How to Become a Certified Nurse Aide in Nebraska

(found 50 schools, updated in November 2017)

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) administers and the process for becoming a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA). Nurse aides are also called nursing assistants, and they must meet minimum training and testing requirements to get certification. Once certified, the individual’s name is placed on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry. A career as a CNA is often a stepping stone to pursuing additional nursing education to become a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse. The following descriptions summarize the steps and requirements to achieve nurse aide certification and to maintain active Registry status in Nebraska.

• 6 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Nebraska
• How to Keep CNA Certification Active
• Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in Nebraska
• Become a CNA in Bordering States

6 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Nebraska

An individual who wants to become a new (first-time) Certified Nurse Assistant will have to complete a Nebraska state-approved training program and pass a competency evaluation program to get certified and to get his or her name placed on the CNA Registry. There are other routes to CNA certification, so the first step is choosing the ideal route based on personal circumstances. The next steps taken depend on the route chosen.

In certain cases, an individual can challenge the CNA exam, meaning they are asking to take the competency evaluation exam without going through additional training. Some people can also request an exemption from examination.

Step 1: Review and Select the Appropriate Route to Nebraska Certification

The certification requirements for new CNA’s requires individuals to complete a 75-hour nursing assistant program, of which 16 hours is practical training. In addition, the person must complete a one-hour Nebraska Abuse/Neglect/Misappropriation Training course on reporting suspected neglect and abuse, making a total of 76 required training hours.

As explained in Step 4, there are different training requirements for anyone who wants to work as a nurse aide in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (ICF/DD).

CNAs From Other States

An out of state Certified Nurse Aide can request to be placed on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry. The first step is submitting a completed “Interstate Endorsement Form.”

Other requirements include:

• Submitting documentation of nurse aide training completed out of state
• Completing the one hour abuse and neglect training class, either through an employer or at one of the educational institutions approved for such training (on-campus and online training is available)
• Take and pass the Nebraska competency evaluation exam at an approved Nurse Aide Re-Competency Testing college, if unable to prove testing or employment in the prior 24 months
• Be in good standing on the out of state Registry

Nursing Students

Nursing students who can provide a transcript of nursing courses completed can request exemption from taking the CNA exam. DHHS will review the transcript to determine whether the courses completed include the equivalent of CNA training. The grades in required courses must be at least 70 percent. If the grades are under 70 percent, the nursing student will have to take and pass the competency evaluation program and show proof of completing the one-hour Nebraska Abuse/Neglect/Misappropriation Training.

RNs and LPNs

Registered nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who have lapsed licenses may be exempted from CNA examination, if they worked as nurses or performed nursing related services in the prior 24 months. If the license has been lapsed for more than two years, the person must take and pass the competency evaluation exam in Nebraska.

Foreign Trained Nurses

Foreign trained nurses can also ask for exemption from CNA examination. They do this by submitting a letter to DHHS with the “Credential Evaluation Service Professional Report” attached. The report comes from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing School (CGFNS) and is based on a review of the person’s credentials and passing the CGFNS exam. A similar rule applies for nurse aides who passed the Canadian Nurse Licensing exam.

The individual must also complete the one-hour training on abuse and neglect. If the foreign trained nurse has not worked as a nurse in the prior 24 months, he or she must take and pass the competency evaluation exam in Nebraska.

Trained in the Military

A person trained as a nursing assistant or equivalent while in the military can also request a review of the training record and exemption from Nebraska CNA examination.

Step 2: Review and Select One of the CNA Programs in Nebraska

Any individual who must complete CNA training in Nebraska will need to select a program. The listing of state-approved CNA programs in Nebraska includes community colleges, high schools, colleges, career centers, skilled nursing facilities and long-term care facilities. It is crucial to enroll in one of the state-approved CNA classes in Nebraska because they meet federal and state requirements for curriculum, hours of attendance and testing.

Local CNA Classes in Nebraska

There are 50 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide programs in Nebraska. The school data is updated in November 2017.

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Program Length and Costs

Each college establishes its own class schedule. Generally, the cost of training is $400 to $500 for tuition, textbook and exam fee. The student will have other out-of-pocket expenses like uniforms and supplies.

