workplace. I work in a behavioral hospital now as A CNA and I like it but I do feel that us as CNA’s we dont get recognized as much as we deserve. I would like to learn more things within my scope to better serve those people that need our care.
November 5th, 2005 at 12:05 am
this is very interesting about us(CNA)… we work and work to the point, of exhausing hours, and some one(DON), turns around and says ” you need 19 credits,in order to keep your CNA up to date for the year. .in Pa. !!!!!!”
My question is ” its not that we dont have the time, who will take the time to help us with our cont.ed. credits for the year????
Who can help me on this one ??? Thanks Patricia
November 7th, 2005 at 8:31 am
I work in a hospital. After being the PCT in Trauma ICU for 17 yrs. I now have the unique psotion of being the educator for the PCTs here.(I am not a nurse I’m still a PCT) They number around 350 give or take a few. In Fl. we need 12 inservice hour a year and renew q 2yrs. There are 8 manatory hours. I try every hard to to take advantage of our staff as you talked about. I also try to get other PCTs to do some of the education. I let them pick a topic get the info they need to them so they can teach the class.
This is not always easy! Getting them to attend classes or getting them to teach can be a real struggle. But we really need to help ourselves. There are alot of things we can do …start a “journal club”, print articles, pass them out to your CNAs/PCTs then meet once a month or so to talk about what you learned. Have a “lunch and learn” at lunch time have someone from PT, dietary, or another dept. give a talk on a suject that we can use in our jobs. Make it a potluck lunch everyone gets a nice meal and they learn something.
Hope this will give you some ideas
Mary
November 18th, 2005 at 6:24 pm
hello I’m a nursr assistant but i have a problem i look for a job and i applying in a many places i was work in a nursing hospital for olmost 5 years but i moved and i can’t find a job and i need the inservice hours to renew my license and i don’t know were can i got can you please tell me i live in Union city Ca. thank you very much for your help sincerely Rosa
January 2nd, 2006 at 5:28 pm
Please tell me if and what the yearly, manditory, inservice should be for a CNA. Are there specific ones that must be covered yearly or can you have 12 hours of in-service on any relivent issues for a CNA.? This is for the state of Colorado , a home health agency.
February 28th, 2006 at 9:18 am
hi!C.N.A.S I read your comments,just want to say that your doing a awsome job.what you’re doing is what everybody wants to get involve like me.It takes alot of love and patients to care for people that can’t help there selves.you are recognized maybe not by doctors,rns,nurses and other high ups.Your recognized by GOD HE SEES ALL THAT YOU DO.2 yor’re recognized by the people you help,there old and young they have no one but you.All they want is to be loved,and someone to talk to.When you give your time,you’re givng love.Thats what GODS LAW says in the ten commandments,is to love your nieghbor as you love your self.So keep doing what your doing and remember you’re not working for doctors,nurses,rns,and higer ups you’re working for GOD! 2/28/06
June 20th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
I’m a CNA working on my own and I do private cases. I would like to know if you have any location in the orlando area where I can do some inservices
June 21st, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Hi Veron
You can contact the Florida Assocation of Nursing Assistants. Their number is 863-421-5807. You can get hours thru them. There are also places on line where you can a flat fee and get all the hours you need. If you want more info you can contact me at mantczak@tgh.org
Mary
July 7th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
where can i get recertified and how much does it cost
July 10th, 2006 at 8:09 am
Depends on where you are. In Fl You just retake the test. Call Experior 1-888-277-3500 or http://www.experioronline.com it somewhere around $150.00
July 13th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
I need to renew my cna certificate for the state of California some say it doesnt cost others say it is 250 also where to I get the forms to apply
August 10th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Hi i’m connie and I have been off work for 8 months,the place i worked let me go because of my back injury,but also told me earlyer that they would help me get my inservices,and hasnt so i only have till dec- to get alleast 12 hrs… Where can i go to get them?? I nedd help.. Thank you
P.S I live in wyoming..
October 16th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
I got my CNA license two years ago, and just work privatly for older couples. Is there a way I can get my continuing education, and my hours as a CNA to renew my license? I live in Wyoming and would appreciate any help I can get!!
Kim
November 13th, 2006 at 10:54 am
Need basic course on mental health issues in the elderly in ALFs & NH for CNAs. Any suggestions? Thank you. H
December 4th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
hi im a cna i want to know where i can do some inservice im working in an office and i tried applying in hospital as a cna but no luck im in houston… hope you can help me thanks…
December 6th, 2006 at 1:45 am
can i take in service hrs on line? website????
December 8th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
inservice webite : NursingAssistantsEducation
You guys can get all your inservices online at this website.
Cost is about 50.00 per year but you can do as many inservices as you want
Mary
December 19th, 2006 at 10:03 am
I am the Director of Education of a small hosital in NY. This is the best WEB site I have seen in a long time. Keep up the good work.
December 19th, 2006 at 10:53 am
Thank you!!
December 26th, 2006 at 11:47 am
Could you give me some suggestions on what CNAs really want for education in a long term care?
December 26th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
Prudence, I am posting your question to open it up for more discussion here.
-Kim
February 20th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
what i can’t understand is why they challenge you all over again why can’t you get a job in nursing home when license is laps and they get reinstated back on the board they let volunteers work in their nursing homes and they don’t even have a certificate they do not have to pass you with the clinical a second time around its up to them especially if you move to a different city with different instructor this is wrong you should be able to volunteer to get reinstated if your license laps i live in a differnet city i pass the clinical and state test thats why their is a nursing shortage now i’m in need of a job and if you don’t have no one to bring at the test site with you you failed and have to pay the fee all over all c.n.a who need to be reinstated should fight for their rights yes we do get overlooked and treated bad i worked in the homes for a 1 year 1/2 under my certificate thats how mines laps its just a rip off to take your money for retesting
May 10th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I was curious to know if you could work in other different aspects in healthcare with a CNA license? I have been a CNA for 5 years now and would like to move on to something diffrent but in the same field but didnt know if I could utilize my license besides teching…any ideas?
May 16th, 2007 at 6:05 am
I’ve been a CNA for 30yrs and have worked in hospitals (2) in the ER and Trauma ICU. I have also worked in MDs office, front and back. Right now I’m a PCT Trainer I supply the education for the some 350 CNAs who work at my hospital. But I still work OT in the ICU because I do miss patient care
Mary
May 27th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
you can work in the homes under a c.n.a certificate but the state or the home care agency will not renew your c.n.a certificate