FAQs

A nursing assistant or nurse aide is a part of a multidisciplinary care team that provides important support to patients or residents in a variety of settings. Nurse Aides work in collaboration with nursing staff and care for people by assisting with hygiene, daily activities, and collecting vital signs such as blood pressure and pulse. Nurse aides help patients of all ages and since they have extensive daily contact with each patient, they play a key role in keeping the nurse up to date on vital information about the patients’ conditions. Nurse Aides must complete a Pennsylvania state-approved education program such as CareBridge Academy’s program. Students learn the basic principles of nursing and complete supervised clinical practice. Once the Nurse Aide finishes their state-approved program and passes the Pennsylvania state exam, they become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and are permitted to work in their state of certification. The Nurse Aide program is also very useful for people wanting to have employable skills while preparing for nursing or other health careers. Employment opportunities require a current State of Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Certification.

CNA stands for certified nursing assistant. A certified nursing assistant or certified nurse aide is someone who has successfully completed an approved nursing assistant training program. Upon program completion the graduate must take the test to become certified by the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry.

There are five main skills that CNAs should have to be effective in their field, including:

• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Astute observation skills to identify potential problems that others may overlook
• Ability to follow strict rules and protocol in various situations
• Time management and organizational skills
• Compassion and empathy

A nurse aide may work for four (4) months or 120 days while participating in a nurse aide training and/or competency evaluation program.

Nurse aides do not have a formal “scope of practice”; however, they should only be performing those duties learned during their NA training & testing program. Duties covered under a “professional scope of practice” should only be performed by a licensed professional in that respective field.

There are no “training requirements” to renew your registry. Rather, the nursing homes administration is required to provide nurse aides a minimum of twelve (12) hours of in-service education each year based on the results of yearly performance evaluations.

Our program helps prepare you to work in a variety of medical settings! Healthcare settings include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day care centers, hospitals, and in home healthcare environments. You will learn the necessary academics and receive hands-on training from licensed nurses to prepare you to care for older adults and other individuals with functional limitations.

A nurse aide’s roles can vary from setting to setting or even day to day. This variety is part of what makes a nurse aide career so exciting! Generally, you'll be responsible for gathering crucial information about the patient's health, checking vital signs, and assisting with a client’s basic quality of life needs. Bathing, dressing, cooking, feeding, home tidiness and light housekeeping, monitoring blood pressure and overall general health, and assisting with range of motion exercises are all included in the responsibilities of many CNAs.

The Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Training Program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and PA Department of Health. The Home Health Aide (HHA) training program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training program lasts for 120 hours of clinical, classroom, and laboratory instruction. CareBridge Academy offers a variety of options to fit the needs of its students. Full-time programs can generally be done within 4 weeks. The Home Health Aide (HHA) training program lasts for 75 hours of classroom and laboratory instruction. Full-time HHA programs can be completed in 2 weeks.

The nursing assistant (CNA) total program cost is $1400 and that includes the cost of the textbook and other learning materials. The state test is an additional fee of $102, and other ancillary costs are the responsibility of the student. However, the cost of tuition may be reimbursable by a future employer as a CNA. The Home Health Aide training program costs $595 and also includes the cost of the textbook and other learning materials.

Employees are under no financial obligation if they are currently employed or if they have an offer of employment on the start date of the program. If a nurse aide gains employment or an offer of employment within 12 months of completing a program, the nursing facility must reimburse on a prorated basis for the period the individual is employed as a nurse aide.

Essentially, yes! In most situations, the nurse aide pays for the full cost of the training and the test upfront before becoming a certified nurse aide. At that point, if they get a job at a nursing facility within 12 months and then work a certain number of hours at the facility, they will then get reimbursed by the organization. Therefore, while there are out-of-pocket costs initially, employed nurse aides can get the full cost of their tuition and test reimbursed eventually.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis and must be completed no less than two weeks prior to the beginning of class. You need $100 to register and must attend our orientation session approximately one week prior to the first day of class. You will need to get a physical and two part PPD in order to qualify for the State Board Exam. Please note the physical and PPD are additional, non-reimbursable out of pocket expenses you should be prepared to pay.

A partial or full payment must be made two weeks prior to your first class. We accept cash and credit card for payments. We do offer flexible payment plans for incoming students that are interested.

The dress code for CLASS and CLINICAL is nursing scrubs. You are required to have sturdy, non-slip, non-skid full shoes in white; a watch with a second hand. Your instructor will review all details on the first day of class.

After successfully completing the program, students must pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) in order to enroll on the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry. There is an additional cost of $102 for the written and practical exam. This cost is to be covered by the facility if the student is employed in a Long Term Care facility.

The Two-Step PPD / Mantoux is used to detect individuals with past Tuberculosis (TB) infection who have diminished skin test reactivity. This procedure will reduce the likelihood that a boosted reaction is later interpreted as a new infection. There are a total of four visits required when utilizing the Two-Step Mantoux protocol.  

1- Visit 1, Day 1. a. The 1st skin test is placed. The applicant will return to the doctor’s office in 2 – 3 days (48 – 72 hours) to have the results read.  

2- Visit 2, Day 3 or 4. a. The 1st skin test results are read (within 48-72 hours of visit one only). b. If there are no symptoms (asymptomatic) or reactivity determined, the applicant can proceed c. If the first test is positive and reactivity is determined, the applicant may have (had) a TB infection. The applicant will then need a chest x-ray and physician evaluation.  

