Becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in Maryland is a wise career move. According to the Maryland Department of Labor, CNA wages in the state are among the best countrywide, with the average salary for an entry-level CNA being about $16 to $18 an hour. Online CNA classes Maryland equip students with both the skills and knowledge to work in various healthcare settings. In this post, our nursing online helpers explain the content covered in the CNA online classes in Maryland and the enrollment requirements. We also take online classes for busy students, attend lectures, and write clear notes they can use to revise for the final exam.
Program Eligibility
Individuals looking to enroll in online CNA classes Maryland must satisfy several requirements. These are the prerequisites for CNA classes online:
- 18 years and above or in high school
- Own a Tax Identification Number or Social Security Number
- Have excellent physical health, including a negative TB test
- Complete a criminal background check
- Have a CPR Health Provider certificate or obtain one during CNA training
Prospective CNA students must also get at least 80% on a reading and math test issued before the online classes begin.
Class Curriculum
Online CNA classes Maryland have introductory training and skill-based training where students work in an actual facility under the supervision of a licensed nurse. The following is an overview of the curriculum in the introductory CNA online training sessions:
Bedside Manners
Students learn the proper way to behave around patients. They learn to introduce themselves, greet patients with a smile, use verbal and non-verbal etiquette, and listen without interrupting patient conversations. They also learn to treat patients carefully, be nonjudgmental, answer questions, and end encounters correctly.
Communication Skills
Online CNA classes Maryland explain the essential communication skills every CNA requires. Students learn to actively listen, read non-verbal cues, and address difficult conversations, such as breaking bad news to patients. They also discover the right way to talk to other healthcare professionals and document patient information for doctors, physicians, and senior nurses.
Mental Health
While CNAs aren’t mental health experts, they learn to assess patients’ mental status during interactions. This lesson teaches students to identify patients with depression, chronic stress, dementia, and anxiety. In addition, they discover how to provide comfort, support, and encouragement to patients.
Personal Safety and Hygiene
A clean and safe environment is necessary for patients and healthcare workers. This lesson explores the hygiene and safety techniques such as handwashing, transfer belt placement, equipment sterilization, and infection control. It also looks at protective body mechanics that can help avert injuries and disease spread.
Motion Exercises
This lesson stresses on the importance staying active after treatment. Students learn the various exercises to administer, such as active, passive, active assistive, and resistive techniques. It teaches them to perform simple neck stretches, hip and knee flexions, lumbar rotation, and other range-of-motion exercises that assist with physical therapy.
Emergency Procedures
Future CNAs will learn to perform breathing exercises on patients with shortness of breath and treat burns, chest pains, seizures, stroke, blood loss, traumatic injuries, and lack of consciousness.
Basic Nursing Care
Students discover the basic activities they must perform to keep patients healthy and comfortable. They learn to provide patients with fluids and food, assist them with bathing and grooming, monitor their hygiene and food consumption, and change their bedding. The lesson also teaches them to monitor signs of dehydration and malnutrition.
Restorative Services
Aspiring CNAs learn to help patients after treatments such as intubation or stoma procedures get back to normal. Some services they discover how to perform include monitoring patient intake and output, providing physical assistance and emotional support, eating, brushing teeth, using the bathroom, and changing bedpans.
Patients’ Rights
CNAs must understand the concept of patient consent. This lesson explains patients’ right to refuse or accept treatment. They learn to get consent from responsive patients before conducting medical procedures. They also discover what to do if a patient is unresponsive, incoherent, confused, or has no one to provide consent on their behalf (in children).
Length and Fee
Online CNA classes Maryland take 100 hours. 60 hours are for virtual classroom learning, while 40 hours go to hands-on training at a healthcare facility under the supervision of a licensed and experienced nurse. The classes last 6 to 15 weeks, but some accelerated programs can take as little as four weeks.
Also, programs cost between $600 and $2000, depending on the institution or program. Some programs include classroom materials and textbooks in the fee, while others are exclusive. Select facilities also offer free online CNA classes Maryland for needy students and accept long-term payment plans and financial aid.
Pay a Professional to Do the Online CNA Classes in Maryland
Online CNA classes in Maryland are accredited by the Maryland Board of Nursing. They provide the skills and knowledge to complete the CNA exam and get a license to practice within the state. Students looking to enroll in online CNA classes can get our nursing experts to take the classes for them and ensure they pass.