For example, Clarkson College in Omaha offers a nurse aide course that is a non-credit professional development course. It takes one month to complete. The program costs are $495 (subject to change) for tuition, textbook, course materials and the exam fee. The student must also purchase scrubs, shoes and a watch.

In another example, Central Community College has multiple campuses and also offers nurse aide training. The full-time classes are completed in less than three weeks. The costs of the program are $395 (subject to change) for books, fees and exam fee. Once again, the student will have to buy a uniform, shoes and medical supplies.

Step 3: Meet School and Program Prerequisites

Each CNA program has prerequisites that are required by the State of Nebraska and the school. They include the following:

• Be at least 16 years old (can begin training at a younger age but will not be allowed to work as a Certified Nurse Aide until 16 years old or older)
• Be able to speak, read, write and understand English OR have mastery of a language that is understood by a substantial portion of the residents the CNA will provide services to
• Pass a criminal background check
• Have no open court cases, including for misdemeanors, OR have no criminal convictions involving moral turpitude
• Provide proof of current Mantoux TB skin test

Step 4: Complete State-Approved CNA Training

The CNA courses must cover a minimum number of topics as determined by the state. There are curriculum requirements for training to work in all Medicare/Medicaid funded facilities. There is a separate curriculum for those who want to work in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (ICF/DD).

Curriculum

Typical curriculum for working in all nursing homes in Nebraska except ICF/DDs include:

• 16 hours of training on infection control; communication and interpersonal skills; safety and emergency procedures; respecting the rights of residents; promoting the independence of residents
• Basic nursing skills, i.e. taking and recording vital signs; maintaining the resident’s environment; recognizing changes in the resident’s condition, etc.
• Personal care skills, i.e. feeding residents; skin care; turning, transferring, and positioning residents, etc.
• Meeting mental health and social service needs, i.e. aging process; allowing resident to make personal choices; interacting with family members who provide emotional support
• Caring for cognitively impaired residents, i.e. communicating; understanding behaviors; appropriate responses, etc.
• Restorative services, i.e. self-care; assistive devices; maintaining range of motion, etc.
• Resident rights, i.e. confidentiality, assisting with disputes; avoiding restraints, etc.

Step 5: Pass a Competency Evaluation Program (CNA Exam)

After completing CNA training in Nebraska, the individual will complete an approved competency evaluation program which is the equivalent of a state CNA exam in other states. It consists of a Written/Oral Exam and a Skills Exam.

Written/Oral Exam

There are 50 multiple-choice questions, and the person must score at least 70 percent to pass. Individuals get three attempts to pass. If unable to do so, the person will have to retrain and retest.

Skills Exam

This part of the CNA exam requires an individual to demonstrate six skills. The person must pass all six skills in order to pass the Skills Exam. Three attempts are allowed. If the individual cannot pass within three attempts, he or she must retrain and retest.

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Step 6: Get Name Placed on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry

Upon successful completion of a state CNA requirements, the individual’s name is submitted to the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry. Either the school or the testing facility will submit the nurse aide’s name to DHHS for listing on the Registry.

How to Keep CNA Certification Active

Once a name is placed on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry, it remains active as long as the person works as a nurse aide within each two-year period. The employer is the only person who can provide employment verification. This also applies to private duty employment.

The one exception to the employment rule is if the individual earned certification less than two years ago.

If certification lapses due to lack of employment, and remains inactive for more than 24 months, the individual must retest in order to renew certification in Nebraska.

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Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in Nebraska

Only Certified Nurse Aides can work in Medicare/Medicaid funded nursing homes and long-term care facilities. They can also work for Medicare/Medicaid home health agencies and as private duty nursing assistants, and for all types of non-Medicare/Medicaid funded healthcare facilities and nursing services. To work in an ICF/DD, the nurse aide must be on the Registry as having completed the 21-hour program discussed earlier. No matter where the nurse aide intends on working, getting CNA certification is a good decision because it expands employment opportunities. | See Job Openings

CNA Salary

Nebraska CNAs earn an annual salary of $26,260 or $12.63 per hour. The number of jobs are projected to grow 11.6 percent for the 2014-2024 period. | See Job Openings

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Become a CNA in Bordering States

• Colorado
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Missouri
• South Dakota
• Wyoming