Last Updated on December 23, 2022
This guide describes how to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in a hospital, including all the details that are likely to be of interest to someone who wants to know more about what that career is like. CNA basics are included in the presentation of information about the actual job and training.
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What Are the Requirements to Work as a Hospital CNA
To work as a hospital CNA, you need to have several qualifications, including training and certification. Nursing assistants typically have to complete state-approved programs in which you learn the fundamentals of medical work and how to work under the supervision of a nurse. Community colleges, vocational schools, and hospitals administer these programs. In addition to your education, you need on-the-job training. Upon completing this, you need to become a certified nursing assistant, which requires passing a competency exam.
FREE CNA CLASSES AT HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES & MORE
To become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you must enroll in CNA courses and take a certification exam. If you don’t have money for local CNA classes, you may be wondering, “How can I find free CNA classes near me for free?” While it might seem surprising, in many places you can take these courses for free. We’ll walk you through several of the more popular ways you can obtain free CNA training.
Why Become a CNA?
A career in healthcare is rewarding, and you can make a comfortable living while providing care for those in need. Healthcare is also one of the few industries that offer consistent demand, stability, and generous salaries. However, many people think it’s too difficult to become qualified to work in a healthcare setting. In truth, they’re not entirely wrong, as many careers in the healthcare field have lengthy educational requirements and in today’s fast-paced world it can be difficult to find the time to fit school into your life. A perfect way to eliminate some of these barriers is to start your career as a CNA or Certified Nursing Assistant. CNAs are an integral part of the healthcare team working alongside doctors and nurses, providing direct patient care. To become certified to work as a CNA you will need to enroll in a training program and sit for your state board certification exam.
How Do I Become a Certified Nursing Assistant?
Beginning a career as a CNA is a relatively quick and straightforward process. The first step is to find a CNA training course at a state approved nurse assistant training program. Training typically lasts anywhere from four to twelve weeks and consists of both classroom and hands-on clinical training. Once you have successfully completed the required course hours, you can sit for the CNA certification examination. The exam includes a written and practical test, typically referred to as the skills test. Once you pass your certification exam, you are basically free to begin your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
How Do I Get Free CNA Training?
Many nursing assistant courses are offered through community colleges, vocational schools, and medical care facilities. One of the most popular ways to enroll in free CNA classes are in nursing homes and hospitals. Community colleges, vocational schools, and Red Cross CNA training classes are great places to receive your CNA education as well, but they can be costly. Tuition for these courses can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Some of these programs offer financial assistance in the way of loans, but who wants to go into debt when there are other options? Fortunately, some hospitals and nursing homes offer local CNA classes free of charge. Along with being free of charge, training through a hospital or nursing home usually comes with guaranteed employment with the facility that provides your training. Who wouldn’t want free training and secured employment upon completion?FIND YOUR DREAM SCHOOL!SEARCH SCHOOLSSponsored Content
Should I Take Free CNA Classes?
Yes, it may seem a little sketchy to get a free education, but the truth is that the places that offer them do so for good reason. The question you might be asking is “How are healthcare facilities able to offer these courses free of charge?” The answer is that many of these programs receive funding from the state government, or hire on those who complete their programs to ensure a steady stream of qualified employees.
How do you go about finding out which hospitals provide free CNA training?
Many people find out about these free opportunities through word of mouth, from someone they know who work at that particular facility. You can also find out about these classes through a hospital or nursing home websites, or by searching online using a tool like our state by state free CNA training listings. If you are not able to find any information online a simple phone call to the hospital or nursing home human resources office will likely provide you with all the information you need. The training you receive from a hospital is very comparable to training offered through a school. They both offer some classroom instructions and hands-on clinical experience.
Advantages of Free Hospital and Nursing Home CNA Training
Besides the obvious advantage of the training being free, there are many pros to receiving free training from a healthcare facility over other options such as a community college, what exactly are these advantages?
- Guaranteed Employment: After completing CNA training and passing certification, the next step is job searching, which no one likes to do. You could eliminate the formidable task of looking for your new CNA job if your training was completed at a hospital or nursing home because they will employ you. When you agree to accept the free training, you also agree to work for that facility for a specified period of time.
- Paid Training: Some hospital and nursing homes, actually pay you while they train you to become a nursing assistant. Yes, you heard that correctly, paid training is offered at many facilities because even as a student you are incredibly valuable to the hospital, this is a win-win situation for everyone involved. The facility receives new workers trained specifically for their facility’s requirements, and you receive training, employment, and compensation.
- Networking: The training classes are usually held at the hospital or nursing home that is offering the course. Throughout the weeks that you are training, you will be able to work with other healthcare professionals. You will be able to form relationships with other healthcare professionals who can make great mentors and can guide you in the right direction throughout your career in healthcare, particularly if you want to progress to a career as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse.
- Practical Hands-on Experience: CNA training through a community college or vocational school offers clinical experience because it is needed to pass the practical part of your board exam. Training through a hospital provides clinical experience as well, but you tend to have more opportunity for practicing patient care, as you will be training in a hospital setting compared to a classroom at a school.
Potential Downside to Free CNA Training: There is no doubt that the pros of receiving free CNA training from a hospital are plentiful, but what are some of the potential cons? If you sign a contract to receive free training in exchange for say a year of working at a facility after training and you leave without fulfilling the requirement, there can be financial consequences. You may have to pay back the facility for the training if you do not comply with your contract.
Overall, hospitals and nursing homes that offer CNA training are a great way to enter into the healthcare field. Receiving training from a healthcare facility opens up many opportunities for you.
