Rural America is frequently overlooked when it comes to healthcare needs. Finding CNAs in rural locations – or those willing to relocate to work in rural facilities can be challenging at best. While there may be many people in rural areas who have a passion for helping others and providing care, filling training courses may be a tremendous hurdle to overcome.
Time and Resources for Training CNAs
CNA training courses require time, people, adequate space, and many other resources. For a number of rural facilities, current staff numbers do not allow for this. Prospective CNA students in rural areas are forced to find training courses in the closest cities, which can be upwards of an hour away. The travel requirements alone decrease the size of the classes. Plus, many who want to take CNA courses already have jobs or are taking care of family members, so commuting long distances doesn’t fit with their real-life responsibilities. Due to the time restrictions, resources, and responsibilities of both facilities and CNA students, a gap is created, and the healthcare industry has been struggling to build a bridge to meet everyone’s needs.
Bridging the Gap
Making CNA training more accessible to students means the workforce can grow, and rural facilities can fill vacancies to provide quality care to people at all levels. Instead of requiring students to travel to time-intensive courses, CNAonline has developed an approach designed for the 21st Century. CNAonline offers online CNA training courses, so people can study to become CNAs from their homes whether they are in large urban areas or rural towns. Our CNA training program features the nationally-acclaimed How to Be a Nurse Assistant from the American Health Care Association (AHCA), available in both audio and e-book formats. All study materials are available online 24/7, so CNA students can study according to their schedules. Our hybrid program also includes hands-on labs and clinical work for students at participating facilities. CNAonline aims to provide the most accessible CNA training to help people launch careers in healthcare, so facilities can fill vacancies even in rural areas, where staffing needs are critical.