Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Prepare for the CNA skills test and patient care work.

Start with Care Plan Basics for CNA (16 min, Kelly Neel), then How I Studied and Pass The CNA State Exam! (16 min, iizidlaury). All 27 lessons in Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) are free. No degree. A state-approved course of 4 to 12 weeks, then the exam. A starter kit costs about $170. About $39k a year (US median, nursing assistants).

To start: No degree. A state-approved course of 4 to 12 weeks, then the exam. Earning: About $39k a year (US median, nursing assistants).

1. Caregiving skills

   Daily care, dignity, dementia.

   • Care Plan Basics for CNA (16 min, Kelly Neel, Beginner)
   • How I Studied and Pass The CNA State Exam! (16 min, iizidlaury, Intermediate)
   • The Do's and Don'ts of being a caregiver (yes, it's hard!) (9 min, Hospice Nurse Julie, Intermediate)
   • Changing an Absorbent Brief for a Bed-bound Patient (8 min, The Hospice Care Plan, Intermediate)
   • Full Bed Bath (12 min, WisTech Open | Open RN, Intermediate)
   • CNA Skill #6 Occupied Bed Making (15 min, SacMed Training Video Tutorials, Intermediate)

2. The skills test

   Every skill you will be tested on.

   • Head-to-Toe Assessment Nursing | Nursing Physical Health Assessment Exam Skills (42 min, RegisteredNurseRN, Intermediate)
   • Vital Signs Nursing: Respiratory Rate, Pulse, Blood Pressure, Temperature, Pain, Oxygen (13 min, RegisteredNurseRN, Intermediate)
   • Vital Signs (18 min, PrepMedic, Intermediate)

3. Anatomy basics

   How the body works.

   • Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology: Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology #1 (11 min, CrashCourse, Beginner)
   • Cardiovascular | Fundamentals of Blood Pressure (40 min, Ninja Nerd, Beginner)
   • Regional Terms Anatomy - Body Parts Name | Nursing Medical Terminology Made Easy (10 min, RegisteredNurseRN, Beginner)
   • Pharmacology - AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (MADE EASY) (8 min, Speed Pharmacology, Beginner)
   • ABG Interpretation Made Easy: Acid-Base Imbalances, NCLEX Tips, & Practice Questions (38 min, SimpleNursing, Beginner)
   • Fluid and Electrolytes Easy Memorization Tricks for Nursing NCLEX RN & LPN (12 min, SimpleNursing, Beginner)

4. First aid and CPR

   Emergencies.

   • Stop Bleeding ⎮ Save Lives (21 min, PrepMedic, Intermediate)
   • Treating a Bullet Wound⎮Gunshot First Aid⎮ (23 min, PrepMedic, Intermediate)

5. Get hired

   A CV that gets read, interviews you are ready for, and the first offer negotiated.

   • Career Change to Code - The Complete Guide [Full Course for Aspiring Developers] (203 min, freeCodeCamp.org, Beginner)
   • If Your Job Interviewer Asks You THIS, BEWARE! (11 min, A Life After Layoff, Intermediate)
   • Write an Incredible Resume: 5 Golden Rules! (9 min, Jeff Su, Intermediate)
   • Can't Get A Job? You May Be On The "Do Not Hire" List! (18 min, A Life After Layoff, Intermediate)
   • Top 5 LinkedIn Profile Tips! (10 min, Jeff Su, Intermediate)
   • A Job Recruiter Critiques 5 Real Audience Resumes (23 min, The Financial Diet, Intermediate)

6. Money basics for your first pay

   Budget it, save it, and start investing early.

   • Investing 101 (20 min, Ben Felix, Beginner)
   • Using Your Money To Be Happier (21 min, Ben Felix, Intermediate)
   • 5 Things You Need To Do If You Make Less Than $100k (21 min, The Financial Diet, Intermediate)
   • 9 Things To Stop Spending On By 30 (26 min, The Financial Diet, Intermediate)