[kentuckygal39]

I am trying to find out what I need to do to become certified as a CNA instructor

[chelojelo]

Are you talking about at a vocational school or in a facility? I actually did this part time at the last LTC facility i worked at. I didn't have to have any special certification. It was one of those deals where, as most LTC facilities do now, anyone who was hired in as a nursing assistant, but wasn't already certified, was put into a class there at the facility for about a week to learn the basics, then they were put out on the floor for so long, then back in to the classroom for a few days before going to take their certification tests.

[Saved_by_Grace]

That actually sounds quite interesting, I think I would enjoy something like that once I become an LPN. Were you already working at that particular facility before you took on the role of doing the CNA class, or was that the position you were hired for?

Originally Posted by chelojelo

Are you talking about at a vocational school or in a facility? I actually did this part time at the last LTC facility i worked at. I didn't have to have any special certification. It was one of those deals where, as most LTC facilities do now, anyone who was hired in as a nursing assistant, but wasn't already certified, was put into a class there at the facility for about a week to learn the basics, then they were put out on the floor for so long, then back in to the classroom for a few days before going to take their certification tests.

[chelojelo]

Originally Posted by WannaBLPN2005

That actually sounds quite interesting, I think I would enjoy something like that once I become an LPN. Were you already working at that particular facility before you took on the role of doing the CNA class, or was that the position you were hired for?

I had been working there for a few yrs. I didn't do it all the time. There was another LPN who did it full time. She was going thru some long term health problems and i was sort of a stand in at that time, then after she came back i continued to help her some. She normally did it full time. Still tho, she had no special certification to do it, either. Once you become and LPN, if u begin working in a LTC facility and stay there for a while, you'll pretty much be able to have any position you want (make sure with each change you ask for a pay raise), excluding DON or Administrator, because of the education requirements. In my 7 or so yrs there, i did MDS's, I was a Unit Coordinator. I was asked to be the Staffing Coordinator and also was asked to be the Assistant DON. At one time i was responsible for only the admissions. All those jobs are dayshift, Mon-Fri. I don't really know what types of jobs are available to LPN's in a hospital setting, tho, cause i don't have a lot of experience anywhere but in LTC. Personal Care homes don't pay as well, but if you work in one, you do have the opportunity to become the DON there. Now once you are the DON in a Personal Care home the pay might average out about the same as LTC, but i have an aunt who is the Administrator at one, and at one time i thought i'd like to work for her, but at the one she works with there is no position that's titled DON, i'm not sure why, but as a staff "person" there (doing mostly the same duties as in LTC), i would have only made a little over min. wage. But they don't really have a big need for actual nurses, because anybody employed there is allowed to hand out meds, do treatments, etc. It has to do with the level of care and the pay source, i think. I know u didn't ask for that much info, but i thought it might be helpful to know once u do become an LPN. It took a while after i entered the workforce as an LPN before i found out a lot of that stuff!

[Saved_by_Grace]

Thanks so much for the great information! I appreciate it. It's nice to hear of all the possibilities there are as an LPN. Sometimes people make it sound as if there are no opportunities if you don't go on for your RN, which I plan to do eventually, but will be an LPN for a while. (God willing) Thanks again!

Originally Posted by chelojelo

I had been working there for a few yrs. I didn't do it all the time. There was another LPN who did it full time. She was going thru some long term health problems and i was sort of a stand in at that time, then after she came back i continued to help her some. She normally did it full time. Still tho, she had no special certification to do it, either. Once you become and LPN, if u begin working in a LTC facility and stay there for a while, you'll pretty much be able to have any position you want (make sure with each change you ask for a pay raise), excluding DON or Administrator, because of the education requirements. In my 7 or so yrs there, i did MDS's, I was a Unit Coordinator. I was asked to be the Staffing Coordinator and also was asked to be the Assistant DON. At one time i was responsible for only the admissions. All those jobs are dayshift, Mon-Fri. I don't really know what types of jobs are available to LPN's in a hospital setting, tho, cause i don't have a lot of experience anywhere but in LTC. Personal Care homes don't pay as well, but if you work in one, you do have the opportunity to become the DON there. Now once you are the DON in a Personal Care home the pay might average out about the same as LTC, but i have an aunt who is the Administrator at one, and at one time i thought i'd like to work for her, but at the one she works with there is no position that's titled DON, i'm not sure why, but as a staff "person" there (doing mostly the same duties as in LTC), i would have only made a little over min. wage. But they don't really have a big need for actual nurses, because anybody employed there is allowed to hand out meds, do treatments, etc. It has to do with the level of care and the pay source, i think. I know u didn't ask for that much info, but i thought it might be helpful to know once u do become an LPN. It took a while after i entered the workforce as an LPN before i found out a lot of that stuff!