fingerprints and CPR to CNA

PhoenixGirl · Oct 15, 2004

Estrella mountain set me up with this company that does CPR certification. The class was held in N. Phoenix at a daycare facility on a sat morning.

As for the CNA, I'm taking mine through Estrella mountain. I'm not sure if they have openings, but you could call about finding out about their class. IIRC, it's the same price as the red cross but 6w long instead of 3w.

HTH

Rebecca

mendocino · Oct 15, 2004

Hi, Rebecca, I forgot you were also in the SW valley ... thanks for the info, I keep ignoring Estrella (seems like everything is focused on the East valley, easy to forget we've got something out here!) ... have you done the fingerprinting yet? Also, please remind me where you are in the RN process, if you wouldn't mind ... thanks!

David

PhoenixGirl · Oct 16, 2004

David,

I just sent my fingerprint clearance card away a few weeks ago. It was easy. Again, I did everything through estrella. Southwest skill center gave me the paperwork, and estrella mountain charged me $5 to fingerprint.

I start the LPN program in Feb. I'm doing some pre-reqs right now through Rio salado plus a chem/lab class two evenings a week. The prereqs are for the 2nd year of the RN program because at Estrella, you don't need them for the LPN program.

Have you done any prereqs yet?

Rebecca

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2004

Hey,

When you apply for the CNA program at your local community college, atleast it was this way at GCC, they give you the option to get the fingerprints done at the school. If not, they provide you with a list where you can get them done. Then you just send the prints with the money and get the card a couple weeks later. All I had to do was bring 5 bucks, my teacher rolled my fingers, and i sent the packet the next day with my money. Overall painless. The CNA classes were Mon and Wed for me, pretty much all day for about 8 weeks. I had to use all my availabe vacation time from my full time job to do it. Maybe that would be an option for you?????

Anyway, CPR certification is easy. One morning and you are done. I think I did mine thru these people. I think this is the same company the other poster is talking about?

http://www.heartsaversinc.com/

You just pick a location, call and sign up and again, bring the moolah!!!:)

Good Luck!

Janice

PhoenixGirl · Oct 19, 2004

Janice,

What was the CNA class like? Was it easy or hard? Was there a lot of homework? I'm taking a rio class at the same time as my HCCs, but I'm trying to plan ahead on if I can take one at the same time as I'm doing my CNA class.

I'm signed up for the one at estrella which is going to be 5 mornings a week.

Rebecca

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2004

Well, I am not sure how similar they will be as mine was all day Mon and Wed, but I could have handled another class while taking it. Woulda sucked, but I could have done it if it had been that important to me. It almost happened, but I decided to push Anatomy out until it was over. I was glad I did. You get your first real taste of the whole clinical experience and for me that was a tough thing. I had never seen some of that stuff before and it hit me pretty hard..some of it. I was working on the days I had off though so if you don't have to work, well then, it would not be hard at all. My class we did lecture for so many weeks and then clinical for the remaining half. We went to a rehab hospital for 2 days, a LTC facility for 2 days and did in house clinical stuff for 2 days. We did have homework, which may not be very common at the other schools.....they acted like it was unique to my school, but who knows? It was just online stuff, kinda like open book quizzes. You did absolutely have to get a 77% on all of it though or they would drop you. You could not be a minute late or they would drop you. And they were serious. We were sssshhhhsssshhhhddd in class if we spoke out of turn. Scare tactics were high, but I suppose they want you to have thick skin. Great preparation for nursing school I suppose, but nothing to harsh or unfair. If you are sure that you want to do nursing it should be no problem at all. I am not too sure yet, so it was kinda hard for me.

Compared to Anatomy it is a cake walk. I had a hard time with the patient interaction, but that is only because I have had a non-social job for quite a while. Don't fret, you'll do great!!:) Now I am waiting for my letter that shows I completed the NA program so I can try to get a part time job on one of the days of the weekend. I will do that for a while in addition to my full time job and then maybe "slide" right in there full time. Gotta start somewhere!!!!!:)

Janice