3- Visit 3, Day 8 a. A 2nd skin test is placed on applicants whose 1st test was negative at 48 – 72 hours. The 2nd test is given eight (8) days after the initial test date. The applicant wll return to the facility in 2 – 3 days (48 – 72 hours) to read the results once again.  

4- Visit 4, Day 10 or 11 a. The 2nd skin test results are read (48–72 hours after visit three). A positive 2nd test indicates TB infection in the distant past. The applicant will be referred for a chest x-ray and physician evaluation. An asymptomatic applicant, whose chest x-ray indicates no active disease, may proceed. Important Information The test results for Test 1 and Test 2 must be read within 48-72 hours. *PPD means “purified protein derivative.” It is the substance used in the Mantoux TB skin test, which is the accepted standard method of TB skin testing. TB skin tests are commonly referred to as a PPD.

A PA State Police Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) report is required for all nurse aides who have been PA residents for at least two consecutive years and a PA-CHRI and FBI report for students who have not resided in PA for the last 2 consecutive years. All reports must be submitted PRIOR to enrollment in a training class

The state cost is $8.00 and the FBI charge, for those who require it, is $28.75 (subject to change).

In-state residents may work for 30 days while awaiting PA background clearance but may not enter a training class until the background check is completed. Out-of-state residents may work for 90 days while awaiting a FBI background clearance but may not enter a training class until all background checks are completed.

Because of the nature of the jobs that nurse aides end up in, CNAs cannot work or be licensed if found to have committed certain offenses. These offenses are included in the list here on the second page.

The state of Pennsylvania requires that training programs have a minimum of 75 hours, with 37.5 hours including hands-on clinical work in a long term care setting. CareBridge Academy’s program is 120 hours, including 55 hours of clinical practice. Although 75 hours is the minimum requirement, many programs (including CareBridge Academy) and the state agree that 120 hours of training is ideal for nurse aide candidates.

A nursing assistant or nurse aide is a part of a multidisciplinary care team that provides important support to patients or residents in a variety of settings. Nurse Aides work in collaboration with nursing staff and care for people by assisting with hygiene, daily activities, and collecting vital signs such as blood pressure and pulse. Nurse aides help patients of all ages and since they have extensive daily contact with each patient, they play a key role in keeping the nurse up to date on vital information about the patients’ conditions. Nurse Aides must complete a Pennsylvania state-approved education program such as CareBridge Academy’s program. Students learn the basic principles of nursing and complete supervised clinical practice. Once the Nurse Aide finishes their state-approved program and passes the Pennsylvania state exam, they become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and are permitted to work in their state of certification. The Nurse Aide program is also very useful for people wanting to have employable skills while preparing for nursing or other health careers. Employment opportunities require a current State of Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Certification.

HHA stands for Home Health Aide. A Home Health Aide is someone who has successfully completed the training requirements set forth through federal standards. These standards are in place from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Home healthcare companies must ensure that their HHAs meet the training outlined by these regulations. This includes 75 hours of formal training, 16 of which are hands on training in a laboratory settings. In addition, certain subjects must be covered in the training and the HHA must pass a competency examination.

There are five main skills that HHAs should have to be effective in their field, including:

• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Astute observation skills to identify potential problems that others may overlook
• Ability to follow strict rules and protocol in various situations in the home or residential setting
• Time management and organizational skills
• Compassion and empathy

Yes. The job duties for home health aides and personal caregivers, sometimes referred to as Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) are similar. Both work in the client’s residence and provide support with daily tasks. However, Home health aides are qualified or trained to provide simple health services. These services could include helping the client perform rehabilitation exercises, helping them take prescribed medication, or giving pain relief services, like a massage. A home health aide may also be licensed to operate and maintain medical equipment such as oxygen. A personal caregiver is generally not allowed to perform such medical tasks or dispense medication.

Home Health aides do not have a formal “scope of practice”; however, they should only be performing those duties learned during their Home Health Aide training & competency evaluation. Duties covered under a “professional scope of practice” should only be performed by a licensed professional in that respective field. Home Health Aides work under the instruction of these professionals, particularly nurses or therapists. Home Health Aides are considered paraprofessionals, which are individuals that are delegated professional tasks to be carried out by these professionals (like nurses and therapists).

Yes. A home health aide must receive at least 12 hours of in-service training during each 12-month period. In-service training may occur while an aide is providing care to a patient. The training may be offered by any organization and must be supervised by a registered nurse. The HHA must maintain documentation that demonstrates the training requirements have been met as well.

The CareBridge Academy HHA training helps prepare you to work in different home healthcare capacities. You will learn the necessary academics and receive hands-on training from licensed nurses to prepare you to care for a variety of individuals that may need home care. These include older adults, infants and children, and people with physical, developmental, and mental illness or conditions.

An HHA's roles can vary from day to day. Generally, you'll be responsible for gathering crucial information about the patient's health, checking vital signs, and assisting with a client’s basic quality of life needs. Bathing, dressing, cooking, feeding, home tidiness and light housekeeping, monitoring blood pressure and overall general health, and assisting with range of motion exercises are all included in the responsibilities of many HHAs. HHAs also work in other critical functions of housekeeping, companionship, nutrition and meal preparation, and family budgeting and spending. Depending on the client, the HHA can do some or all of the above mentioned items. Plus, the importance of each will vary from client to client. For example, some HHAs may have clients in which companionship and housekeeping are the most important tasks of the HHA. Others may involve mostly personal care and activities of daily living assistance. HHAs usually work with clients one-on-one, but many HHAs will have multiple clients. Therefore, HHAs may find themselves going from client to client and attain variety in their roles through working with different clients and home settings.