CNA Programs In Bakersfield

CNA Programs In Bakersfield

What are a CNA's Responsibilities?

CNAs are typically responsible for:

  • Assisting patients with daily tasks, including eating, hygiene, exercise, and dressing
  • Updating supervisors of any changes in patients
  • Taking and recording vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure, and breathing
  • Assisting with the needs of multiple patients

CNA Certification as a Prerequisite

There are 4 accredited RN programs in Bakersfield. Two of the schools(Bakersfield College, Cal State Bakersfield) require students to have CNA certification as a prerequisite to apply to the nursing program. The other two(Unitek College and North-West College Bakersfield), do not require CNA certification to begin nursing school.

There are 6 LVN programs in Bakersfield. Three of them(Bakersfield College, Bakersfield Adult School, and North Kern River CC) must complete a CNA program in order to attend the LVN programs. The three other schools(High Desert Medical College, San Joaquin Valley College, and Unitek College) do not require an applicant to have CNA certification.

CNA Programs in Bakersfield

Bakersfield Adult School ➕

Bakersfield Adult School has a 12 week, 350 hour nurse assistant program. After completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the California state CNA exam.

CNA certification is required to enroll in Bakersfield College's nursing programs(LVN & RN).

Bakersfield Adult School offers 3 CNA programs per year:

  • 12 weeks August through October
  • 12 weeks November through February
  • 12 weeks March through May

Classes are Monday through Friday 7:30am to 2:00pm.

Prior to acceptance, students must:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • have a GED or high school diploma
  • attend orientation
  • possess a California driver license or state identification
  • pass a background check

Program Cost

The cost of attending the CNA program is $800. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.

Bakersfield Adult School

(661) 861-1151
2727 F St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
https://bakersfieldhealthcareers.org/programs/
Read more about Bakersfield Adult School's CNA program
Cellan Central Valley College➕

Cellan Central Valley College is located on H street in Bakersfield. They have 2 CNA programs: A 23 day full-time program, and a 46 day part-time program. CCVC has different start dates throughout the year.

Their CNA program is approved by the Department of Public Health(CDPH) in California. All legitimate CNA programs in California must be approved by the CDPH. Their program consists of 60 hours of instruction, and 100 hours of a hands-on supervised externship.

Once students are done with either the 23 day or 46 day program, graduates are eligible to sit for California's CNA certification exam.

Other Programs at CCVC:

  • 40 hour Home Health Aide(HHA) program
  • 24 hour Restorative Nursing Assistant(RNA) program
  • 3 day CNA certification review
  • 4 hour American Heart Association BLS CPR class

Cellan Central Valley College

661-861-0877
2901 H St Suite 110, Bakersfield, CA 93301
https://cellancentralvc.com/
Read more about Cellan College's CNA program
Bakersfield College➕

The CNA program at Bakersfield College has been around FOREVER! The class takes 1 semester to complete. It isn't a full-time program; they have classroom instruction for 4 hours per week, and 1 day per week is hands-on at a local skilled nursing facility.

Here's an example of the schedule for a CNA program at BC:

Classroom instruction is from 8:30am to 1:05pm every Wednesday, and hands-on at a local skilled nursing facility every Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm.

BC has 6 CNA courses per semester. The upside of taking your CNA program at BC is the varied schedule which allows for students to take either day or evening programs. The downside is that their classes tend to fill up quickly.

So, if you're a returning student to BC, you'll most likely get a slot. But if you haven't attended Bakersfield College, you may be placed on a waiting list.

Although there are no prerequisites to attend the program, BC strongly encourages prospective students to take MEDS B37 - Medical Terminology prior to attending the class.

Bakersfield College

661-395-4011
1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305
https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/nursing/na/
Read more about Bakersfield College's CNA program
Kern Valley Medical College➕

Kern Valley Medical College has a part-time evening CNA certification class. Their program is approved by California's Department of Public Health(CDPH).

The program is 8 weeks long, with classes running from 5:30pm to 9:00pm Monday through Friday. Prospective students must be at least 16 years old. The CNA program at KVMC is the only one in Bakersfield that does not require applicants to have a high school diploma or GED.

The cost of the program is $2,500. There is a $500 deposit that is required at time of registration.

Other programs at Kern Valley Medical College:

  • 17 week Medical Assisting program - after completion of the medical billing & coding program, graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBSC) exam.
  • Medical billing & coding is a fast growing healthcare occupation. The average billing & coding specialist salary is now at $53,750 in Kern County.

Kern Valley Medical College

661-395-4011
1401 Commercial Way, Bakersfield, CA 93309
https://kernvalleymedicalcollege.com/
Read more about Kern Valley Medical College's CNA program
KHSD ROP➕

The Kern High School District Regional Occupational Center(KHSD ROP) has a 1 year nursing assistant program. After completion of the program, graduates sit for California's CNA exam.

While most KHSD ROP programs are open to high school seniors AND juniors, the CNA program is only open to high school seniors.

60 hours of the program are classroom-based. Topics include: Anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, effective communication.

100 hours of the program are spent doing "clinical rotation". This is the actual hands-on part of KHSD ROP's CNA program. Students will train at local Bakersfield nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

One of the externship facilities is the Parkview Julian Convalescent Center. California classifies this facility as long term care.

