CNA Classes and CNA Training Programs in Nashville, Tennessee (TN)

The city of Nashville, Tennessee, offers a wide range of career choices. For those interested in a career helping others, becoming a CNA can be an excellent decision. CNAs earn a good salary, but this can also be the starting point for a career as an RN, LPN or other nursing professional. Of course, it’s important that aspiring certified nursing assistants know a bit about what they’ll find in terms of CNA classes in Nashville as well as training and job prospects within the Nashville-Davidson area.

How to Find Information about CNA Jobs in Nashville-Davidson

Viewing information about CNA jobs within the Nashville-Davidson area will help prepare you for your career, even if you have yet to take your licensing exam. A wide range of resources can provide employment information, but you’ll find that some of the best information can actually be gleaned from the city’s Craigslist page. Not only will you be able to view classified ads for current CNA job openings, but you will be able to get a feel for the requirements mandated by different employers within the area, as well as what pay you might expect from different medical centers.

In addition, you’ll find that the city is home to a wide range of medical staffing services, each of which can help you find work after you have completed your CNA classes and training and obtained your license. Some of the better staffing agencies in Nashville-Davidson include:

• Angel Healthcare
• Maxim Healthcare Services
• BrightStar
• Encore Medical Staffing

Staffing agencies specializing in supplying medical centers and hospitals with trained professional staff offer a fast, convenient route to obtaining a position. Of course, you can always apply directly with some of the key employers in the area.

CNA Classes and Licensing Requirements in Nashville

Unlike some other states, Tennessee only requires a minimum of 75 hours of training for aspiring CNAs. This must be split between specific CNA classes and clinical training. Once these CNA programs have been completed, students must take and pass the state’s licensing exam. The exam consists of both written (multiple choice) and skills portions. The minimum passing grade here is 75% for the written portion, and 80% is required for each of five skills in the skills test. For students who do not pass the licensing exam on their first attempt, the test can be retaken. For those with existing certification from another state, the exam can be challenged.

Key CNA Training Programs for CNAs in Nashville-Davidson

Finding the right training provider is an essential consideration as you seek to become a certified nursing assistant in Nashville. Residents of Nashville-Davidson will find that they have access to quite a wide range of state-approved CNA programs. These training programs include the following locations for CNA classes in Nashville:

• Advanced Nurse Assistant Training
• Saint Thomas Hospital

Key Employers within Nashville and the Surrounding Area

Of course, having the right CNA training is only half the battle. You still need to find a job, and while many training programs will assist with job placement, that’s not the case for all of them. You can use the medical staffing agencies listed above to find employment, or you can choose to apply directly with some of the city’s key employers (as a note, some employers work strictly with staffing agencies to ensure quality in all medical professionals). Key employers in the Nashville-Davidson area include:

• Baptist Hospital
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
• Metropolitan Nashville Hospital Authority (includes Nashville General Hospital at Saint Meharry, Bordeaux Long-Term Care and Knowles Home Assisted Living & Adult Day Services)
• TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center

Nashville CNA Salary Information

The median annual Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Nashville, TN is $29,930, as of August 4, 2020, with a range usually between $24,867-$35,891

Key Skills Learned in CNA Training Programs

You will learn a variety of different skills in your CNA training programs, though the specifics will vary with each training provider. Of course, all state-approved programs must maintain a specific core skillset taught in their classes. Some of the skills you will learn during training include:

• Monitoring basic vital signs
• Patient personal care
• Communication skills
• Applying basic medical devices and using safety equipment
• Monitoring and working within a medical office/center environment

Any training provider chosen must be state-approved, though, or you risk not having the skills and education necessary to pass the licensing exam.