Free Nursing Career Night this February RSVP

Author: TKHCI

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Understanding the Breakdown of CNA Training Programs

cna training schoolWhen you’re learning about the various requirements for CNA certification, you probably see the same things over and over – theory, laboratory, and clinical components. If you’re considering enrolling in a CNA training program, becoming more informed about the various aspects of the program can be beneficial so that you know at least a little about what to expect. At Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute, our program will ensure all students are prepared to take their exam to become certified nursing assistants.

How Long Are CNA /GNA Certification Programs?

The CNA/GNA certification program is 135 hours in length. The program is divided into three separate components—the aforementioned theory, laboratory, and clinical components. The theory component is 60 hours, the laboratory component is 35 hours, and the clinical component is 40 hours. After the completion of the program, you will be prepared to take the certification exam.

What Does the Theory Component Teach?

During the theory component of the certification program, you’ll learn the necessary knowledge for performing basic patient care services for patients and residents alike. This care must be provided under the supervision of a licensed nurse. In the theory portion of the course, students are taught principles of hygiene and grooming, as well as measuring of vital signs, communication techniques, medical terminology, and more.

Other areas of study include:

  • Basic anatomy and physiology
  • Nutrition
  • Principles of toileting
  • Principles of infection control

Teaching methods during this portion of the training program include demonstration, gaming, group discussions, and more.

What to Expect from the Laboratory Portion of CNA Training

Alongside theory training in lectures, students in CNA training programs at Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute will learn everything they need for CNA certification requirements—including practical, hands-on skills including things like bed-making, feeding, hand washing, measuring vital signs and weight, transferring, moving, and positioning patients, and more. To ensure students are prepared for their careers, TKCHI has increased the minimum required hours for laboratory work from 16 to 35 hours, which has helped our students’ confidence levels, and has empowered them to become the best CNA/GNAs they can.

Clinical Training in Our Program

Finally, our students will receive clinical training. This is completed in the form of a 40-hour externship. With our program, student externships take place in a long-term care facility in the Baltimore area that is affiliated with the school. Before the externship, students are given an orientation to the facility as well as its policies and procedures.

Preparing for the GNA/CNA Exam with Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute

The goal of any CNA certification program is to prepare graduates for working in any healthcare setting. The program at Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute will ensure that students are prepared not only for the CNA exam, but also the GNA (geriatric nursing assistant) exam, which is not required to become a CNA , but is required if you want to work in a long-term care setting or on rehabilitation floors in some hospitals.

To learn more about the CNA/GNA program at Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute, contact us today.

Free CNA/GNA Career Night at Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute

Pursuing a career as a certified nursing assistant or geriatric nursing assistant (CNA or GNA, respectively) is an exciting step to take in your life. If you’re considering taking the leap, but aren’t quite sure, Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute’s free career night is perfect for you. You’ll get all of the information you need to make your decision, and you’ll also have a head start when it comes to finding a great school to do your training with.

The event will take place on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, from 6 p.m, at Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute, located at 19 E Fayette St., Suite 401 in Baltimore, MD.

RSVP to Attend!

What’s Involved in CNA and GNA Work?

At this career night, you can expect to learn all about what a CNA/GNA does, which includes:

  • Bathing and dressing patients
  • Serving meals, helping patients eat
  • Taking and monitoring vital signs
  • Turning/repositioning bedridden patients
  • Answering patient calls
  • Examining bruises and other injuries or wounds
  • Acting as a go-between for patients and doctors/nurses, recording and communicating all issues to medical staff.

GNAs perform many of the same functions, but specialize in working with geriatric patients. Other duties for CNAs and GNAs may include transporting patients, setting up equipment, and preparing facility rooms with necessary supplies.

Certification Requirements

At TKHCI’s career night, you’ll also get important information about how to obtain CNA/GNA certification. In order to become certified, you’ll need to complete a CNA training program, which includes both classwork and hands-on training. Once you’ve completed the training program, you’ll have to pass an exam proving your competency.

During this January open house, you’ll glean helpful information about how to go about completing these requirements. GNA certification requires passing the GNA state exam, in addition to acquiring CAN certification, but this is only required for those who wish to work in nursing homes or rehabilitation units.

