CNA Schools in South Dakota

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February, 5 2010

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CNA Training Programs in South Dakota

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs), or nurse aides as they are called in South Dakota, are becoming a critical component of the professional team that serves patients in clinics, hospitals, medical practices, and just about every sector of the medical industry. Aides spend more time with patients than most other medical staff, and are tasked to ease the pain and increase the comfort of their clients while nurses and physicians address bigger issues.

Of the 120 state-approved CNA training programs in South Dakota, just over 100 of them are based in medical or healthcare facilities of some kind. These facilities include retirement centers, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, health clinics, and hospitals. The other 15 are what they call “non-facility-based” programs, and these consist of the American Red Cross, several vocational secondary programs, a few commercial training vendors, and several community colleges and universities.

Computer-based training that nurses aides can access from home or a public library is very popular and readily available. CNAs in South Dakota can only practice if they have completed at least 75 hours of training prior to sitting for their exams, so online programs partner with local institutions to include a clinical component and even an internship or externship.

Through online programs, aspiring C.N.A.s in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen and Watertown, South Dakota may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Sanford USD Medical Center, Rapid City Regional Hospital, Avera Saint Luke's Hospital and Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.