The Certified Nursing Assistant II, or CNA II, is an advanced CNA designation available in Oregon and North Carolina, though the duties of the CNA II in these two states differ considerably. When you become a CNA II in either state, you don't actually receive a license. Instead, you register to be listed on the CNA II registry in your state.
Oregon CNA II
The Oregon Board of Nursing began the CNA II program in 2000 to create standardized education for three specialized fields in certified nurse assisting and recognize CNAs with these specialized skills. The three areas of specialization for CNAs in Oregon are acute care, dementia care and rehabilitative care. A CNA I in Oregon can choose to specialize in one or all of these areas, though she needs to pass the required training programs for each specialization. Each training program has to be approved by the Board of Nursing and follow the curriculum laid out by the board.
North Carolina CNA II
A CNA II in North Carolina can do all the same things that a CNA I can, but she has training in 10 additional techniques. These added capabilities include suctioning, peripheral IVs, feeding tubes, urinary catheters, ostomy care, sterile technique, wound care and oxygen therapy. Despite the increased responsibilities, a North Carolina CNA II still needs to perform these tasks under the supervision of licensed nurses or other medical professionals.
Requirements
For both states, you need to be current on your CNA I registration. This means that you have no restrictions or administrative actions against you. You also need to complete a state-approved training program. If you are an Oregon applicant, you need to pass a competency evaluation. If you are a CNA in North Carolina, you need to submit your application for initial listing on the CNA II registry less than 30 business days after you complete your training program. North Carolina also gives you a couple of other paths to CNA II listing. You can register as a CNA II if you are an RN or LPN student who has completed an equivalent amount of training, or if you had certain types of training in the military.
Courses
You can take the CNA II course in both Oregon and North Carolina at most community colleges and a number of private technical colleges. The Oregon training programs require from 10 to 18 hours of classroom or lab training and from 16 to 24 hours of clinical instruction. The requirements for CNA II programs in North Carolina are much less specific, but need to cover the 10 additional responsibilities of CNA II professionals. To give you an idea of the time commitment needed for CNA II courses in North Carolina, the Forsyth Tech CNA II program requires 180 hours, which includes 80 clinical hours, while the CNA II course at Alamance Community College is a six-credit-hour course.
References
- Oregon State Board of Nursing: Plan to Transition Current Certified Nursing Assistant 1s to CNA 2s
- Oregon State Board of Nursing: CNA and CMA Certification
- North Carolina Board of Nursing: CNA II Listing Requirements
- Forsyth Tech: CNA II Program
- Alamance Community College: Nursing Assistant Courses
- Oregon State Board of Nursing: Acute Care Curriculum
- Oregon State Board of Nursing: Restorative Care Curriculum
- Oregon State Board of Nursing: Dementia Care Curriculum
Writer Bio
Jon Gjerde worked as a journalist in northern California where he covered topics ranging from city, county and tribal governments to alternative transportation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of California, Davis.