With a population around 128k the city of Cedar Rapids is a “small city” with a lot to offer those who live or work there. It has many cultural institutions, schools, hospitals, and is also a location in need of licensed CNAs. And all of this means that it may be an ideal place to start your professional life by registering for CNA classes in Cedar Rapids.
Details about CNA Jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA
Because it is a city in a large Midwestern state, you may feel that there will be limitations in the job market within Cedar Rapids, but that is not the case. You need only look at the overall industry statistics to see that the field of CNA is rapidly growing, and that all areas of the country are showing shortages, and these are expected to continue in the coming years. Take only a brief look at the Craigslist pages for the city, and you will immediately see many job openings for CNAs of all kinds.
If you already know that you want to become a live caregiver, a home health aide, or another type of CNA, you can also contact the different nursing staffing agencies in the area to discover what sort of positions they have available to you. Some reputable firms of this kind include:
CNA Classes and Licensing in Cedar Rapids
Before you can begin seeking employment as a CNA in Cedar Rapids, you have to be sure you meet the many different requirements. While the most essential issue is to enroll in one of the select CNA programs approved by the State Board of Health, you have pre-enrollment essentials too.
Before being permitted to enroll in one of these programs, you have to prove that you are at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED, undergo a complete physical exam that includes a TB test and drug screening, and you must submit to a criminal background check.
After enrolling in classes, you will participate in a program of roughly 80 or more hours in which no less than 45 hours of targeted CNA classes and at least 35 hours of “hands on” training in a clinical setting are done. Once this is completed you can then sit for the mandatory state exam to become a licensed certified nursing assistant. In Iowa, CNA students are given their exam in the location where their classroom work was done.
Once you pass the exam you are then listed on the state registry and can begin seeking work.
Approved CNA Training Programs in Cedar Rapids, IA
Though there are many places to receive training, pre-approved CNA programs and classes are available at the following locations convenient to Cedar Rapids:
Key Employers to Know
It is a good idea to stop and consider experience as part of the overall educational process, and this is one of the primary reasons that any new CNA graduate may want to work in a larger hospital or clinic in the city. In such facilities they get to use all of their skills, and they also learn which kinds of CNA jobs they prefer and any areas of specialization they may want to consider.
The following would be good options for a CNA in Cedar Rapids:
Salary Information
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the average pay for a CNA in Cedar Rapids is around 19% lower than the national average. However, this is in line with the much lower cost of living in the city. According to Salary.com the median annual Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Cedar Rapids, IA is $30,620, as of August 4, 2020, with a range usually between $25,443-$36,714.
Skills Learned in CNA Training
You will need to master a lot of material in your CNA classes, and it is a blend of technical and practical information:
- How to take vital signs;
- Lifting and moving techniques;
- Basic CPR;
- Encouragement of independence for the patients;
- Safety of the patient;
- How to properly toilet and dress patients;
- Listening to and responding to common patient concerns, and how to communicate this to physicians and nurses;
- Enforcing patients’ rights,
- How to clean, bathe, feed, and generally care for patients in many settings; and
- Control of infection
In addition to taking the required CNA classes in Cedar Rapids, it is very beneficial for a certified nursing assistant to be naturally patient, compassionate, able to work independently, and have a sense of humor!