There is a growing demand for nurses in Houston Texas, and one of the best ways to start your career in health care is to get certified as a CNA (certified nurse assistant) at one of the many great schools in Houston Texas such as: Houston community college, Lone star college-North Harris college, Parkway Center, Carver Center, and just about any community college or technical school in the Houston area that has a health care career program will more than likely have a program for CNA training. Although there is not a lot of schooling involved a Certified Nurse Assistant is a high demand job and educational programs for the career are approved by the Texas board of nursing.

The average salary of a CNA can vary depending on location but in Houston a CNA can expect to be earning around 25,000 per year. This is a great way to enter the medical field and many registered nurses start out as CNAs, because they can get good experience working in a hospital, nursing home, etc. Many CNAs work in home health which involves driving to a patient’s home and administering care to people on hospice or other like conditions.

The curriculum involves more hands on work than book work. The training basically teaches methods of handling patients in a safe way which causes no harm to the patient or the certified nurse assistant. The work a CNA does is crucial to the recovery of a patient and registered nurses and doctors alike rely on safe well trained CNAs to ensure a patients safety and comfort
How is a CNA different from a nurse? Well although a CNA works close by a nurse the training they receive in school is less extensive. The average nurse goes to college for four years while a CNA can get their certification in about three months through several technical schools. A CNA does not administer any drugs or give injections of any kind. They are usually not responsible for any paper work concerning the patient; such work is filled out by nurses or other health care professionals.

The CNA’s job includes such tasks as Cleaning and bathing patients, dressing, feeding, perineal care, and making sure the patient is comfortable and at ease. A CNA is also trained in how to safely transfer patients from wheelchairs or beds and also how to help patients ambulate safely down hallways. Most CNA’s find this work fulfilling and rewarding as they deal with patients on a more personal level than doctors and nurses.

Below are some of the locations for CNA training classes in Houston.

Hi-Tech Health Care – Houston
1927 Hampton, Houston, TX 77088

Bright Future CNA Program – Houston
919 Globe, Houston, Texas 77034

Faith Health Training Institute – Houston
10814 South Kirkwood Rd., Houston, TX 77099

Lee College Cont Ed-Liberty Nursing Assistant Course – Baytown
511 South Whiting Street, Baytown, Texas 77522

American Medical Institute – Houston
10101 Fondren, Houston, TX 77096

Professional Careers Institute CNA Program – Houston
6666 Harwin Dr., Houston, Texas 77036

A and B Training Academy Nurse Aide Training Program – Houston
6065 Hillcroft Street, Houston, TX 77081

Professional Careers Institute CNA Program – Houston
6666 Harwin Dr., Houston, Texas 77036

HMG Park Manor of Cypress Station C.N.A Training Program – Houston
420 Lantern Bend Dr., Houston, TX 77090

Aides For Home Health Care Services – Pasadena
4008 Vista Rd., Pasadena, Texas 77504

Legend Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation East Houston
15880 Wallisville Rd., Houston, TX 77049

North Harris College C.N.A Training Program – Houston
2700 W.W. Thorne Dr, Winship 174, Houston, Texas 77073

San Jacinto College Nurse Aide Training Program – Central
8060 Spencer Hwy., Pasadena, TX 77501

Lone Star College – Tomball
30555 Tomball Parkway, Tomball, Texas 77375

Tomball Nursing Center CNA Program
315 North Peach Street, Tomball, TX 77375

Waller High School C.N.A Training Program
20950 Field Store Rd., Waller, Texas 77484

St. Patrick Health Services CNA Program – Houston
6610 Harwin Dr., Houston, TX 77036

If there are any other CNA programs in Houston Texas, or surrounding areas such as Pasadena, Tomball, Woodlands, Katy, Pearland, and other suburbs of Houston they will be added to this list.

Nurses assistant courses for those interested in joining the field are available in multiple locations throughout the city of Seattle. In order to best understand the working nature of regulations and laws in the State of Washington, it is important to learn about the governing bodies there. There are 2 state agencies which regulate the practice of CNA’s within the state. The first being the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the second is the Department of Health (DOH). The purpose of them is to make sure that those who train to become certified nurses assistants are properly qualified.

It is the first agency known as the DSHS or Department of Social and Health services which govern that the testing part of the certification.

Seattle CNA Salary
What can you expect to make as a CNA in Seattle Washington? For most just starting out, the accumulated information from 2009 shows that a CNA can make approximately $24,000-28,000 per year. If you want to check on general CNA salary information you can check the national average.

Now if you are wanting to have more information on various locations of training courses in Seattle, see the resources below.

