You can earn a good income working as a certified nursing assistant in Washington. As the name implies, you will be providing nursing related duties for patients in healthcare settings. You will first need to receive training and certification to start on the path of becoming a certified nursing assistant.
Training Hours and Requirements
There are various places where you can look for CNA training courses including: nursing care facilities, community colleges, adult education centers and nursing schools. If you want to be able to receive certification, you will need to attend a course that has been approved by the Department of Social and Health Services.
Nursing assistant training classes in the state of Washington include 85 hours or greater of instruction. You will spend time learning in the classroom as well as having hands on clinical training. The course will teach you basic medical procedures, how to prevent the spread of disease and how to respond in an emergency.
You will also learn how to communicate well with patients, their families and other members of the healthcare team. In order to enter into a nursing assistant training program, you need to take a drug screening and have a physical exam.
Reciprocity CNA Certification
It is often possible to transfer a valid and active certification from another state to Washington State. You will need to request an application for reciprocity. You can obtain this application through the Nursing Aide Registry in Washington. The state of Washington will make sure that you are listed in good standing on that state’s Registry. They will also verify that you worked as a certified nursing assistant and received all necessary training before having done so. You must have passed the state exam for certification in your prior state if you want to transfer your certification to Washington. If your application for reciprocity is not approved, then you will need to complete training in the state of Washington before becoming a CNA.
CNA Certification Renewal in Washington
The state of Washington is like any other in that you need to renew certification every two years. The state will send you the forms for renewal well in advance before your certification expires. This will provide you with the time you need to review and complete the certification documents. You cannot renew your certification if you do not work as a CNA or in a job providing nursing related duties during those two years. It will be necessary to call the Department of Health to determine how you can receive your certification again.
CNA Certification Information by State:
