How difficult is a CNA course?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Specializes in ICU.

I am currently taking pre-reqs for NS. I work full time, have 2 small kids, a hubby and have been just taking 1 class per semester at night. I've been at my current job for almost 7 years and I hate it. It has nothing at all to do with anything medical and I'm pretty much just here for a paycheck. I want to become a CNA to gain experience before getting into NS and to get out of this job. Next month I will be taking a Microbiology class but there is also a CNA course starting up at the same time. So I would be taking micro 2 nights a week (M/W) and CNA 2 nights (T/Th).

Ok - so my whole point to this post - how difficult is a CNA course? I'm not great in science (made a C in both AP classes) so I am determained to spend a lot of my extra time (basically the weekends during the kids nap time and staying up late at night) studying micro in order to get a good grade. How would a CNA course rank in terms of difficulty compared to a Micro class? Do you really have to study a lot when out of class or would you say that as long as you listen during class you'll be fine?

Sorry this is so long. Didnt mean for it to be. :typing

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.

I am not so sure if the CNA course will be hard if your taking Micro together. My CNA course was short 2 week program that was 8 hours long for 5 days a week. It was intensive course full of lecture, demonstration, practice, quiz, reading at home, and homework. The course touched on the basic nursing skills that you will learn in nursing school and what you know so far when you took all your nuring pre-requiste, ie: anatomy. You will learn about vital signs, acitivities of daily living, moving patients, bathing, feeding, the real basics of nursing. It will be worth the effort. And it will be benefitial for your nursing career. It help me to appreciate nursing and focus in nursing more. It gave me a push to finish nursing school and being a CNA help me to understand the dynamics of the nursing floor.

Since the CNA course is not everydayn for you, I dont think it will be too hard as long as you dont work. Micro is a lot of work too, but if the CNA course is short, you can get it out of the way quick and then focus in the Micro.

Do you plan to be state certified? If that is the case depending on your state, you will need to pass a test in order to practice as a CNA. You will then need to study the skills and know the content. Taking Micro and reviewing CNA could pose a problem if your going to have a lot on your plate. Ii will be worth it once you become a CNA, then RN ;)

Good luck :D :nurse::nurse::nurse::nurse::nurse:

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.

ooops i forgot to add. If I had to rank the course

CNA=3

MICRO=6

Both course requires reading, listening and understanding. But if you pay attention in your CNA class you should be fine. The great thing about the CNA course is the skills you can practice with your kids. You can pretend they are patients and work with them. It could be great play with your kids, and also great time to practice your CNA skills.

I hope this helps.

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Specializes in ICU.

Thank you xj3nnerz!!! Your reply was very informative and helpful. :bow:

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I am currently taking pre-reqs for NS. I work full time, have 2 small kids, a hubby and have been just taking 1 class per semester at night. I've been at my current job for almost 7 years and I hate it. It has nothing at all to do with anything medical and I'm pretty much just here for a paycheck. I want to become a CNA to gain experience before getting into NS and to get out of this job. Next month I will be taking a Microbiology class but there is also a CNA course starting up at the same time. So I would be taking micro 2 nights a week (M/W) and CNA 2 nights (T/Th).

Ok - so my whole point to this post - how difficult is a CNA course? I'm not great in science (made a C in both AP classes) so I am determained to spend a lot of my extra time (basically the weekends during the kids nap time and staying up late at night) studying micro in order to get a good grade. How would a CNA course rank in terms of difficulty compared to a Micro class? Do you really have to study a lot when out of class or would you say that as long as you listen during class you'll be fine?

Sorry this is so long. Didnt mean for it to be. :typing

I just wanted to comment on your post because I am doing the samething as you are except I am a stay-at-home mom I luv it but I am ready to go for my dream so I am taking NS pre-reques and I just turned in my finanical aid application for a salli mae student loan for a CNA school--wish me luck I could really use all the luck I can get--and I should know by Tuesday--I am so nervous I want this to happen so very, very, very badly:crying2::banghead:!!!! I wish you the best:saint:!!!! keep us posted!!!!

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I did my CNA through the Red Cross which is known to be a good program, and I didn't think it was very difficult at all. I was an EMT before going through the program, but a lot of it seemed like basic common sense. Our instructor said she'd only had two people fail over the prior year. The written exam was a breeze. The biggest thing is just practicing your clinical skills. A lot of people were really nervous about BP/pulse and respiration before the state test, but in retrospect, none of it was really bad.

I'm sure you'll do great!

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Specializes in CNA.

Of course, the answer will always be 'it depends' (in this case, on your instructor). But, as I've seen from many people through the years asking this question, and my own experience, the class itself is quite easy.

The same general principles of 'normal' class in school apply. If you never studies in high school and did poorly, had poor study habits, you'll have issues.

If you have good study habits, actually read the assignments, listen to class lecture, you should do fine. Actually, the difficult part are the skills. You'll see postings on this forum about difficulty with ROM, occupied bed change, and manual BP. Those will require some practice outside of class.

Otherwise, much of the class is common sense and simple to understand when read or discussed. There was some 'science', but very little.

As far as I'm concerned, on a difficulty scale, micro is 10, CNA is .5....

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I did my CNA through the Red Cross which is known to be a good program, and I didn't think it was very difficult at all. I was an EMT before going through the program, but a lot of it seemed like basic common sense. Our instructor said she'd only had two people fail over the prior year. The written exam was a breeze. The biggest thing is just practicing your clinical skills. A lot of people were really nervous about BP/pulse and respiration before the state test, but in retrospect, none of it was really bad.

I'm sure you'll do great!

I went to the Red Cross website, and I did not find any info on CNA classes. When did you take it? I live in Middle TN and even went to the Nashville website and did not find anything.

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Specializes in CNA.
I went to the Red Cross website, and I did not find any info on CNA classes. When did you take it? I live in Middle TN and even went to the Nashville website and did not find anything.

The most common place to take CNA classes are community colleges. There are very few places where Red Cross has classes, and still fewer where institutions sponser a class. They exist, just very few.

If you're searching for a class, then you need to call or get onto websites of any community colleges in your area. It's also possible, but again very few, that a 4 year school may have a class and a nursing school may offer a CNA course. Private, for profit institutions that do training may be an option, but they are generally far more expensive than a course at a college which is partially subsidized by your taxes.

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I went to the Red Cross website, and I did not find any info on CNA classes. When did you take it? I live in Middle TN and even went to the Nashville website and did not find anything.

I took it in 2006 in Knoxville. The Red Cross there still offers the program, but from my understanding, the offerings vary by location.

You could also consider getting your license by working in a LTC facility. A lot of places will train you or reimburse you for the training elsewhere.

Here is a listing for all state approved programs in Tennessee:

http://health.state.tn.us/HCF/trainingfacilitiesregions.htm

Good luck! :)

P.S. It's cheaper to do the program through a community college than Red Cross. It's a good program but expensive in comparison.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

The CNA class that I took was not hard at all. It was mostly just common sense stuff. Actually, the hardest part for me was clinicals, because I had never had any previous medical or health experience before, so it was very new to me- but you get the hang of it fast! As long as you listen during class, you'll be fine. It definitely isn't hard when comparing it to Micro. Micro is a whole other story! :chuckle

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Specializes in ER, OB.

What you learn in CNA class is 90% common sense. You will learn more in your first day working as a CNA than you did your whole CNA class. CNA class is very useful but it can't even begin to cover all of the jobs you will do as a CNA.

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