How Hard is CNA Training? - Midwest Technical Institute

Are you considering a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and curious about the training that is required?

CNA training is typically less expensive and less time than other healthcare training programs.

Before you enroll, explore what you’ll learn and how you can get started in MTI’s 7-week program.

Enrollment Requirements for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training

When researching Certified Nursing Assistant training programs, it’s important to understand what each individual school’s requirements are for enrollment.

For example, at Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) students must:

Provide proof of a high school diploma, recognized equivalency certificate (GED) or documentation of home school completion
Complete a background check
Provide proof of immunizations and negative tuberculosis (TB) test administered within the last six months

What You’ll Learn During CNA Training

Nursing assistant training programs at MTI prepare you to take the Manual Skills Competency Test:

Personal Hygiene and Grooming

You will learn how to help residents maintain cleanliness and dignity through daily hygiene routines. This includes:

Practicing high personal hygiene standards, including proper hand washing techniques
Assisting with oral hygiene, including cleaning teeth and dentures
Shaving patients as needed
Maintaining and trimming fingernails and toenails
Providing perineal care to prevent skin infections, breakdown or odor
Giving partial baths, assisting with showers or helping with tub baths

Mobility and Comfort

Comfort and safety are top priorities for CNAs, especially when assisting with movement or bed care:

Making occupied beds
Assisting patients with dressing
Transferring patients to wheelchairs using transfer belts or mechanical lifts
Ambulating (helping residents walk or move about) with transfer belts
Placing patients in a side-lying position
Performing passive range of motion exercises to maintain flexibility and prevent stiffness

Nutrition and Hydration Support

CNAs support proper nutrition and hydration, especially for those who can’t eat or drink independently:

Feeding patients who are unable to feed themselves
Accurately calculating and recording intake and output quantities of fluids

Monitoring and Vital Signs

Recording vital signs and physical metrics is a core part of daily CNA responsibilities:

Measuring and recording pulse and respiration
Measuring and recording blood pressure
Measuring and recording weight
Measuring and recording height of standing or non-standing patients

Infection Control and Safety

To maintain a safe care environment, CNAs are trained in the proper infection control and safety techniques:

Proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Essential handwashing and hygiene techniques to prevent spread of germs
Handling and disposal of contaminated materials
Recognizing signs and symptoms of common infections
Understanding of best practices for lifting or moving patients

Interested in Learning More About Allied Health?

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Midwest Technical Institute’s Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program

The Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program prepares you for the CNA certification exam that is necessary to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in the state of Illinois.

This course is designed to prepare qualified individuals to be safe, caring, and effective nursing assistants who work under the supervision of qualified healthcare professionals. The lessons in the Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program prepare you to perform in positions normally available in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies. These classes present basic nursing assistant principles and provide opportunities for practice and demonstration of skills related to patient care.

During the CNA course, your time will be divided between classroom instruction, laboratory, and supervised experience in the nursing home and/or hospital setting. The program includes the following classes: