Kansas Nursing Assistants: FAQ's

Thinking about taking a CNA course in Kansas?  I'm sure you have lots of questions about Kansas requirements and employment issues.  We've accumulated our most asked questions and will address them over our next few blogs.

Q.  Can an employer request that I work for them for a period of time if they pay for my CNA training?

The use of contracts relating to training for employment is prohibited under federal regulations.  An adult care home cannot require a Trainee II or a CNA to enter into either verbal or written contracts to work for a specified period of time at the facility or else reimburse the facility for the cost of the training.   

Schools however may require students to enter into verbal or written contracts stating terms of payment.  However, a contract must not state that the student will be denied access to the state test.

Q.  Can I work for an adult care home as a Nurse Aide Trainee I?

A Nurse Aide Trainee I (NAT1) may not be employed by a facility in DIRECT care duties.  Direct, individual care refers to nursing activities that are resident oriented.  It involves personal contact with the resident by the trainee, and provides assistance in grooming, feeding, toileting, or ambulating the resident.

Q.  What happens once I complete Part 1 of the CNA Course?

Once you have completed Part 1 of this nurse aide training course, your clinical instructor will evaluate you on your performance using the Task Checklist provided by the State of Kansas.  The Task Checklist is used to evaluate your initial competence in performing basic nursing tasks.  Your clinical instructor must observe completion of each task in a satisfactory manner.  When you have successfully demonstrated each task successfully to your clinical instructor, he/she will fill out the Task Checklist and the original is given to you.  Once you have completed this Task Checklist successfully, you are now classified as a Nurse Aide Trainee II (NATII)

Q.  Can I also become a Paid Nutrition Assistant with the CNA course?

Part 1 of your CNA training also include the instruction and competency evaluation required to for you to be an employee as a  Paid Nutrition Assistant (PNA). 

Also upon completion of Part I and the Task Checklist, We Care On-Line will award you a certificate of completion for PNA training.  Once you have successfully completed the Task Checklist for Part 1, the online CNA instructor will notify you and issue you a certificate by email.    This certificate is permanent evidence that you have completed the PNA training and you should keep this for your records.  Once you have successfully completed Part 1 and the Task Checklist you may seek employment as a PNA if you choose, whether or not you complete the rest of the course.  You are to provide a copy of the PNA certificate to the facility of employment.

Q.  What are my employment options once I am a NATII?

Once you are a NATII, you are eligible to provide direct, individual care to residents in an adult care home under the direction of a licensed nurse.  You may work as a paid nutrition assistance if you choose. 

As a NATII, you should not be expected to perform nursing tasks that have not yet been adequately covered during the classroom training hours and you should respectfully decline to provide the service that is asked of you.

Q.  How long am I considered a NATII?

You are considered a NATII for 4 months from the beginning date of the course.  If you are unable to fully meet the certification requirements within 4 months from the beginning date of the course, you are no longer eligible to provide direct resident care services.  A second 4 month trainee period is not allowed.

To be continued. . . .

To register for We Care Online's online or in house CNA class Click Here.