CNA Training in Kentucky

Becoming a CNA in Kentucky is a quick process that will lead to many job opportunities. As many of the southern U.S. states grow in population and as the population ages, there will be a high demand for qualified healthcare workers such as nurses and CNAs. Earning a certificate as a registered CNA is a way to quickly enter the medical field and can lead to many job opportunities and chances to move up in the profession. In Kentucky CNA courses are available through a large selection of facilities including high schools, technical schools, community colleges, universities, nursing homes, community centers, and national organizations such as the American Red Cross.

Applicants to CNA programs in Kentucky must be at least 18 years old and must complete a background check before beginning a training course. State-approved CNA training programs are made up of a minimum of 75 hours of instruction. At least 16 of the hours must be completed in a clinical setting doing hands-on training in front of a supervising instructor. The remaining hours are spent in a classroom setting. The required CNA training course curriculum for the state requires that at least 16 hours of teaching covers information about infection control and safety procedures. Other general topics covered in the CNA training in Kentucky include basic nursing and patient care skills, mental health and social services practices, and how to best care for patients who have cognitive impairing illnesses such as Dementia.

The Kentucky CNA competency examination contains two parts. There is an oral and written portion and a skills demonstration section. In the skills demonstration section, students must perform randomly selected skills in a live health-care setting in front of an examiner. After successfully passing both parts of the exam students are placed on the Kentucky Nurses Aide Registry which proves that they have completed all state and federal requirements to be a practicing CNA. Once on the registry individuals may be employed as CNAs in any long-term healthcare facilities in the state. The Kentucky Medicaid Program will reimburse individuals for any costs spent on training and the certification exam if they get jobs with a facility that participates in Medicaid.

Some of the state-approved CNA training programs are listed below:

Ashland Community and Technical College in Ashland, Kentucky offers a Nurse Aide Certificate program that prepares individuals for the CNA certification exam. The program can be completed in a semester or less and can also be used as a prerequisite for the college’s more advanced nursing courses.

Hazard Community and Technical College in Hazard, Kentucky offers a Nurse Aide training program through which students become eligible to take the state CNA certification exam. The program is three credit hours and is made up of classroom learning and time spent in clinical practice. The focuses of the course are communication, infection control, safety, the rights of patients, and basic nursing skills.

St. Catherine College in St. Catherine, Kentucky offers CNA training classes through their Continuing and Community Education division. The school’s program runs for about four weeks during various times of the year, including the summer months. Once an individual finishes the college’s program they are able to take the state certification exam on-site.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in Elizabethtown, Kentucky offers a Nurse Aide program which prepares individuals to pass the state certification exam and become a registered CNA. The course is 80 hours long and students receive three college credits for completing the program. Weekday, evening, and Saturday classes are available at various times throughout the year.