Online STNA Classes: A Helpful Guide Before Signing Up

An STNA is a must wherever bedside patient care is needed. Thus, if you’re keen on taking care of others and about to sign up for an STNA class, check out this post to take a look at all you need to know about online STNA classes before getting the ball rolling.

What Is an STNA?

STNA stands for State Tested Nursing Assistant, which is used in the State of Ohio only. In other states, nursing assistants are referred to as CNA (Certified Nurse Aide), LNA (Licensed Nursing Assistant), or NA (Nursing Aide). 

A certified nursing assistant with STNA is trained to take care of patients, make them feel comfortable, and help them with daily personal tasks: bathing, walking, getting dressed, eating, taking medicine, and some physical therapy exercises. STNAs also aid in tracking patients’ blood pressure and other vital statistics and sanitize patient rooms.

If you want to work as a nursing assistant working at a nursing home or hospital in Ohio, or if you plan to provide in-home healthcare at assisted living facilities and adult health centers in this state, completing an STNA class is essential. 

What Is Included In STNA Classes?

During an STNA class, you will learn the basics of anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and basic medical terminology. They even teach you legal implications related to patient care. After the course, you will understand how the body functions, how to deal with different kinds of patients and different illnesses, and how to use medical equipment. 

Typically, online STNA classes include the following sessions:

• Introduction to Healthcare: Nursing rules and ethics, infection control, fire safety, emergency procedures.
• CNA Learning Basics: Hand washing, disposable glove removal, recording weight, measuring blood pressure, pulse and respiration rate.
• Delivering Bedside Nursing Care: Feeding a patient, oral hygiene, denture cleaning, hair and nail care, foot care, changing an occupied bed, partial bed bath.
• Patient Transport & Movement: Safely moving a patient, positions for bed bound patients, dressing residents with one-sided weakness, wheelchair transfer,  ambulation, lower body range of motion, upper body range of motion.
• Daily Care for Bedbound Patients: Bedpan placement, recording urinary drainage bag, female perineal care, female catheter care.

Why You Should Sign Up For Online STNA Classes?

Flexibility

Most students now opt for online STNA classes for their flexibility and convenience. You can study and finish coursework from anywhere, anytime with an internet connection. You’ll save lots of time as you won’t have to commute to school. You can spend time as you want on other plans and jobs during the day without sacrificing time studying because there is always a flexible schedule to accommodate those who have busy schedules.

Affordability

Payment options that online classes offer are also very flexible. There are several low-cost STNA courses available for qualified candidates. Some nursing homes and long-term care facilities even offer to cover the cost of tuition in exchange for your agreement to work at their facility after being certificated. If you have financial difficulties, you can apply for financial aid such as scholarships and grants online without hassle.

By learning online, you’ll also save tons by not having to prepare a meal plan and pay for campus housing or commuting. 

Professional Connections

Similar to on-campus programs, online STNA classes are taught by registered nurses certified. These classes with professional nurses will give you great opportunities to create professional connections. You can easily join online alumni organizations and use the clinical rotation to connect with your potential employer and co-workers. And the more network you have, the higher chance you can easily get recommendation letters to apply for jobs or grad school. 

Conclusion

According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor, this is the perfect time to become an STNA as the demand for professional personal care providers will increase by over 21% in the next decade. And enrolling in online STNA classes is the quickest and most convenient way for prospective STNAs to join the workforce. Hope this post makes things clearer for you before you decide on your career.

Check out our other post The Role of Nurses in Community Awareness and Preventive Health to look into the importance of nursing in our community.