Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Maine, is a field in bloom that offers a satisfying career with significant advancement opportunities and a flexible training program. The state of Maine has some of the most stringent CNA training programs, however with very affordable prices.

State-approved training programs can be found in local adult education centers, various community colleges and universities, the American Red Cross, vocational schools and private schools or healthcare facilities and online courses through distance education schools which meet Maine’s standards and the federal requirements. Additional, there are some employers that provide free training to those who will work for them for a certain period of time after completing the training and certification.

Often, CNAs work under the supervision of a licensed nurse or a licensed practical nurse in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, hospices and in other healthcare facilities in the state. They take care of patients and help them with their everyday needs such as eating, dressing, mobility, recovery, bathing, toileting and they also perform duties involved in the observational side of treatment such as logging behavior, measuring and recording vital signs, such as taking blood pressures or temperature a patient, recording patient progress in a daily log, and proper operating and maintaining of medical equipment.

Certified Nursing Assistants work together with a Registered Nurse and they cannot do any private duty work. Maine’s Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services is responsible in overseeing all the facilities that offer CNA classes and the Maine Department of Education is also responsible for the location information. The state of Maine will require all CNA students to take a test consisting of two parts. The multiple choice exam and skills demonstration must be passed in order to be certified and be eligible in working as a CNA in the area.

CNA Training Programs in Maine (ME)

Applicants who enroll in a CNA approved program training of Maine, must be at least 18 years old, must be able to write and read in English, they shouldn’t have any past criminal record and they have to provide a proof of immunizations and tuberculosis test report of the last 6 months.

The CNA classes in Maine are different from other states. Each CNA training programs in Maine, is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services. Students are required to complete an extensive training that consists of 180 hours instruction, which is well above the national average.

Out of 180 hours, 90 hours should be dedicated to classroom study, 20 hours should be given to the clinical coursework and 70 hours should be dedicated to clinical practice (which is to be carried under a health care supervisor). CNA class fees range from $800 to $2000 in the state of Maine.

The training program curriculum includes CNA basic skills, ethical aspects and legal ramifications of giving care, patient and peer communication, fire prevention, emergency procedures, patient assessment, infection control, human anatomy, proper way of dealing patients with special needs, personal safety and geriatric care. In order to be eligible for the training program, you have to be 16 years old and above. Being a high school graduate is not a general requirement but it is necessary to provide a proof of passing all grades until grade 9.

During CNA courses, the candidate will study a variety of general health care subjects like infection control, body mechanics, dietary issues, medical terminology, safety procedures, hygiene issues and environmental, cleanliness issues, and basic anatomy and physiology. In addition, some curriculum will be dedicated to the monitoring of vital signs, mobility, caring of the aging, observing the response of the patients towards the treatment, interpersonal skills and communicating with patients.

Maine CNA Certification

After completing the training program, candidates should take a competency exam within 24 months, which developed by the Maine Department of Health & Senior Services and is divided into two parts. A two-hour written or an oral multiple-choice exam consisting of 70 questions on direct patient care, and a skills demonstration, which tests the techniques learned in the clinical settings.

Prospective Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) have to pass both sections and allowed three attempts for this, otherwise, they need to repeat the training program. The certification must be renewed every 2 years, and CNAs should prove they have been employed for at least 8 hours during the same period, and must have completed 12 hours of continuous education every year for recertification.

After successfully completing the competency exam, candidate’s name is placed on the Maine Nurse Aide Registry, which maintains a record of all the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) working in the state. There is no fee for placement into the registry.

It is very important that your name is included in the list of Maine CNA Registry. You have to submit an application form together with your CNA training certificate, Social Security Card, current ID, letters from the employer and a clean criminal background check. There will be no fees involved in this process including the renewal of your CNA license status. But with license renewal, you have to submit a certificate stating that you have worked a minimum of 8 hours for the last two years, an application form for license renewal and a certification of good conduct.

When you work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Maine, you have to abide on the regulations imposed by the state. It is essential that you keep a clean record of work experience in order to renew the license. Moreover, once you work as a Certified Nursing Assistant, you can always proceed to nursing in order for you to obtain a higher position in the health care field. Several opportunities are waiting for you in this field so start it now and become a CNA.

CNA Salary and Job Outlook in Maine

The average salary of a CNAs  in Maine is approximately $25,210 per annum, depending on the experience and the employer. There are several employment opportunities and a promising future in the healthcare field in Maine where a CNA can have a successful career. Government agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and several other healthcare facilities are able they offer possibilities of employment and a good salary for well trained and experienced Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). The need for CNAs is on the rise with an increasing number of seniors needing long-term care services.

• Maine Board of Nursing
• Maine Nurse Aide Registry
• Maine Department of Health & Senior Services
• Maine State Nurses Association (MSNA)
• Student Nurses Association of Maine
• Maine Association of School Nurses

CNA Classes In Other States: