Additional classes to take while becoming a CNA?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I am happy to say that I have found a CNA training class at my local community college that I am currently enrolling in. It's not as in depth as some of the CNA classes that are taught at another community college and at my two local hospitals. In those programs they teach you phlebotomy, how to read EKG's, pulse oximetry and a few other diagnostics. The program I'm enrolling in just seems to teach you the basic CNA skills like diaper changing, making beds with/without patients, monitoring input/output of fluids etc. In case you're wondering I applied at both hospitals and got rejected from one and never heard back from the other and the other community college is very competitive and only has CNA training twice a year and I would have to wait until next spring (or possibly fall!) and with my unemployment running out I don't have that kind of time.

The community college does have online classes that I could take and there were some that interested me and I think would look good on my resume next to me CNA license. However I never worked in a health care environment so what I think would look good may be meaningless in the real world so I wanted to get some advice from anybody on what I should do.

I have signed up for a BLS for health care providers course that I start this week because in my job search I noticed many employers seem to like that a person has this.

I also signed up for medical terminology (I did before I knew I was getting into the CNA course) but found out that they will be teaching that in my course and my mom took med term a few years back and gave me all her textbooks and DVD's from that class. I figured I would drop that class and switch to HIPPA Compliance. Here is the link for that course: Northampton Community College : HIPAA Compliance - Course Detail

It says that it would look great on a resume and I know that HIPPA is extremely important in the health care industry. So is it a good idea? Would it look good on a resume or because I'm a CNA it wouldn't matter?

I am also thinking about getting a certificate in Pain Assessment and Management as well. The link to the course offering is here: Northampton Community College : Certificate in Pain Assessment and Management - Course Detail

Finally I'll post a link for all the health care courses they offer in case there are any that I'm overlooking.

Northampton Community College : Health Care

Sorry if all the link posting is annoying. I just figured it would be easier to see for yourselves rather then have me explain it all. I just want to educate and add as much as I can to my resume because a lot of employers up here would prefer a CNA they hire to have 1 year experience and I was hoping I could possibly override the experience with a strong educational background (with good grades of course!).

Thanks guys for all your help. This site has been truly wonderful in helping me with my career change.

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Wow. I just looked at those links and they honestly seem to be a HUGE (let me say HUGE) waste of money. Take the BLS class -- that one is important. Toss the rest in the trash.

These online courses should be illegal (or SOMETHING). They are just trying to scam you out of your money.

As a CNA you will not be responsible for pain assessment -- that is a nurse's job. On occasion, you may ask somebody something like "On a scale from 0 to 10 with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain you've ever felt, how would you rate your pain today?" but nothing more.

And HIPAA?? You will learn that in your CNA class as well as during orientation at future jobs and will have it constantly pounded into your head. Keep it simple -- "Your patient's information is CONFIDENTIAL." No need to blow $99 to find out that 5-letter phrase.

No amount of education can replace experience. If employers want experience, you will need to get some before you apply for those jobs. Then again, apply anyways for the jobs that require experience -- it is not uncommon for employers to hire new CNAs for such positions.

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Thank you so much for your honest opinion!

I will admit I was skeptical about these online classes and always run for the hills whenever I hear about earning anything online. What made me drawn to these particular classes was that when I applied for an entry level CNA training class at my local hospital during the orientation some of them were mentioned like the medical terminology one.

You are right though in that if an employer wants that experience they will say so up front (well hopefully) in the job description. As I said I have been researching a lot of CNA jobs to try and find out exactly what they look for in an employee and so far it just seems like they want BLS certified and a few here and there have mentioned medical terminology as a plus. After I get my BLS can I advance anymore after that like onto ACLS?

A new question I have is a Certificate in Gerontology. I just saw an ad in my local paper for a CNA and it said that this would be a plus. I know it is offered in those online courses above, but if I plan on going right into a LTC facility would I really even need that since I should be learning about the geriatric population in the facility? I did a search on this forum and read that a few LPN's had it and an online search came up with this certification but it was mostly post master. Any info on it?

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Specializes in PACU, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry, Psych.

Only classes that actually give you a respected cert or degree from a real college are valuable. This is true regardless of what industry you are in.

Respected Entry-Level Nursing Certs:

CNA

CPR (Health care provider)

CPI (only for psych - but, they usually they will give this to you if hired)

EMT-B (ERs love this)

There are also classes to read heart monitors, do EKGs, etc. However, in many

places the turnover is low for these jobs and many places use RNs/LPNs for this. Most CNAs that get to do this are offered training if moved up to this.

HIPAA class? I laugh. No need to take a class on this. Most places will drill this into you on the job annually for free.

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You won't need ACLS (actually, I'm not even sure that a CNA would be permitted to enroll). It involves things like advanced EKG interpretation and IV drug administration. You would only need it if you were a nurse working in a hospital in an area that needed it, such as ER, ICU, etc.

I still wouldn't enroll in the Gerontology course. I really doubt if would help you to get a job. You will learn plenty about the elderly just by working with them.

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Well today I withdrew from my medical terminology course from the college and was able to get a full refund of $99. I'll just save the money and teach myself through all the textbooks and DVD's my nurse friends have given me.

Thanks for all your advice again as it sure saved me money!

P.S I also saw an ad on a website that offered to get your RN degree in one year entirely online and then a BSN 6 months after that. Lol..

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Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.
Well today I withdrew from my medical terminology course from the college and was able to get a full refund of $99. I'll just save the money and teach myself through all the textbooks and DVD's my nurse friends have given me.

Thanks for all your advice again as it sure saved me money!

P.S I also saw an ad on a website that offered to get your RN degree in one year entirely online and then a BSN 6 months after that. Lol..

Hmmm interesting ad, to bad I don't think its true

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