Job and Career Information

This career night will also feature information about what you can expect with regards to job and career placement after you’re certified. You’ll learn about employment rates, where you can expect to work (one-on-one with patients, facilities, etc.) and other opportunities in healthcare, as well as salary information.

The information presented at this free career night will help decide whether CNA/GNA certification is for you. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute’s CNA/GNA training programs, which will prepare you for your certification exams.

For more information about becoming a CNA/GNA or if you have any questions about this free career night, contact Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute today.

Why Choose Hands-On CNA Training Instead of Online Classes?

If you’re considering pursuing your CNA or GNA certification, you’ve no doubt come across a variety of online courses promising quick certification and a convenient way to learn all that you need to know to pass your required exams. While those online courses are indeed flexible, they don’t offer you the same experience as a classroom or hands-on course. 

Taking an in-person CNA certification course not only helps ensure that you learn everything you need to know, but it also gives you the opportunity to connect more closely with your instructors and ask for special attention or help with certain concepts you may have trouble with. This is something that states and certification bodies take very seriously. In many states, like Maryland, online CNA and GNA certification courses are not recognized. 

If your state allows online courses and you’re weighing an online course against a hands-on course, it’s helpful to learn the benefits of why a classroom-based course is the ideal choice.

Classroom Courses Foster More Interaction

There’s no denying that learning in a room of other like-minded individuals can foster a rich learning environment—you’ll be privy to other people’s questions, concerns, and struggles, and you’ll gain experience by answering what you know, and helping people with things you’re good at. In the same vein, those same people may have strengths where you have weaknesses, and can be great allies in the classroom.

There’s Less Chance of Falling Behind

If you’re taking an online course, and aren’t quite grasping a certain concept or block of the class, it can be very easy to fall behind in coursework and what you have a working knowledge of. Falling behind can mean the difference between passing your exams at the end of the class, so it’s essential that you have the ability and option to address any parts of the course that you’re stuck on before they become problematic. If you’re taking an online course, the workload is most likely very fast-paced, leaving you little wiggle room to find help.

Getting the Hands-On Training You Need

Online courses are convenient for not needing to go to a physical location for classwork, but the truth is, you need the hands-on training for nursing that you can only get from real-world instructors. Being able to demonstrate knowledge and ability is a key part to obtaining your CNA certification, and unless you have had guidance and mentorship in person from teachers who know the coursework inside and out, you may be heading into your exams at a disadvantage.

Of course, online courses can be the right choice for some people, but from a big-picture standpoint, onsite classes provide many benefits that online courses simply cannot offer. Participating in classroom CNA certification courses helps ensure you get the proper education and experience you need in order to pursue the career of your dreams. For more information about taking the steps to get your CNA certification, contact Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute today.

A Guide to Free and Low-Cost CPR Classes in Baltimore, MD

If you need to find a class in Baltimore for your CPR or First Aid Certification, it can be a bit overwhelming to research all of the options available near you. Digging through all of the locations, different costs associated with classes, and the ones that are informational but don’t count toward certification can be a lot to take on, so we’re here to help.

At Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute, we understand the importance of being able to take CPR/First Aid classes and obtain all of the necessary certifications for your career, and that’s why we want to simplify your research process. Not only do we offer CPR/First Aid classes, but we’ve compiled a list of other free and low-cost CPR classes in Baltimore, Maryland, so you can choose the one that is best and most convenient for your schedule and budget.

Free CPR Classes in Baltimore

Though not a certification class, the Baltimore County Fire Department (BCFD) offers a class that teaches “Hands Only CPR.” Hands Only CPR is a technique that virtually anyone can perform in an emergency. It consists of three steps:

1. Call 911

2. Push hard and fast on the center of the victim’s chest

3. If possible, use a portable defibrillator, also known as an AED.

Hands Only CPR does not call for mouth-to-mouth contact, and keeps the victim’s blood pumping and flowing until professional help arrives. It is considered to be just as effective as traditional CPR, however the free class offered by the Baltimore County Fire Dept BCFD. is not a certification course, so if your career path requires certification, this may not be the best option. To register for this free class (which is also available in Spanish), click here.