How to Become a CNA
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) is a health care professional who provides basic nursing care and support to patients and residents in assisted living, independent living, nursing homes, hospitals, and other health care facilities. They perform patient care tasks such as bathing, taking vital signs, feeding, and helping with activities of daily living. CNAs are a part of a health care team that includes doctors, nurses, and physical therapists.
Becoming a CNA is a great way to get into the field of nursing without having to spend years in college earning a degree. You can start working as CNA and begin earning valuable experience in a relatively short time by earning a CNA certification. For many, this is an ideal path that can lead to other opportunities in the nursing field.Search CNA Programs
Get information on Certified Nurse Assistant programs by entering your zip code and requesting enrollment information.Sponsored Ad
Four Steps to Become a CNA
Becoming a certified nursing assistant is fast and simple, at least when compared to the process for other medical professions. While there is certainly a fair amount of work involved, there are few careers in healthcare that offer the fast-track qualifications and credentials that this profession does. The process of becoming a CNA can take less than a year, making it one of the most attractive options for those who want to enter the medical field without a degree. Here, we will discuss the four steps to go from high school student to working as a CNA.
1. Earn Your High School Diploma or GED
In most states, the only prerequisite for entering a CNA training program is a high school diploma or GED. If you already have a high school diploma or a GED, you are eligible to enroll in CNA classes immediately. If you don’t have either of these credentials, however, this step in the process will require you to complete your high school education or pass an equivalency test to earn your GED.
2. Complete a State-Approved CNA Training Program
While the length of CNA training programs varies from state to state, most programs will require a minimum of 75 hours of classroom instruction, plus time spent shadowing an experienced nurse or nurse caregiver. As you progress through the course, you will be required to take numerous assessments to demonstrate your knowledge and skills.
Most instruction time will be spent in a classroom learning about topics like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology. Courses will include an introduction to many aspects of healthcare with an emphasis on specific aspects of nursing care, like bathing, dressing, and patient feeding. This training will prepare you, in a short amount of time, to communicate and interact with doctors and nurses, and to administer basic medical treatment as appropriate.
3. Complete In-Person Clinical Training
After you complete your CNA training program, you must complete an in-person clinical training session at a hospital or healthcare facility before you can take the exam and become certified. Federal regulations mandate that all CNA training programs include at least 16 hours of “hands-on” clinical experience, though most states exceed this minimum. This session will verify that you are able to handle the physical demands of the job, as well as confirm your level of knowledge and awareness of relevant nursing standards.
During this phase of your education, which is typically called, “clinical studies”, you will work under the supervision of a Certified Nursing Assistant or Registered Nurse who will mentor and instruct you. In your clinical studies, you will learn how to manage the day-to-day tasks of a CNA and will be given many opportunities to practice important skills, like taking vital signs, administering medications, and other patient care activities.
4. Pass a State-Approved CNA Certification Exam
Once you complete your in-person clinical training, you are eligible to take a state-approved examination. The exam is designed to verify that you have the essential knowledge and skills to administer appropriate nursing care. The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) is used in 20 states to determine your eligibility for certification. The remaining states have their own exams that must be successfully completed in order to become a CNA. The exam will cover nursing-specific topics in several categories, including physical care skills, psychosocial care skills, and the role of a Nurse Aide. Questions about anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and emergency procedures are also included, to test your ability to meet the needs of clients who require the promotion, restoration, and maintenance of health.
cna in hospital salary
Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $48,000 | $4,000 | $923 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $37,500 | $3,125 | $721 | $18 |
| Average | $36,631 | $3,052 | $704 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,500 | $2,291 | $528 | $13 |
How much does a Hospital CNA make?
As of Dec 14, 2021, the average annual pay for a Hospital CNA in the United States is $36,631 a year.
Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $17.61 an hour. This is the equivalent of $704/week or $3,053/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $67,500 and as low as $18,000, the majority of Hospital CNA salaries currently range between $27,500 (25th percentile) to $37,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $48,000 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Hospital CNA varies greatly (by as much as $10,000), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.
Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Hospital CNA job market in both Kano, NG and throughout the entire state of is not very active as few companies are currently hiring. A Hospital CNA in your area makes on average $36,631 per year, or the same as the national average annual salary of $36,631. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Hospital CNA salaries.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Hospital CNA Jobs
We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Hospital CNA job is above the national average. Topping the list is San Jose, CA, with Oakland, CA and Tanaina, AK close behind in the second and third positions. Tanaina, AK beats the national average by $7,119 (19.4%), and San Jose, CA furthers that trend with another $7,805 (21.3%) above the $36,631 average.
Significantly, San Jose, CA has a very active Hospital CNA job market as there are several companies currently hiring for this type of role.
With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Hospital CNA appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top ten cities varies very little at 4% between San Jose, CA and Concord, CA, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Hospital CNA role.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $44,436 | $3,703 | $855 | $21.36 |
| Oakland, CA | $43,931 | $3,661 | $845 | $21.12 |
| Tanaina, AK | $43,751 | $3,646 | $841 | $21.03 |
| Wasilla, AK | $43,750 | $3,646 | $841 | $21.03 |
| Hayward, CA | $43,010 | $3,584 | $827 | $20.68 |
| Jackson, WY | $42,964 | $3,580 | $826 | $20.66 |
| Norwalk, CT | $42,852 | $3,571 | $824 | $20.60 |
| Seattle, WA | $42,714 | $3,560 | $821 | $20.54 |
| Vallejo, CA | $42,704 | $3,559 | $821 | $20.53 |
| Concord, CA | $42,613 | $3,551 | $819 | $20.49 |
