The role of a Certified Nursing Assistant is to:

• Performs finger stick blood sugars (FSBS) and electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Provide compassionate care to a diverse age group of residents
• Assist residents with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, transferring, bed mobility, ambulation, feeding, toileting, positioning
• Distribute and assist with snacks and nourishment

Samaritan’s CNA Training Program is a New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) certified program and is specifically designed to prepare students for a career in long-term care. Students receive a combination of clinical/laboratory experience and bedside clinical training over a 4-week period.

Units of study required by NYSDOH include:

• Nutrition and Diet Therapy
• Infection Control
• Personal Care

The Candidate Selection Process

Basic requirements for the program are:

• High School Diploma (or GED)
• Satisfactory references
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds
• Pre-employment drug screening and criminal background investigations are conducted on all students

Candidates are then scheduled to job shadow with a CNA preceptor for two hours to give them an opportunity to see the environment and to witness the work of a CNA. Each CNA Preceptor completes an evaluation form about the experience and forwards it to the training managers. Upon completion of a successful shadowing experience, interest in the program and understanding of the commitment is reconfirmed with the candidate.

To remain in the program, students must maintain a grade point average of 75 and should not miss any scheduled classes during the course.