Not far from Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the small and popular city of Lafayette. Historic, scenic, and close to major metropolitan areas as well as the Gulf Coast makes it an ideal location to live or work. The reasonable population of 115k and the thriving job market also add to the appeal of living here. This is all good news for those who want to work as CNAs as well because the state is already experiencing a growing demand for these professionals. Of course, the first step is to enroll in CNA classes in Lafayette.
Primary Skills Learned in CNA Training
What do you need to know how to do in order to work as a CNA in Lafayette, LA? While you must take a state approved course that teaches you many things, you also need a good amount of natural patience, compassion, and humor to succeed in this field.
Training is not really going to vary widely from program to program, and most CNAs will complete their studies with expertise in:
- How to take vital signs,
- Basic CPR,
- Lifting and moving techniques,
- How to listen and respond to patient concerns, and how to communicate this to physicians and nurses,
- How to properly toilet and dress their patients, and
- How to clean, bathe, feed, and generally care for patients in many settings.
Training Programs in Lafayette, Louisiana
All courses for CNA training have to be approved by the state Department of Health and Hospitals, and the following sites are convenient to people looking for CNA classes in Lafayette:
Required Education and Licensing
The requirements for approved programs, as established by the Department of Health and Hospitals, are very easy to understand. A student cannot begin training unless they can prove that they are over the age of 18, have a high school diploma or GED, have submitted a full physical exam that includes a TB test and a drug screening, and that they have had a criminal background check (fingerprinting is required).
After these preliminaries are done, the training requires at least 40 hours in classroom studies and another 40 hours in “hands on” training. Once this part is done, the student can schedule the exam. Traditionally this is done in the same facility as the training. And when the test is passed the student’s name is added to the state registry and they can begin seeking employment in any setting.
Wage Information
According to the Indeed.com, the average annual salary for a CNA in the Lafayette area is around 27% less than the national average provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a reflection of the lower cost of living in the city, however, and not any sort of negative issue connected with wages for CNAs. According to Salary.com, the median annual Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Lafayette, LA is $29,650, as of August 6, 2020, with a range usually between $24,645-$35,553.
Top Employers to Contact
Many CNAs decide to start their new careers in places where they can get experience and to put all of their skills to use. They will then learn what they enjoy the most about the work and determine if they will remain in a larger setting or take one on one work instead. This is why so many new CNAs work in hospitals and medical centers, and the following facilities are ideal for those who want to get the most experience possible in Lafayette:
Details about CNA Jobs in Lafayette, LA
If the idea of a large hospital is not appealing, it is possible that a targeted job search might be a wiser route. If the CNA already knows the type of work they would like to do they can seek it out using an online resource such as the Indeed.com. Here they get to see all of the current positions available for CNAs, and even the standard rates of pay.
They can also use a far a more targeted approach, and get in touch with one or more of the nursing staffing agencies in the area too.
Use these resources, and you should be able to get training and find a suitable new job with ease.
- CNA Training Centers
- Street Address
- Phone Number
| Acadiana Technical College-Lafayette Campus-LPN Only | 1101 Bertrand Dr | 337 262-5962 |
| Delta College of Arts&Technology-Lafayette Campus-LPN Only | 200 Republic Ave.Suites A-H | 337 988-5455 |
| Infinity College | 210 W. Pine | 337 261-9009 |
| W.D. Smith Career Center | 200 18th Street | 337 233-2026 |