$: The Basics from Baltimore County Fire Department

CPR courses offered by the BCFD include an interactive video, mannequin, ventilation device, automatic external defibrillator (AED), and an experienced instructor. This $35 class includes lessons and hands-on practices of the procedures necessary to clear airways, recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and assist someone who is having one, assess an unresponsive person, and administer CPR to a victim. Find out more about scheduling and registration by visiting the BCFD’s website.

$$: Top Knowledge CPR/First Aid Classes

Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute offers a low-cost CPR/First Aid Certification class in Baltimore, as well. Here, a certified American Heart Association instructor will offer a class during our course for students who do not have their CPR/First Aid Certification. The cost of this 5-hour class is $70. For upcoming classes or to register, contact TKHCI.

$$$: American Red Cross and Chesapeake AED Services

The American Red Cross presents an adult CPR/AED class several times a month in Baltimore. The course is offered online and in a classroom, and costs participants $70.

Finally, Chesapeake AED Services offers American Heart Association CPR, AED, and First Aid courses for people every month at their training facility in Baltimore County. Check their schedule online to register for their $80 class.

For more information about free and low-cost CPR/First Aid Certification courses, contact Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute today.

 

What You Can Do With A Nursing Assistant Certification

When you make the decision to start working toward your CNA—nursing assistant certification, one of the attractions may be that there are many different career paths you can take with it.

Being a CNA allows for a lot of flexibility when it comes to the population you want to work with, but one thing is a constant across the board—the job is one that requires patience, compassion and a lot of dedication.

That being said, when you’ve decided this is your calling, it’s time to start doing some research about where you’ll let the job take you. Finding out more about the options available to CNAs is the first step.

High Volume Facilities

One of the options you’ll have is to work at a facility that has a variety of patients.

Places like hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living residences and hospices employ CNAs to take care of daily tasks such as helping patients and residents eat, dress, bathe, use the toilet, transfer, position/reposition and measure vital signs.

These services are very helpful and important for people who cannot do these tasks on their own, and if you’re looking for a job where you will always be busy and in contact with a high volume of residents, this is a good choice for you.

On the other side of the coin, if you feel that such a high demand could overwhelm you, you may want to look to smaller, less busy options.

Smaller, Private Practices

Another option for CNA career paths includes places like day care centers, schools, and doctor’s offices.

Your CNA training will prepare you for the roles you’ll fill in these establishments, and you’ll learn about how to care for adults, children and babies alike, so you’ll be ready to handle whatever is required of you.

These positions will still be demanding, however you may be assigned fewer patients at a time and thus this may be a bit better if you are new to the profession as it will help you gain experience and confidence in your skills.

Private Duty

Healthcare industry jobs are on the rise, and with more and more people wanting personalized care; one-on-one private duty cases for CNAs are becoming more common.

If you choose this type of work, your days will be spent providing care in the form of personal hygiene, toileting, dressing, feeding, preparing meals, positioning clients, and light housework.

This type of care is typically better suited for people who may have a bit of experience as a CNA, but new CNA graduates are always welcomed.

To learn more about the career and job options available for CNAs, contact us at Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute today!

Requirements for Obtaining a Nursing Assistant Certification in Maryland

If you’re considering becoming a nursing assistant, you’ve likely been doing some research about what is required to achieve that goal.

You also probably know that the state of Maryland requires a nursing assistant certification before becoming a nursing assistant. If you’re pursuing that goal, it’s helpful to have a list of the requirements for obtaining a certification in the state of Maryland.

Here’s what you should know about Maryland’s nursing assistant certification requirements:

Who is Required to Be Certified?

In the state of Maryland, all geriatric nursing assistants (GNA), certified medicine aids, and home health aides are required to have nursing assistant certification.

Additionally, any individual working in a licensed home health agency, or an individual who performs delegated nursing work in a client’s home must also have certification.

If you are unsure if the work you ultimately want to do will require you to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA), contacting the Maryland Board of Nursing may be a good place to find out what will be required of you in a given role.

