CNA Training... what experience did you have b4 you hit the floor?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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So I have to ask this... everyone on here is talking about clinicals and such with their CNA training. When I was in class to be a CNA I had 16 hours of classroom work (required to be on the floor as a CNA). That classroom work was me sitting in a room with an instructor watching videos and taking quizes on chapters out of the textbook.

After my 16 hours in the classroom I went out on the floor and was in training for 3 days. Day 1 I watched. Day 2 I helped. Day 3 I did everything and my trainer watched me. Day 4 I was on my own responsible for 23 people.

So I guess i had one day of clinicals.. lol I finished up my 64 hours of classtime over the course of the next 2 months and then I took my test, and passed.

I am just curious what everyone elses training courses consisted of. Did you have to pay for them? My employer hired me with no experience and provided the course, they paid for it, and they paid for my testing to become CNA certified. I actually got paid my hourly wage to be in class.

From what I read on here I got a good deal and that isnt always the norm.

So tell me what was YOUR training like?!?

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg.

Whoa, that's a short program compared to mine!

I live in Maine, which has one of the most exhaustive CNA training standards in the country. About 130 hours of classroom work including labs, textbook work, tests, etc. Then 50 hours of clinicals. I started CNA school at the beginning of November and won't be done until early March.

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My training in California was 50 hours of classroom theory and 100 hours of clinical. We were able to get "hands on" during the clinical, but there were some things they didn't want us to do if we weren't with the CNA assigned to us that day.

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Specializes in LTC.

I think we had 100 hours of combined classroom/clinical. Then when I got a job my facility provided 2 weeks (ie 80 hours) of training with a CNA that had worked there for a long time.

I still sucked at first!

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NO MUCH! I did 3 days in a nursing home, and did not really spend much time with the resiidents. I am getting my experience working in my job as I go with the healthcare agency I work for. Wish I had a bit more hand's on before this - but I am LOVING this so far. You learn as you go. Nothing better than life experience! :imbar I had a month of classes. A "challenger course" as you will....

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wow! I didn't realize my training was so lacking until reading everyone's posts!

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Specializes in Peds OR as RN, Peds ENT as NP.

Don't feel bad. I had a 10 day prep course which was in a classroom(consisted of same thing yours did), got certified, then had three weeks of orientation. The class was provided by the employer and everything was free. I didnt have any experience either.

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My employer also paid the whole thing for my CNA. But I had an advantage. I went to school for 4 years: degree holder of Bachelor of Science in Nursing... problem was i got it from my country, so when i got here at USA, I have work first as a CNA while waiting for my credentials to be verified and be able to take NCLEX and be an RN.

CNA class that i got was the same as what you had.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I took my course when I was a Jr. in HS, which was 4 yrs ago. It was a 75 hr course with 4 days of 6hr clinical. I don't feel we had much hands on experience, we only had one resident to take care of.

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are you unprepared... most likely!

Does it matter.... NOPE!

Keep a smile on your face and treat everyone with respect. ASk the residents... DONT tell them what to do like you will see your co workers do.... you will have way less problems with that approach...... I do that and get along with residents that people say that they cant get along with and one lady actualyl told me that it was because I always had a smile on my face and that if I was there all day every day that the world would be perfect. (not sure what she was thinking my world would not be perfect!!!) They will be much more tolerent of you if you are in a good mood. Dont take your bad day into there check it at the door!!!

Most of all remember you wont do everything perfectly just strive to do better each day.

My training was 16 hours of classroom bookwork(read this chapter take the test read the next chapter take the test) then I was on the floor. I had 3 days of training and then I was put on the hall BY MYSELF(seriously short help)... there were 23 rooms there. I figured that they could not possibly expect me to do everything right and I did not worry about it I did the best I knew how to and asked for feedback from the shift that worked after me. I learned a lot!

Just use common cents. The hardest part is learning your reisdents and how much help they need and that comes with time. After the first month it will feel like a cake walk.

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So tell me what was YOUR training like?!?

I did my CNA training at the Red Cross in Minneapolis. (The damn 35W bridge fell down 1/4 mile away during class. That made for a fun day.)

Current course cost is $800 (not including test fees) and there is a minimum of 75 hours class and clinical. We had about 64 hours of class spread out over four weeks and 3 days of clinical at a nursing home.

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Specializes in school RN, CNA Instructor, M/S.

Be sure you are a certified CNA because it sounds to me like you may only be a HHA which is a home health aide. The credentials are completely different. CNA in each state has a minimum number of classropom hours and a minimum number of on site clinical hours. Check before you misrepresent yourself accidently!!

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