Certified Nurse Aides: FAQ's

Part 2 of our Frequently Asked Questions regarding CNA's in Kansas: 

Q.  What happens if I don’t pass this course?

If you do not pass the course successfully the instructor will submit a written notification to the state of your name and you will not be eligible to sit for the state test.  You would then have to retake the entire CNA course again.

Q.  What happens once I complete the course successfully?

Once you complete the course your instructor will send your name into the state.  Once the instructor receives the “Approval to Test Notice” your instructor will contact you and get you the Approval letter.  The “Approval to Test Notice” will assign the test date, location, and time.

Q.  What if I am unable to take the test on the date scheduled?

If you are unable to take the test on the date assigned you must contact Health Occupations Credentialing (HOC) at 785-296-1250 to request a rescheduling form to submit along with a $20 application fee.

Q.  Tell me more about the state test.

The state test is timed and contains 100 multiple-choice questions.   You are given 2 hours in which to complete the test.  The score of 75% or greater constitutes a passing score.    

Q.  What do I need to take to the state test?

You must provide the following at the test site when you go to test:

• Original photo ID
• Test fee
• Approval letter to test

You need to be extremely punctual for the state test.  This test is timed and there are other students testing as well.  The testing sites are very prompt on delivering the test.  The testing sites will not accept any students who walk in the door after the testing has begun.  I recommend you arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of schedule to get seated for your state test.

You WILL NOT be admitted if you are not listed as eligible on the site schedule, or are late, or do not provide required ID

Q.  What if I have a disability?

Any candidate who has a:

• Physical disability
• Learning disability
• Psychological disability

If you require a reasonable accommodation to take the state test you need to complete a request form.  As a student you must have performed in a satisfactory manner in both the classroom and lab/clinical settings of the course, and successfully completed the Skills Competency Checklist.

Q.  Is the state test given in more than one language?

The state test is read in only the English language.  If English is your second language may use a bilingual language dictionary during the state test.  Computer dictionaries and medical dictionaries are prohibited.

Q.  What happens when I pass the state test?

If you pass the state test, a certificate will be mailed to you at the address in which you provided. On average it takes 3-4 weeks from the time the state test has been taken until the department received and enters the test score.   You should allow 30 days to lapse from the date the test was taken before calling the department to check on the status of the certificate. 785-296-1250.

Q.  What happens if I fail the state test?

You will receive a letter that includes the score.  The information on your performance in the categories will help you prepare to retake the test.  A rescheduling form, if you are eligible, will be included.  You should complete this and send it to HOC with the non-refundable $20 application fee.

Q.  How long do I have to retake the test?

The state test must be passed within one year from the beginning date of the nurse aide training course.  You are eligible to retake the test a maximum of 3 times within that year.  If the test is not passed within one year from the starting date of the course, the entire course must be retaken to be eligible to take the test again.

Q.  What is KNAR?

KNAR is the Kansas Nurse Aide registry which is federally mandated program to track the employment and training for aides in Kansas.  A unique identification number is issued to you if you have successfully completed the state nurse aide course and passed the test.

What are record checks?

The KNAR will be checked for reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, prohibited offenses, or misappropriation of resident property.  Each adult care home must contact the registry prior to hiring you as a nurse aide.  A criminal record check will be requested by a facility to determine your eligibility to work.  A facility may NOT employ any person with any of this on record after April 1, 1992.  You can see prohibited offenses under the tab “Course Information”. 

Q.  KNAR should never be contacted to:

• Inquire about test results.  The results are mailed to you within 30 days from the test date.  The test results cannot be given over the phone. Call 785-296-1250.
• Inquire about test sites.  Instead call 785-296-1250
• Request replacement copies of certificates.  Instead call 785-296-1250
•  Report abuse complaint about a CNA or other personnel.  Instead call 800-842-0078
• Inquire about the CNA and competency evaluation Instead call 785-296-0058
• Inquire about employment verification procedures or issues.  Instead call 785-296-1250
• Locate course offerings.  Instead call 785-296-1250 or access website at www.kdheks.gov/hoc

Q.  Does my CNA certificate expire?

CNA certificates do not expire therefore you will not receive new certificates automatically.  As a CNA you will be eligible for employment for 24 months following the date the certificate is issued.  In order for you to extend the eligibility period, you as a CNA must be employed to perform nursing or nursing related tasks for at least 8 hours in the 24 month period. 