Shoreline Community College C.N.A. Class – Seattle
1601 Greenwood Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: (206) 979-9268

Kin on Health Care Center – Seattle
4416 South Brandon Street, Seattle, WA 98188
Phone: (206) 721-3630

Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway, Seattle, Washington 98122
Phone: (206) 587-3800

South Seattle Community College – Seattle
16th Avenue SW, Seattle, Washington 98106
Phone: (206) 768-6414

Kindred Healthcare Corporation Nursing Assistant Course – Seattle
914 6th Ave. North, Seattle, Washington 98109
Phone: (206) 217-9419

Most people who enter the nursing field think that in order to become a certified nurses assistant they have to pay for classes. However you might be happy to know that there are specific types of training that are actually free. In most cases free CNA training classes have eliminated amount of participants who are allowed to enroll before hand.

Take for example the Oklahoma State Department of Health. As they worked with the Tulsa community college in Oklahoma, the Department of career and technology education created a fund of $371,000 which was established for the very reason of covering the cost of training for up to 1000 CNA students in the year 2010.

Where did all of this money come from? Penalties which had been collected from the nursing homes who are fined by OSDH for providing poor care for the residents, were used to help train new futures CNA’s in the nursing field.

Take for example in other places such as Massachusetts, who through the workforce and continuing education department have a grant to also help pay for CNA courses, uniforms transportation costs and even day care for some applicants. Some of the qualifications required to benefit from this plan include, having a low income, completion of high school, and age of 17 to 21 years old.

However for those who do not have a local state-funded program, it would be wise to check with local nursing homes in your area which many times hold free classes in exchange for a person to work for them. Also it is a good idea to look for local regional occupation programs. These can in most cases be free classes, and if not are usually under $100 or so.

The CNA/HHA scholarship program sponsors free CNA and HH a training for those who have become qualified to enter into the field of certified nursing assistant, or those who have plans on becoming home health aides.

If you just can’t wait and do have the money for some of the best training in the industry, then you may want to look at taking Red Cross CNA classes for a nominal fee of $1000-2000 dollars.

From the following it can be seen that free CNA training can be had matter where you live. While some examples were provided from specific cities and states, you’ll find that whether you live in Texas, New York City, Miami Florida, or even Wisconsin, that they are our programs for just about anyone who was willing to search, and give a little extra effort to provide free assistance in exchange for training.

For those looking to get into the nursing field, a CNA job is an excellent start. Sometimes the working environments can be difficult, but the rewards are great for those who want to help people.

Earnings for a certified nurses assistant, or CNA for short can range from anywhere between $20,000 per year and $30,000 per year. A CNA salary may not seem to be much for starting career, but as a person gains experience and knowledge in the field of nursing, the pay can increase quite a bit.

The great part about becoming a CNA is that the training can be completed quickly. In a short period of time as two weeks through either a hospital or a nursing home, you can be on your way to becoming a certified nursing assistant. If you would like to go with another option as far as training is concerned, Red Cross CNA training is also available for a small fee.

After a person has completed the necessary licensing and training in order to become a CNA, the salary can go up quite a bit. Most people entering into the field with the proper training can expect to see anywhere from $$10-$15 per hour.

Obviously the amount of CNA makes will vary based on geographic location. Because of the cost of living in larger cities, the pay will be quite a bit more. For example, the CNA pay scale in Houston Texas will be quite a bit more than that of Phoenix Arizona. The pay for a CNA in Seattle Washington may be higher than that of Atlanta Georgia. The northeastern mid-western states within the US will be higher paying than other regions of the country. No matter the location you choose, getting the best CNA training is important for not only future job opportunities, but also for providing the best health care possible.

One of the best places you can get training is from the Red Cross. For most who are trying to become certified nursing assistants this might seem like a no brainer, but actually Red Cross CNA training is not free. The courses are top notch because of extremely experienced instructors, so there is a great benefit to joining the Red Cross CNA training program.

There are however lots of free CNA training classes and courses available for just about anyone seeking a future position as a Certified nursing assistant. Currently as of November of 2009 there are as many as 36 cities across the United States which are offering the CNA training for Red Cross. A lot of the training a person will receive by taking this course is also many of the skill sets that an RN will aquire. This is important for those looking at getting involved in a health care career that will last, and be the stepping stones needed to becoming a registered nurse.

For those interested in learning further details about the Red Cross course, for starters, they meet the Federal CNA training standards. They also focus on the specific chapters for the state students are desiring to acquire the certification. This means each state varies with what they require for students, so the hours required can vary. For example, a course in Los Angeles California may require many more hours than that of a CNA training course by The Red Cross in Louisville Kentucky.

