Free Training Programs to Develop Your Nursing Career
Healthcare workers are the backbone of any decent health system, and of those leading the way are nurses. They have always played an important role, and this year this role has been magnified tenfold as they are on the frontline of the global pandemic. An outpour of gratitude and appreciation for nurses all around the world is seen and well-deserved. They’ve become the people inspiring many young ones to become nurses when they grow older.
Seeing that the expected growth of nursing is by 12% from 2018 to 2028, everyone can expect that there will be a high demand for nurses, and this demand continues to grow. If a nursing career is for you, or you are already a nurse, you also need to grow with the demand and improve your education and skills. Here, we’ll discuss some training programs to help you establish your career, and best of all, these programs can be found for free.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
As a nursing assistant, you’d be working closely with doctors and registered nurses and help provide direct patient care. It’s considered an entry position and the start for a stable career in nursing. CNAs are an integral part of healthcare, and to become one, you have to attend a training program and pass a state board exam.
Tuition for this training is costly, but you might be able to find some places that offer free training. It’s possible to find free training in a local hospital or nursing home. People can be wary of this type of free education and training and usually wonder why anyone would offer free training? The truth is, several programs are funded by the government. It’s a matter of knowing where to look and finding them. You can start by simply calling hospitals or nursing homes and ask. You will find some online sites that could also guide you with possible free training programs near you.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
An LPN works under the direct supervision of a doctor or registered nurse (RN). Some of your duties include taking vital signs, administering medicine, collecting samples, reporting patient status, and providing comfort to patients. Many of these duties are the same as a CNA but are an advancement. To become an LPN, you don’t need a college degree, but you do need to enroll in a state-approved program. These programs typically provide 12 to 18 months of training. Before you can be employed, you have to pass the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) exam.
An LPN program can be found at colleges, vocational schools, and some schools, yet finding a free program is more difficult, but you can check out possibilities through some Job Corps centers which is voluntary, no-cost, vocational training provided by the US government. It helps people between the ages of 16 and 24. LPN training usually takes around 8 months to a year to complete. You can also receive free boarding, meals, and transportation throughout the training.
Home Health Aid (HHA)
Due to the rise of an aging population, and elders preferring to receive medical care at home rather than living in a facility, HHA nurses are in high demand and job opportunities are plentiful. The state you work in will determine the training you get because each state has its own guidelines. You’re in great luck if thinking about doing this program in New York because this useful link will help answer all your questions. New York states guidelines have minimum requirements alongside the required 75 hours of HHA training to be completed in 60 days. Nurses interested in this program can choose a schedule and format of training that suits their daily schedule.
As an HHA, you’d be expected to oversee the overall health and well-being of a patient by ensuring a patient is receiving the proper medication prescribed by a doctor, that vital signs are checked, that any new changes are spotted and reported to the patient’s doctor, among other responsibilities.
Grant Programs
Another tool to use is finding grant programs to help pay your way through nursing school. Unfortunately, many of these grants have been halted for a while but there are constant updates informing people of changes. Whenever applying for a grant, you want to make sure you qualify for a grant first. Grants and scholarships help support the role of working nurses by paying fully paid tuition, fees, books, and lab materials.
Besides training programs, you can find many free online courses to increase your knowledge about nursing in general and specialized fields. Nursing is an underserved career, so you won’t have a problem with finding a stable job. As a nurse, you never stop learning, and everyone else will never stop needing your vital help.
