Certified Nurse Aide Classes in Alabama

Certified Nurse Aide classes and training programs are a great way to start a career in the medical field. CNAs are an integral part of the patient’s primary care team and often have the most exposure to the patient, making them an important part of their patient’s routine and wellness. People who choose to begin their career by getting their CNA certification will find that many rewarding opportunities are available to them. At any given time there are hundreds of opportunities available working as a CNA, with most positions offering healthcare and dental benefits as well as opportunities for advancement. For those of you in Alabama who feel this might be a good fit for you, you will find the following information helpful in taking that first step.

Duties of a Certified Nurse Aide in Alabama

A Certified Nurse Aide in Alabama is defined by law, as a person who assists licensed nursing personnel in the provision of nursing care. The authorized duties for CNAs include assisting with their client’s daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, transferring, ambulating, feeding, and toileting. CNAs also perform tasks such as measuring vital signs, positioning and range of motion. The CNA also gathers data to assist the nurse in assessing the client. This data includes measuring temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure and oxygen level. The most important aspect of the job is to observe changes in those for whom you provide care and to report those concerns to the nurse. The healthcare sector is a fast paced environment and everything changes quickly. Adaptation and flexibility are two important characteristics of a successful CNA as well as the ability to rise to the occasion and accept a challenge. Your classroom training will provide you with a solid foundation on which to build knowledge needed to successfully care for a vulnerable population.

State of Alabama Nurse Aide Certification Requirements

Certified Nurse Aides certification come from the state of Alabama and are required to get before starting employment. The certification requirement ensures that you have the necessary required skills and techniques to care for patients’ needs. The Alabama Nurse Aide Registry has strict guidelines for the training, certification, and hiring of nurse aides, but there are several provisions for a senior nursing facility to retain your services as a nurse aide for a period of 16 weeks. If you’re not yet certified, you can provide services as a nurse aide for 16 weeks if:

• You’re currently enrolled in or graduated from a state-accredited training program. See below for current list.
• You’re in active status on another state’s registry
• You’ve passed the state exam and awaiting placement on the registry.

You must fulfill the requirements for certification within the 16 week period to continue working at that facility. Nursing facilities must contact the registry prior to hiring a new nurse aide to verify that the prospective employee has met federal competency requirements.

Alabama Nurse Aide Training Requirements

Alabama’s approved training programs, comprising of a minimum 120 hours, that consist of two components: classrooms and clinical experience. Course content covers vital areas, such as infection control, preventing patients falls, isolation procedures, patient transfers, basic anatomy, CPR, vital signs, and medical terminology. Following classroom training, students must serve a minimum 40 hours of clinical experience where they put their skills to work under the nurse instructor’s supervision.

Upon completion of nurse aide training, the CNA student is eligible to take Alabama state’s nurse aide competency exam and upon passing will be placed on the nurse aide registry.

Testing

Pearson Vue, is responsible for the Nursing Aide testing and reporting the results to Alabama Department of Health. To test please down load the application for registration by examination form, and submit it to Pearson Vue with the applicable fees. The test currently costs $100 to take both the written and skills exam. Most training centers can help with this process.

The two-part nurse aide evaluation consists of a written exam and a skills evaluation, which tests your skills and readiness to work as a Nursing Aide.

The written exam contains 70 multiple-choice questions written in English. The Candidate Handbook has sample practice questions.

The second part of the test is a skills evaluation: the candidate will have to demonstrate 5 randomly selected skills demonstrate the competency to perform a job as a CNA. The candidate must perform all five skills according to standards in order to pass the skills part of the exam. The candidate handbook provides a list of the skills a Nursing Aide should be able to complete.

Renewal

After being listed on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry, the Nurse Aide must renew their certification through the Alabama Department of Public Health to remain active. Renewal requires at least 8 hours of practice for every 24-month period.

Resources

Pearson Vue
Candidate Handbook
Alabama Nurse Aide Registry
Alabama Department of Public Health

CNA Job and Salary Data for Alabama Cities

CNA Training Class Locations in Alabama (AL)

The following is a list of state approved CNA Training Centers in Alabama:

Cities in Alabama:

Anniston | Attalla | Bay Minette | Bessemer | Birmingham | Carrolton | Cullman | Daphne | Dothan | Evergreen | Fairhope | Fayette | Foley | Fort Payne | Gadsden | Glencoe | Hanceville | Hartford | Huntsville | Mobile | Montgomery | Muscle Shoals | Muscles Shoals | North Huntsville | Oneonta | Opelika | Phenix City | Rainbow City | Rainsville | Selma | Sheffield | Spanish Fort | Tuscaloosa All Cities | Anniston | Attalla | Bay Minette | Bessemer | Birmingham | Carrolton | Cullman | Daphne | Dothan | Evergreen | Fairhope | Fayette | Foley | Fort Payne | Gadsden | Glencoe | Hanceville | Hartford | Huntsville | Mobile | Montgomery | Muscle Shoals | Muscles Shoals | North Huntsville | Oneonta | Opelika | Phenix City | Rainbow City | Rainsville | Selma | Sheffield | Spanish Fort | Tuscaloosa