The other externship facility is The Rehabilitation Center of Bakersfield. The RCB is a skilled nursing home and rehabilitation facility.

KHSD ROP

661-831-3327
501 S Mt Vernon Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93307
https://roc.kernhigh.org/
High Desert Medical College➕

The CNA program at High Desert Medical College takes 6 weeks to complete.

The program is a total of 164 hours. 60 of those hours are classroom, the remaining 104 hours are spent in a hands-on externship. Externships give students real-world experience.

High Desert Medical College

661-579-2901
2000 24th St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
hdmc.edu/course/nursing-assistant/
Read more about High Desert Medical College's CNA program
Cerro Coso CC➕

Cerro Coso Community College(CCCC) has a CNA program that can be completed in one semester. 5.5 college credits are awarded to graduating students.

After completion of the course, students are eligible to sit for California's CNA exam.

This course is a total of 171 clock hours. 63 of those hours are dedicated to lecture, 108 hours are hands-on in a local nursing/assisted living facility.

The lecture hours are classroom-based. Part of the lectures may be delivered in a hybrid format, which can be partially completed online. Lecture hours go over anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology.

Medical terminology is important for future CNAs to be able to navigate the healthcare environment. It's a critical element to be able to communicate effectively with nurses, physicians, patients, and other CNAs. Using proper terminology allows for healthcare professionals to safely work as a team.

The hands-on, or "laboratory" hours gives students the opportunity to get their hands dirty, both literally and figuratively. Students will assist licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses, and current CNAs in many aspects of patient care.

Cerro Coso CC

661-758-3045
2150 7th St, Wasco, CA 93280
nkvtc.org/nursing-assistant/
Read more about Cerro Coso College's CNA program
Other Healthcare Careers
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What Steps are Involved in Becoming Certified?

In order to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, there are some requirements that must be met. First of all, you must have a high school diploma or a GED. This is the first step for anyone planning on becoming certified as a nursing assistant.

Following this, you must complete a 12 week CNA certification program offered at nearly all colleges or healthcare facilities. Once you have completed this course, you must sit for the CNA certification exam.

The training programs for Certified Nursing Assistants teach basic nursing skills, safety, hygiene, life support, nutrition, infection control, clinical anatomy and physiology. Training regulations state that a CNA training program must provide 50 hours of theory and 100 hours of clinically supervised training in order to be CDPH approved. All of the Kern County programs listed here are CDPH approved.

The Nurse Practice Acts of most states(including California) require a CNA to be able to:

  • Answer all patient help signals.
  • Skillfully reposition bedridden patients to keep them from getting bedsores.
  • Feed patients by mouth or through a gastric tube if needed.
  • Observe patients’ well-being, vital signs, fluid charts, food intake, monitor alarms and report all data to the nursing staff.
  • Help patients walk, get in and out of bed, exercise and adjust to post surgery positions.
  • Transport patients by using stretchers or wheelchairs.
  • Clean room, change bed linens, and disinfect as needed.

Now you’re ready to prepare for the California Department of Public Health(CDPH) test, a competency examination which will test your clinical skills. Administered by Pearson VUE, eligibility requires that:

  • You’re at least 16 years old
  • Submit to a Department of Justice criminal background check
  • Have completed a CNA training course during the last 24 months

This exam is administered in 2 parts. Both parts are given on the same day. In order to be certified by the CDPH, both parts of the exam must be passed. The written part of the test is comprised of 70 multiple choice questions. The second part of the test is the Skill Evaluation.

You must perform 5 randomly selected skills that nursing assistants are expected to know. In order to receive CDPH certification, you must be able to successfully perform all 5 skills.

A Day in the Life of a CNA

The typical workday for a certified nursing assistant is busy as soon as they clock in! CNAs are involved in nearly every aspect of patient care. Most of a CNAs day will be spent doing hands-on work. Whether it's in a nursing home, assisted living facility, hospital, or clinic, CNAs will be there. They assist patients with ADLs(Activities of Daily Living) like bathing, dressing, hygiene & grooming, and getting into/out of wheelchairs.

In many states, CNAs may hold additional certifications, such as Wound Care, which opens up additional career opportunities.

Who is in Charge of CNAs?

In almost all cases, CNAs will report directly to an LVN or RN. For very small facilities, the CNA may answer directly to a medical doctor. CNAs will be the most visible healthcare provider, and will spend the most time directly with patients. CNAs are keen observers. They are often the first staff member to spot a potential problem with a patient. When CNAs are present, patients know they'll be receiving personal attention.

How Your Day Will Start

As soon as you clock in at your facility, you'll report to the nurse in charge. This is usually an RN or LVN. You'll then receive your assignments for the day. You may also be given specific tasks that need to be completed in a timely manner. Depending on the type of facility you work in, you stay in the same area every day, or you might "float" between departments. You may also be providing break relief for your colleagues.

CNA as a First Step

Many students need to become certified as a nursing assistant because it is a prerequisite for nursing school. But it's not just a stepping-stone for nurses! Medical assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, phlebotomy technicians, occupational therapists, surgical techs, dental hygienists, chiropractors, and home and personal care aides also got their start by working as a certified nursing assistant.