CNA Classes Dolton, IL

Employment as a Nursing Assistant is a great opportunity to survey the health care field. The educational preparation requires a commitment of four to six weeks and covers all the skills needed to care for patients under the supervision of a Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse. As a Certified Nursing Assistant, you’ll assist patients or residents with daily living activities and ensure their safety and comfort. In nursing homes, you may check their vitals, make beds, empty bedpans, serve meals, position and turn bedridden patients, change dressings on wounds, and assist nurses with rehabilitative procedures.

After completing a CNA class, you will be eligible to apply to the Illinois Department of Public Health to take the state nurse aide exam. Your name will be added to the Illinois Nurse Aide Registry if you pass the written and skills components of the exam. Since there is a huge demand for allied health workers, most new certified nursing assistants find immediate employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of nursing aides will grow 9% from 2018 to 2018, a rate that is faster than the average for all occupations.

Adonis College of Nursing

The nursing assistant program at Adonis College of Nursing prepares adults for a career in nursing. Experienced instructors train students for excellence in care where they will serve on the front lines of patient care. The program is accredited by the Illinois Department of Public Health, so graduates will be eligible to take the State Nurse Aide Exam to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Areas of study include medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, infection control, bloodborne pathogens, law and ethics, the role and responsibility of the nurse aide, patient transfers, patient rights and independence, safety and emergency procedures, and hospice care. The school offers three class sections for the program. The duration of the program is four weeks.

Admission criteria:

  • Must be at least 16 years old
  • Be able to speak English
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Pass a background check
  • Submit documentation of TB clearance

The total cost for the program is $867. It includes application and registration, identification fee, background check fee, book rental fee, and state board exam fee. A flexible payment plan is available. It requires a down payment of $290, another payment of $265 at the beginning of the second week, and $245 by the third week of class.

International Career Institute ICI

The CNA program at International Career Institute covers 130 clock hours of theory and practical instruction. Content will be delivered by lectures, live demonstrations, lab practice, and role play. Students must participate in the 40-hour clinical component where students will develop the skills to provide basic nursing care for patients. Areas of study include emergencies and CPR certification, legal issues for nursing staff, the role and responsibilities of the health care team, patient/resident rights, communication skills, patient care, moving patients, oral care, dressing, bathing, vital signs, grooming, infection control, medical terminology, and documentation skills. Students will learn how to perform personal care, provide mental health and social services, support patients’ rights, and provide basic restorative skills and nursing skills. The duration of the program is 4 to 10 weeks depending on the schedule. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the Illinois State competency exam to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Admission criteria:

  • Submit a completed Nursing Assistant CNA application
  • Sign the Enrollment Agreement
  • Provide copy of photo ID, social security card, and proof of US citizenship
  • Submit Fingerprint-based Health Care Worker Criminal History Records Check or present a waiver for disqualifying convictions
  • Have current CPR certification
  • Submit the forms and documentation of TB clearance
  • Take and pass the admission assessment
  • Provide copy of high school diploma or GED certificate
  • Complete physical exam and immunization record

Tuition and fees cost $840 including registration fee, laboratory and technology fee, and ID. Additional costs include CPR class, textbooks, uniforms, nursing kit, physical exam, background check fee, immunizations, TB test, and written competency test fee.

Career Training Center Of Chicago

Career Training Center Of Chicago (CTCC) facilitates a Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program to prepare adults with the knowledge and technical skills that will give them eligibility to take the Nurse Aide Competency exam for certification by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The curriculum will include theory in the classroom and clinical rotations in a skilled nursing facility. Classroom instruction will include communication, basic nursing practice, multi-cultural society, communication, collaboration, hospice care, patients’ rights and independence, laws and ethics, personal care and grooming, observation and reporting, nutrition, body structure and function, and transferring patients. The supervised clinical experiences will reinforce the skills learned in the classroom and lab as students apply manual skills in the care of residents under the supervision of a licensed nurse instructor. The duration of the program is 4 to 5 weeks. Morning and evening schedules are available. The morning class meets Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. The evening class meets Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:00 pm to 9:45 pm. Clinical sessions meet on Saturdays from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.

Admission criteria:

  • Submit a completed application for admission
  • Must have documentation of completing eighth grade – at minimum
  • Must be able to speak and understand English
  • Pass a reading assessment
  • Submit a criminal background check
  • Complete a physical exam through a licensed physician. The exam must include a diagnostic test and immunizations.

The tuition costs 850. Additional costs include registration ($20), lab fee ($30), criminal background check, state exam, textbooks, uniforms, thermometer, white shoes, and stethoscope.

