CNA or NOT?

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  1. This is a discussion on CNA or NOT? in CNA/MA - Nursing / Medical Assistant, part of Nursing Student ... Recently decided to do a CNA program here in VA...came to this decision because 2 of the LPN...

    by Jul 16, '12
    Recently decided to do a CNA program here in VA...came to this decision because 2 of the LPN programs I am interested in are no longer accepting apps for 2012...I am a DSA Direct Care Associate in a group home and AMAP certified... Medication Administration Certified... I can pass meds in a group home setting only... took a 40hr class..ok..been contemplating become a LPN for mos! never wanted to do the CNA cause i thought there was NO money in it? Well I asked around and a few ppl told me CNA's make 12-15/hr Reely? Ok I could live off that while working towards my LPN? For those of you who are CNA's is it physically demanding the way some ppl say? i FOUND A CNA program in Chesterfield for 950 6 weeks? is that reasonable? my plans are to also to take the boards for MED tECH.. I have worked 2 jobs for as long as I can remember..I just wanna work ONE job. I just want some honest feedback on what I can expect once I become a CNA. Thanks Folks!
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    by kgregg Jul 16, '12 11:31 pm
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  3. 11 Comments so far...

  4. Jul 17, '12 by
    If I were getting paid $12-15 for my job, I'd be ecstatic. Pay ranges probably differ for where you live as far as if aides are really getting paid that much. It probably also depends on experience.

    Is it that physically demanding? Yes, and sometimes more than you can possibly imagine. There were nights during my first couple of months that I came home in so much pain that I didn't think I could get up and go back to work the next day. It's gotten better but I still have those nights sometimes. However, what I get out of the job far outweighs the physical drain most of the time.

    I don't know if the price you listed for the class is too high or not. I paid $450 for an 8-week online CNA class with clinicals only 15 miles from where I live. After I got my job, my facility paid me back for the cost of my class.
  5. Jul 17, '12 by
    I am going for my cna in Oct. and my class will be $650 and then $175 for the States Test. Wow the pay scale you mentioned is quite high. I have seen ranges of 8.50-12.00 where I live. I have never seen 15.00 CNA jobs. I may be wrong, but is that close to low end LPN pay? like mstearn09 said most CNA I think would think they had the world by the tail making that much. Hopefully you could land that well payed job.

    Never heard of a DSA before, do you only give out meds? It seems that a DSA would be higher ranked then a CNA because of the responsibility of a med pass, and so be making more then a CNA. Of course I could be all wrong here.

    Oh I almost forgot to say I am sorry you did not get into the lpn program and I wish you luck in getting in the next session. Would that be the fall classes of 2012? Pray you will be getting in soon.
    Last edit by mvm2 on Jul 17, '12
  6. Jul 17, '12 by
    I was under the impression that cnas made 8-12 too? My friend makes 14$ as a cna in NY tho.... im using the cna as a stepping stone ONLY.... have no intentions of workin in a nursing home..,None! I do personal care and Adls in a grouphome setting for 4 individuals MR/DD..have done this kinda work for 20 yrs...(human svs)....just want the certification cna...so i can do med tech at say a hospital... thanks for your input! yea.., i will b studying for thenTEAS in the meantime.......
  7. Jul 17, '12 by
    Hospitals use licensed Nurses for providing medications, not med aides/medication technicians. I wanted to mention that since your last post included a statement regarding a hospital.
  8. Jul 17, '12 by
    I mentioned a hosp b cause one of the local hospitals is hiring right now for med techs@ 14/ hr Southside Regional Medical Center... in VA..
  9. Jul 17, '12 by
    @ mvm2 thanks!
  10. Jul 17, '12 by
    Being a CNA is not an easy job, but if you keep your chin up, get a good pair of shoes, stretch often, and use proper body mechanics it does become easier. My personal secret is I stretch when the patients are on the commode and I can't leave them alone It really helps.
  11. Jul 17, '12 by
    Thanks mindy!
  12. Jul 18, '12 by
    I live in Kentucky, but I was able to find out some information for your area online. According to salary.com, the average salary for a CNA in Chesterfield, VA, is $28K per year. That comes out to about $13 an hour if you work a 40 hour week. That is the average, so starting pay is going to be lower. And the tuition for the CNA class through the Red Cross in your area is $1250, so I would say $950 for tuition is probably pretty good.