If your desire is to become a Registered Nurse (RN), one of the paths to this goal is through Nurses’ Assistant training. Once you become certified, or become a CNA, you can gain more work experience and training to climb that nursing career ladder. Here are a few tips on how to become a nursing assistant…

First, you need a high school diploma or a GED before you can register for a nursing assistant’s course. If you’re still in high school, try to take some extra science, chemistry or biology classes. While these courses may not help you with your CNA training, if you plan to become an RN, these courses will be invaluable. Also, be prepared to submit to a background check (criminal) and drug tests as you study for the nurses’ assistant training and work.

Next, you need compassion and passion for the job – you must want to help people. These attributes will help you through the rough patches at work, when demands on your skills become challenging. Patience and maturity help as well, as the focus is on the patient and how you can help that person.

Strong communication skills are preferable for the person who enters this position as well, since the nurses’ assistant is the link between the patient and the RN or LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). Teamwork is essential for the benefit of your patients, so flying solo is not an option with this career.

Once you decide you have these characteristics and skills, you can learn more about what your state offers for training and testing. Each state provides different criteria for teaching and testing. The type of environment where you want to work also requires some training. However, much of that training can be accomplished through hands-on experience provided by formal training.

If you decide to receive CNA training through a local healthcare facility, be sure to read the contract they provide with this training. Many facilities require that you commit to working for them for a certain length of time after you become certified. You can also receive training through organizations like the Red Cross and through college or online training programs.

No matter where you take your courses, most nurse assistant training programs last anywhere from two to six weeks, and some courses can run from six to nine months. Most of these courses will demand some on-site training at a health facility. Just make sure that your program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accredited Commission (NLNAC) so your time and money are not wasted on courses that aren’t accredited.

At the end of your training program, you usually have three to four months to take your state exam to become certified. Some places will allow you to work without your certification, but if you want more pay and if you want to climb the nursing career ladder, certification is a must.

Remember is that every state is different in regards to amount of time required for training and testing and the type of environment where you’d like to work. Before you begin your nursing assistant training, contact your State Nurse Aide Registry and/or State Licensing Board to learn about their requirements. You also might check the requirements for nursing assistants in any state where you’d like to work to make sure you meet those qualifications.