What You Need for Certification

If you do require certification, there are a few things that are required in order to obtain it. First and foremost, you will need to enroll and complete a nursing assistant training program in the state you wish to work.

To do this, you will need to find a board-approved nursing assistant training program, then apply for it. Then, you’ll need to participate and pass the program.

To qualify for a nursing assistant training program, students are required to be 18 years of age or older, have a high school diploma or GED, take an admission test if you don’t possess a diploma or GED, and submit to a complete physical screening and background check.

Training Programs

Nursing assistant training programs are required to be at least 100 hours in length. The hours are divided between classroom, laboratory and hands-on clinical training.

There, you’ll learn the essentials of nursing, including infection control, performing personal hygiene and grooming, measuring vital signs, changing linens, and understanding medical terminology, among other things.

After you complete the program, you will be eligible to take the geriatric nursing assistant (GNA) certification exam. This exam can be taken at an approved regional testing center.

Some schools serve as authorized testing centers, however not all do, in which case you will need to preregister with a nearby regional testing center http://asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/072100.pdf. The cost of the exam in Maryland is $105.00.

The exam given will take roughly two hours and 25 minutes, and consists of multiple-choice questions and a second part of the test, which tests the student on clinical skills. In this section, you’ll be required to complete five basic nurse assistant tasks chosen at random in 25 minutes.

If you pass both portions of the test, you are now a certified GNA!

Becoming a CNA is a complex process, one that is not for everyone. But if you choose to pursue this path in life, it can be a very rewarding career.

Contact Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute for more information about becoming a CNA or to learn more about CNA/GNA training programs.

Open House for Nursing Assistant Certification

Explore the possibilities about becoming a Certified/Geriatric Nursing Assistant at Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute at an information session!

During the information sessions you will learn about financial assistance and scholarships that are available to students enrolled our program. Also covered during the information session is the admission and application process.

A school tour will also be available to those that attend. Please see the academic calendar for our next upcoming information session. We look forward to meeting you!

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Baltimore, MD: What You Need to Know

Becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) can lead to a very rewarding career, and with the increasing demand for healthcare workers, it can be a very secure source of employment for many people.

If you are interested in becoming a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, in Baltimore, MD, there are a few things you’ll need to understand before starting on your journey.

Certification is a requirement of working in the healthcare field as a nursing assistant, and in order to become certified, it’s important to find a great CNA training program.

Finding a program in Baltimore, MD that is known for a high success rate can help increase your likelihood of passing the required certification exam.

Finding an Approved Training Program

Certified Nursing Assistant training programs must be approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) and Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) prior to accepting students.

Therefore, it’s absolutely essential to check before applying or sending tuition money to a program that it has been approved by the MBON and MHEC. In order to become certified, you will need to complete an approved training program; for a list of approved programs, click here.

Look for a program with small enough class sizes that you will be given adequate attention in the program, and try to find one that has a high exam pass rate—this can contribute to your success as a CNA.

In order to apply for a CNA program, you must be 18 years of age and have either a high school diploma, GED, or a college diploma. If you do not have any of those prerequisites, a school may require that you take an entrance test.

The entrance test consists of basic math and English questions. Check with the program to find out if there are any health requirements that need to be met prior to enrolling in their CNA program.

You’ll also need to provide identification such as a photo ID as well as your Social Security card. Some programs may also require a background check.

Understanding the Training Program Components

Certified Nursing Assistant training in Baltimore is comprised of three parts:

• Theory
• Laboratory
• and Clinical

Theory is usually the bulk, at 44-60 hours, followed by clinical (40 hours), and finally laboratory (16-35 hours).

The breakdown of the program hours will vary depending on which CNA school you attend. In the program, you will learn: basic nursing skills including hygiene, grooming, nutrition, toileting, principles of infection control, communication techniques, taking of vitals signs, and more.

After program completion, you are now eligible to become certified as a nursing assistant by MBON. After you’re certified and after your first renewal, you’ll need to renew your certification every two years.

Start your journey today! Contact an admissions counselor at TKHCI or request an informational packet to learn more about CNA training in the state of Maryland.