As for the cost of these courses, you can look at anywhere from $1000 to $2000, and this will also be different from state to state, and city to city. The Red Cross lists the chapters of courses offered which is shared in the following.

• Madison/Marshall County, Huntsville, AL
• American Red Cross of Central Alabama, Montgomery, AL
• American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
• Inland Empire, San Bernardino, CA
• American Red Cross, Sonoma & Mendocino Counties, Santa Rosa, CA
• South Central Connecticut, New Haven, CT
• Northeast Florida, Jacksonville, FL
• Central Panhandle, Panama City, FL
• Space Coast, Rockledge, FL
• Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
• Southwest Georgia, Albany, GA
• Northeast Georgia, Gainesville, GA
• Coosa Valley, Rome, GA
• Hawaii State, Honolulu, HI
• Louisville Area, Louisville, KY
• American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay, Cambridge, MA
• Berkshire County, Pittsfield, MA
• Pioneer Valley, Springfield, MA
• American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
• Central Maryland, Baltimore, MD
• Southeastern Michigan, Detroit, MI
• American Red Cross of the Twin Cities Area, Minneapolis, MN
• Elizabeth H. Dole Chapter, Salisbury, NC
• Concord Area, Concord, NH
• New Hampshire, West Keene, NH
• Great Bay, Portsmouth, NH
• Greater Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
• Keystone, Johnstown, PA
• Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
• Allegheny Region, Reno, PA
• Black Hills, Rapid City, SD
• Hiwassee, Cleveland, TN
• Greater Richmond, Richmond, VA
• Green Mountain, Bennington, VT
• Chippewa Valley, Altoona, WI
• Lakeland, Green Bay, WI

Getting a certification in the field of nursing can be very rewarding whether it is a CNA, LPN or RN. Before taking any of the courses show above, it is important for a person to be completely prepared to take on the large responsibility of being a certified nurses assistant.

Alaska certainly has a shortage of Certified Nursing Assistants and this is a good career to choose as the economy continues to change. It is gives good classroom instruction to get your foot in the door for other health fields down the road such as Licensed Practical Nursing and Registered Nurse or Dental Hygienist.

Another attractive aspect of this program is that it only lasts a few weeks for training and therefore is much less expensive and time consuming than some of the more stringent program requirements for other health fields but leaves the oppotunity open to step up when your ready.

THE SCHOOLS/TRAINING PROGRAMS

University of Alaska Southeast has programs in Sitka and Ketchikan and Juneau. Some nursing homes offer alot of the training needed right on the job at no charge many times. If you live in areas like Klawock, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, or Metlakatia, make sure you know what all your options are as these towns may be limited with what is offered.

WHAT PAY CAN I EXPECT?

Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides across the United States make anywhere from $10-$14 per hour typically. Alaska is a bit rougher terrain and climate, and a CNA can be earn a bit more.

WHAT ARE THE CLASSES AND LAB?

Into to health care, patient bill of rights, legal issues, study skills, bed baths, personal care, body mechanics, occult blood testing, care of surgical patient, body structure and function, vital signs, lifespan growth and development, medical abbreviations, OT, RT, vision and hearing problems, mental health disorders, CNA role in healthcare, Maslow’s hierachy of needs, ethical standards, communication, preventing infection, comfort,rest, and sleep, the patient unit and bed making, skin care, range of motion, turning and positioning, sexuality, care of elderly/elder abuse, nutrition, transfers and ambulation, safety restraints, confusion and dementia, activity therapy, rehabilitation, death and dying, common health problems, basic emergency care.

WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE THIS JOB?

This is an excellent springboard into other health care fields as an Alaska Dental Hygiene program may be more to your liking for higher pay when you are ready to make the commitment for some additional schooling. If you enjoy helping people as a Nursing Assistant the Alaska Licensed Practical Nurse or Alaska Registered Nurse Program may be the next step up for you.

The following is a list of states in Alphabetical order for CNA training classes and programs across the USA. This includes some Red Cross training courses as well. Just check the list below as we will be adding new schools and nursing programs for the most prominent cities of each state followed by smaller towns.

If you have been considering a career as a certified nurse, then contact these local resources to check on current cost, length of training and requirements. Also make sure that the type of training you receive is state approved before joining a class.

If you have not already looked into what the salary of a CNA is then please read over that article, otherwise proceed to the following alphabetical listings by region.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York – Buffalo
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas – Houston
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington – Seattle
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming