Going through some comments I decided to put some of them up here as a Q & A thing.

These are about in services. The federal government mandates we attend 12 hours of training each year- thats not a lot at all when you really think about it. Most states renew certifications every two years. So this means the typical CNA would have 24 hours of in service hours.

ONE THING: Remember, the OBRA regs were written for aides who are employed by nursing homes only. If you work for a hospital, home health care, assisted living or other setting, you are not even required, by law, to be certified. Therefore, these employers do not have to offer the in service hours in the first place. Be aware that assisted living facilties often CHOSE not to hire certified aides.

I know of very few healhtcare facilities, other than AL, that will hire non-certified aides though. Some hospitals hire non certified help and train them to be Patient Care Techs. Each facility that does NOT fall under OBRA regs usually has it’s own policy regarding in services and Cont.Ed.

Q.
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.
A.
The federal government requires just 12 hours per year.
The regs don’t ask for any certain courses. They do recommend updates on infection control, abuse and neglect issues and resident rights. As long as in services are nursing related, they are acceptable. When the state comes in for a survey, they take a sampling of employee files- they don’t allow the facility to pick and chose. They sample nurses’ and aides’ files. What do they look for? Proof of hours worked and proof of inservice requirements.

Q.
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?
A.
Ok this will be a shocker. Since you work on your own, ask yourself a question: Who supervises you? If you are your own boss and you are offering services as a CNA, you are in effect breaking the law. Why? Because CNA’s must always work under the direct supervison of an RN. Period. If you’re working for an agency of some sort, you’re all set. I don’t know where you would go for in service hours in Orlando- but try calling a local nursing home to ask if you can sit in when they have hours. I would advise you to not offer services as a CNA though- you could get yourself into a lot of trouble and lose your certification and perhaps lose any chances of ever becoming a nurse.

Q.
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 ???
A.
I know what you’re saying. After working a ton of hours and many of those are overtime, we still hear that we need our in service hours. The state doesn’t consider actual nursing related work hours to be in service hours. Why? Because we’re not learning anything, really, when we are working. (I learn new things all the time when working but it doesn’t count.) It is always up to each CNA to manage their own in service hour requirements. We cannot expect, nor would it be a defense, management to “help us” find time. We have to do it ourselves, just like the nurses.