Q.  What if my employment was not received by KNAR?
If you worked 8hr in a 24 hr period and the information was not received and noted on the CNA”s KNAR record, the CNA should request the Employment Verification Form from HOC.

Q.  What happens if I have not been employed in a 24 month period for 8 hrs?

IF a CNA has not been employed to perform nursing or nursing related duties in the past 24 mo you can have a licensed, registered nurse may elect to administer the Kansas Nurse Aide Task Checklist-For Employment Verification.  The checklist may be done in an adult care home, hospital, or laboratory setting.   The checklist shall not be given to the aide.  Or the CNA may take a refresher course, if available, instead of having a nurse administer the task checklist.    Once completed and submitted to HOC, the eligibility period is extended by 24 months.  It is not necessary to work for “40 hrs” in order to complete the checklist for employment purposes.  The amount of time it takes to perform each task will vary. 

Q.  What if I have lost my CNA certificate?

If you have lost your CNA certificate, an application form is available and a new certificate will be sent upon receipt of the form and a fee.

Q.  What if there is a change in name, address, phone number as a NAT or CNA?

Whenever there is a change in your mailing address, telephone number, or name you need to contact HOC so the department can keep your information updated.  785-296-0060.

To take a We Care Online CNA Class - Click Here

Kansas Nursing Assistants: FAQ's

Thinking about taking a CNA course in Kansas?  I'm sure you have lots of questions about Kansas requirements and employment issues.  We've accumulated our most asked questions and will address them over our next few blogs.

Q.  Can an employer request that I work for them for a period of time if they pay for my CNA training?

The use of contracts relating to training for employment is prohibited under federal regulations.  An adult care home cannot require a Trainee II or a CNA to enter into either verbal or written contracts to work for a specified period of time at the facility or else reimburse the facility for the cost of the training.   

Schools however may require students to enter into verbal or written contracts stating terms of payment.  However, a contract must not state that the student will be denied access to the state test.

Q.  Can I work for an adult care home as a Nurse Aide Trainee I?

A Nurse Aide Trainee I (NAT1) may not be employed by a facility in DIRECT care duties.  Direct, individual care refers to nursing activities that are resident oriented.  It involves personal contact with the resident by the trainee, and provides assistance in grooming, feeding, toileting, or ambulating the resident.

Q.  What happens once I complete Part 1 of the CNA Course?

Once you have completed Part 1 of this nurse aide training course, your clinical instructor will evaluate you on your performance using the Task Checklist provided by the State of Kansas.  The Task Checklist is used to evaluate your initial competence in performing basic nursing tasks.  Your clinical instructor must observe completion of each task in a satisfactory manner.  When you have successfully demonstrated each task successfully to your clinical instructor, he/she will fill out the Task Checklist and the original is given to you.  Once you have completed this Task Checklist successfully, you are now classified as a Nurse Aide Trainee II (NATII)

Q.  Can I also become a Paid Nutrition Assistant with the CNA course?

Part 1 of your CNA training also include the instruction and competency evaluation required to for you to be an employee as a  Paid Nutrition Assistant (PNA). 

Also upon completion of Part I and the Task Checklist, We Care On-Line will award you a certificate of completion for PNA training.  Once you have successfully completed the Task Checklist for Part 1, the online CNA instructor will notify you and issue you a certificate by email.    This certificate is permanent evidence that you have completed the PNA training and you should keep this for your records.  Once you have successfully completed Part 1 and the Task Checklist you may seek employment as a PNA if you choose, whether or not you complete the rest of the course.  You are to provide a copy of the PNA certificate to the facility of employment.

Q.  What are my employment options once I am a NATII?

Once you are a NATII, you are eligible to provide direct, individual care to residents in an adult care home under the direction of a licensed nurse.  You may work as a paid nutrition assistance if you choose. 

As a NATII, you should not be expected to perform nursing tasks that have not yet been adequately covered during the classroom training hours and you should respectfully decline to provide the service that is asked of you.

Q.  How long am I considered a NATII?

You are considered a NATII for 4 months from the beginning date of the course.  If you are unable to fully meet the certification requirements within 4 months from the beginning date of the course, you are no longer eligible to provide direct resident care services.  A second 4 month trainee period is not allowed.

