CNA Classes and CNA Training Programs in Riverside, California (CA)

Set in the beautiful area south of San Bernadino and east of Los Angeles, the city of Riverside is appealing for many other reasons. Good schools, lots of culture, and plenty to do; it is a great place to live and work. This is especially true if you are considering work as a CNA. The state of California adds around four thousand new CNAs to its registry each year, and that rate of growth is anticipated to keep right on going. That’s why it’s the perfect time to register for CNA classes in Riverside.

Finding Information about CNA Jobs in Riverside

If you are interested in discovering how many job opportunities exist in Riverside, you can start by scanning the classifieds for CNA openings.

You might also want to consider approaching professional services that are working for medical facilities in need of CNAs too. This can help you get a position right away, and one that meets your goals. For instance, you can become a live in caregiver,  work as a CNA in a hospital, or even in a clinical setting too.

The following medical staffing services are great resources when setting out to get some work as a certified nursing assistant in Riverside:

• OfficeWorksRX
• Schumacher Group

CNA Classes and Licensing Requirements in Riverside

It is important to know that you cannot just walk into a staffing service and say you want a job as a CNA without all of the training and certification required. It can take up to eight months to do the formal classes needed to sit for the state exam, and so you do need to plan on getting the skills and background before you can seek out a job.

CNA programs in Riverside involve at least 150 hours of your time and requires 100 hours of practical training partnered with 50 hours of specific CNA classes. You will also need to pass a criminal background check before you can become officially certified.

In California you have to complete one of the accredited CNA programs in the state. These programs need to be accredited through the California Department of Public Health. Once you have formally passed and completed your CNA training, you can then take the state’s Nurse Aide Exam. This is the only way to become listed on the California Nursing Assistant Registry.

Key CNA Training Programs in Riverside

Where can you find the facilities offering these approved CNA programs? The California Department of Public Health has a full list of approved training centers, but the top spots for CNA classes in Riverside include:

• Best American Healthcare University
• Riverside Adult School

Key Employers to Know

After you have passed the test and gotten yourself formally registered as a CNA in Riverside, you can begin using classified ad searches or staffing agencies to find work. You can also gain a lot of experience and have access to very knowledgeable peers if you seek employment through the largest employers in the region – the main hospitals and medical centers. These include some facilities that are both award winning and nationally recognized, such as:

• Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center
• Loma Linda University Medical Center
• Arrowhead Regional Medical Center

Salary Information

Something of tremendous interest to those seeking work as CNAs in Riverside is going to be the wages available. The good news is that beginning CNAs earn some of the highest salaries in their field. The median annual Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Riverside, CA is $34,510, as of August 17, 2020, with a range usually between $28,664-$41,388 (Salary.com).

Key Skills Learned in CNA Training Programs

If you read the list of skills that most CNAs require (as identified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics), you would find a few gaps. This is because you would not see the need for the right personality for the work, nor would you see all of the following skills learned through CNA classes as well:

• Knowledge in infection control,
• Communication tactics for peers and patients,
• How to use equipment in their medical field,
• Preparing patient meals and status reports,
• Abuse recognition,
• How establish and promote independence among the residents,
• Proficiency in the medical language, and
• Monitoring patient vitals, fluid intakes and mental state.

Also, all Riverside CNAs require CPR training and certification as well.