Best Step Academy

Best Step Academy prepares students for nurse aide certification in just 6 weeks. Graduates will be prepared to take the state licensure exam and assume entry-level employment in long-term care. The school offers experienced instructors, affordable tuition, modern labs, high rates of success on the exam, and accessibility. The curriculum covers 120 hours of theory and practical instruction. The clinical experience will include 40 hours for hands-on care of residents in a long-term care facility. The program requires full attendance of all the classroom and clinical sessions for completion. Students are expected to arrange their transport to the clinical sites. Course topics include personal care, basic nursing skills, the role and responsibility of the nurse aide, mental health, positioning and turning, nutrition and feeding, infection control, vital signs, and Alzheimer’s care. Small class sizes provide an intimate environment for learning.

Admission criteria:

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Be able to speak, write and read English
  • Must demonstrate good physical health through a physical exam report completed by a licensed physician. The report must indicate negative TB results
  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds or more
  • Submit a criminal background check compliant with the Health Care Workers Background Check Act
  • Maintain insurance coverage for the duration of the program

Tuition costs $950. The registration fee is $50. Additional costs include textbooks, CPR certification, background check, materials, insurance, TB clearance, physical exam, uniforms, and nursing kit.

AVID CNA School

The Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program at Avid CNA School covers 120 hours of theory, lab, and clinical instruction. The state-approved program is designed to equip students with knowledge, skills, and competencies to pass the state nurse aide exam and deliver safe and competent care under the supervision of a licensed nurse. Course topics include work ethics, body structure and function, preventing infection, communicating with the healthcare team, caring for mental health patients, body mechanics, moving and transferring patients, caring for persons with common health problems, confusion and dementia, wound care, and exercise and activity. Graduates will demonstrate safety in practice, rehabilitation and restorative skills, and good observation and reporting skills. Evening and morning schedules are available. The morning program meets for 7 weeks. The evening schedule meets for 5 weeks.

Admission criteria:

  • Must be at least 16 years old
  • Demonstrate a minimum 10th grade level reading competency
  • Pass a criminal background check that is initiated by the school
  • Provide documentation of current health insurance
  • Submit a physical exam report that includes a recent TB test
  • Have a valid social security number and state ID

Tuition for the program is $1,395. Other costs include lab fee, uniforms, handouts, certification exam fee, registration fee, liability insurance, background check, and state exam fee.

The Nirvana Institute

The Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program at Nirvana Institute comprises of 120 hours of classroom and clinical experience. Students will be prepared for an entry-level position in a long-term care facility and will have the foundation skills and knowledge to advance their health care studies. It is mandatory that students complete all 120 hours as required by the State of Illinois. It includes 80 hours in the classroom and 40 hours at a clinical facility. Course topics include safety, privacy, introduction to patient care, introduction to health care systems, lifting, moving and transporting patients, nutrition, fluid balance, fundamentals of rehabilitation, caring for terminally ill patients, CPR, basic anatomy and physiology, supportive care, patient care planning, isolation, and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The duration of the program is 5 weeks. The day class meets Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm. The evening class meets Monday through Thursday from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm. The clinical sessions are Friday or Saturday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.

Admission criteria:

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Be able to speak, write and read English
  • Must demonstrate good physical health through a physical exam report completed by a licensed physician
  • Obtain TB clearance
  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds or more
  • Submit a criminal background check compliant with the Health Care Workers Background Check Act
  • Maintain insurance coverage for the duration of the program

Tuition for the program is $1,400. It includes registration fee and textbook. Students must cover the cost of the mandatory background check, CPR certification, state board exam, uniforms, and insurance. A payment plan is available for all students.

Chicago’s Pulse

Chicago’s Pulse nursing assistant program is approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health, so graduates will be eligible to sit for the state board exam to be added to the Illinois Nurse Aide Registry. The curriculum will include 120 hours of theory and practical instruction in the classroom, lab, and clinical facility. Course topics include effective communication, body mechanics, hygiene, personal care, mobility, role of the nursing assistant, medical terminology and abbreviations, nutrition and elimination, role of the nursing assistant in long-term care, Alzheimer’s disease, infection control, and care for the older person.

Admission criteria:

  • Attend an interview with the Training Coordinator
  • Submit a completed application for admission
  • Sign the Enrollment Agreement
  • Pay the non-refundable registration fee of $100
  • Submit to a background check
  • Supply a physical exam report completed by a licensed physician with TB test results and immunizations
  • Have current CPR certification
  • Maintain insurance throughout the program

Tuition for the program is $1,075, including the registration fee. Students must also purchase the required tools, including textbook, gait belt, uniform, blood pressure cuff, state exam fee, and TB test results.

Crystal G

Crystal is a certified Registered Nurse (RN) with a passion for writing about nursing education. Through her articles, Crystal shares insights and tips to help fellow nurses enhance their skills and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. With a focus on practical advice and relevant topics, Crystal's writing is a valuable resource for nursing professionals seeking to advance their careers.