To be continued. . . .

To register for We Care Online's online or in house CNA class Click Here.

Acing the Interview Once You Have the Training

Interviewing for that job you really want can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. However, there are some tricks to keep your nerves from getting the best of you during an interview and make that first impression a memorable one. A job interview can result in the elusive job offer so it is crucial to head into every interview feeling confident and well prepared.  Read the rest of the blog - click here.

Read more: The Most Important Job Interviewing Skills | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6504113_important-job-interviewing-skills.html#ixzz1Q9CdIM6G

Pharmacy Associations, Technicians and Settings for Technicians

An excerpt from our Pharmacy Technician course.

...In this chapter, you will be introduced to the qualifications, skills, and nonjudgmental duties required of pharmacy technicians in various job settings. You will also have the opportunity to learn about pharmacy technician certification. In addition to learning about the traditional settings for technicians, you will explore industry trends, such as e-pharmacies, and ways in which technicians can combine their knowledge of pharmacy with other skills and move into other positions.

Watch the Presentation "Pharmacy Associations, Certification, and Settings for Technicians"
You can download instructor notes to go along with the presentation by clicking here.

Links for Pharmacy Technician jobs and information:

• CareerBuilder, www.careerbuilder.com
• Craigslist, www.craigslist.org, select the nearest metropolitan area from the list on the right
• Monster, www.monster.com
• Pharmacy Tech Certification Board (PTCB): National Statistics, www.ptcb.org/About/statistics.aspx
• Pharmacy Tech Certification Board (PTCB) News: State Boards, www.ptcb.org/News/stateboards.aspx
• Yahoo Hot Jobs, http://hotjobs.yahoo.com

More about the Health Unit Coordinator

A shortage of health care workers continue to rise as the baby boomer generation retire and increase their use in the health care system. The Registered Nurse relies heavily on the health unit coordinator to perform the delegated tasks. Students learning skills in health unit coordinating will be prepared to work in a variety of health care settings.

To begin the class please read Chapters 1-8 in your textbook. Complete the questions at the end of each chapter. You do not need to send the answers to your instructor. This will help you pass the unit test.

I found a video clip on you tube from a Wisconsin University showing what a unit coordinator's job can consist. Take a look; I thought it was pretty interesting.

Knowing your medical terminology is absolutely a must if you want to become a health unit coordinator. We have included a basic Medical Terminology course with our Health Unit Coordinator content.

Click here to read the history of the Health Unit Coordinator:  http://www.nahuc.org/nahuc_hi.htm

NAHUC  is a professional association for health unit coordinators. It's mission is to promote health unit coordinating as a profession through education and certification.  All are encouraged to join.  One does not need to be certified to be a member nor does one need to be a member to be certified.

To join NAHUC, all one has to do is complete and submit the membership application and fee. This website is a good resource as a unit coordinator. You may become certified after completion of We Care Online's course by clicking here: http://www.nahuc.org/Certification/cb_exam.htm.

The requirements for taking the test for certification are that you have completed a course or you are currently working as a health unit coordinator and you have a high school diploma or GED. You will need to pass the test you schedule with the association to become certified. The certification would benefit you in finding a good job as a Health Unit Coordinator, but is not required.

Click Here to find out what is included in the NAHUC exam.

NAHUC has some scholarship money available for testing should you qualify. Click here to see what is required if you desire.

The Activity Director

This is the first of an ongoing series that explores the career options for students of our classes. To begin, we'll take a closer look at the Activity Director class.

Activity Directors are the people who plan group and solo activities for residents of nursing homes and long term care facilities. State licensing requirements for nursing homes almost always require a facility to have an Activity Director on staff, or at least available to the residents part-time. An Activity Director must be able to plan and run a variety of activities that will appeal to residents of all ages and cognitive/physical abilities--no easy task! He or she must also be able to budget, direct staff, and coordinate events both inside and outside of a facility. The job requires skills in many areas, but most of all, a person must truly love working with people.

The WeCareOnline Activity Director class is currently available in nine states, and more are coming soon. Students have four weeks to complete the class, and must accomplish 45 hours of work in that time. Since the class is available 24/7, many students finish before the four weeks are up, and all appreciate being able to study on their own schedule. The class consists of four units which cover the basics of person-centered care, the aging process, cognitive issues, and psychosocial needs. The class also covers the business end of an Activity Director's job, and students learn how to work with facility budgets, how to manage internal and external resources, and how to plan and provide activities to best meet the residents' needs. In four weeks or less, students are ready with the skills they need to work as a facility's Activity Director. There is no other required training or certification needed to work in the states where this class is approved.

Job prospects for Activity Directors are good, and the US Department of Labor reports that this is a field that's growing faster than average. They anticipate 14-19% growth in this field between now and 2018. Need for long term care is also on the rise as Americans are living longer and often need managed care in their later years. If you love working with people, and enjoy the challenge of planning activities to meet a diverse set of needs, this is the career for you.

WeCareOnlineClasses.com

How to Be a Good Online Student

In my last post, I gave an overview of whether or not online learning is for you. Now I'd like to focus on what it takes to succeed in online learning. If you've decided that an online class sounds just right for you, this list can help you not only survive, but thrive in your class.

1. Take care of all the required busywork up front. If the class requires a book or workbook, make sure you leave plenty of time to get it. If you're ordering the book from an online store (or even a regular bookstore), the book might be out of stock or backordered. Leave enough time for the post office to get your book to you before class starts, or you could find yourself falling behind. Also, make sure you have submitted all the required paperwork for your class. Here at We Care Online, several of our Kansas classes require students to include a copy of a Nurse Aide or Social Security card as part of the registration. If your class has a clinical component, make sure you know where and when the class will meet, and make any arrangements for transportation or child care.

2. Get familiar with your computer. If you only use your computer for checking email or watching videos, take some time to play around online and get comfortable with how your web browser works. Ask your questions and get familiar with how the computer works before you're under the pressure of class deadlines. It's much easier to get over nerves when you're just surfing for yourself versus when you're in the middle of a class and assignments are due.

3. Start your class promptly and stay on track. If possible, get a little bit ahead on assignments so you'll have a cushion of time later on in the class. A lot of people assume that online classes are easier and take less time than traditional classes, but this is rarely the case. Don't assume you can take it easy in the beginning and make up for lost time at the end.

4. Manage your time. When your class starts, take a look at the class outline, and at the assignments for all chapters or units. Get a feel for how long it will take you to work through each section and set up a schedule for yourself so you'll stay on track. There can be a lot of variation in the length of individual learning units, so don't assume that each one will take the same amount of time to complete.

5. Be sociable. Online classes have a discussion board when you can talk to your fellow students. There are generally some assigned questions related to the class material, but don't be afraid to start a new topic or to stray a little off topic to get to know your classmates better. You're all just names on a screen to each other until you write a message and let your personality come through. Share experiences you have had in your working life that might help your other students, such as how a technique is performed at your facility, or something you have learned on the job.  But always be mindful of patient confidentiality issues! It's ok to change names or details to protect someone's privacy.

Unfortunately, it's easy to get too comfortable online and share more than you should. Always be mindful of over-sharing. It's fine to mention if you have kids, or where you work, but be wary of giving out personal information like phone numbers or birthdates. Think of it this way: if you're chatting with someone in line at the grocery store, you might tell a funny story about your toddler, but you're not going to tell that person where you live or where your kids go to school. If you're not comfortable sharing it with that person in the grocery store line, you probably shouldn't share it online either. Be open with your knowledge of class topics--you're here to learn, and learn from others--but keep the personal information personal.

Finally, always be mindful of the fact that when you're online, humor and sarcasm are not always obvious, so jokes can fall flat and people might misunderstand what you are trying to say. Always take a moment to pause and read over your discussion board comments, or email messages, before sending them. Do your best to use good grammar and proper spelling, and to project a professional image at all times. Leave a good impression on your classmates--you never know when you might bump into them in your working life. A student might someday be your co-worker, boss, or employee, or a reference on a job application. Make sure your words reflect the best you have to offer.

The Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center has a wonderful tutorial about online learning. Some of the items are specific to VALRC students, but the majority of the information applies to any online class. The sections on time management and internet terms are particularly good. If you are new to computers, or hesitant online, this tutorial could set your mind at ease.

Start here: http://www.valrc.org/tutorials/onlinelearner/introduction.htm