[VivaLasViejas]

I have an interview on the 25th for a CNA instructor position at a local LTC facility (this would be in addition to my regular part-time job at the hospital). Are any of you out there doing this, and if so, can you tell me what all is involved? I've been a substitute clinical instructor (first-year nursing students) as well as a preceptor, but this is actually teaching the course and, I assume, doing clinicals.
I really want this job, and the person who called me this morning to set up the interview sounded very positive, but I do need to know what I'm getting into!

Thanks

[indie]

Many educators have done CNA instructing, at least for a while. I presume you mean you would teach a college based program for CNAs at the LTC. (Or do you mean continuing ed. for CNAs?)

I did college based teaching of CNAs for several years in the midwest. I wasn't thrilled with the job most of the time, but sometimes there was a great group of students and a pleasant facility in which to teach them. I did classroom and clinical teaching with the students, but probably preferred the clinicals.

I'll just put the downsides as you seem to know the rewards. Some students could be very unmotivated as they had been sent there to try to get them off welfare - males and females. This could also cause problems with other, better motivated, students.

I remember one very slow learner who I encouraged to practice bedmaking on her own bed - later she quietly told me that she did not have a bed.

The facilities in which I taught were v. important to the success of the learning. I worked hard to promote links with all staff and ensured that small gifts were left with each unit at the Holidays etc. I had been a DON of one of them and knew the territory in many.

Sometimes I was so proud of the care the students gave and I saw the gratitude in the patients' eyes when we had finished. Lovely. (Oops, I said I would only do the bad stuff.) But most facilities were disorganized and not very welcoming. You could always improve it, but it took a lot of work, e.g. visiting before and after class, to set up things.

State rules usually have you teaching about 10-12 students. If you think that is a lot in a student RN clinical, think about how it feels (safely issues!) when CNA students know so little. Bed rails left down, unsafe feeding, water on floor ad infinitum. Lay ground rules before you start with students and never treat anyone differently. Clarify as a group, anything that is automatic dismissal from the program e.g. alcohol, drugs, leaving the floor etc.

But overall, as I write this, I do remember many, many good times and I know for certain some of my CNA students eventually joined the RN program at the junior college.

Go for it and I hope you enjoy it.

[VivaLasViejas]

Thank you so much, indie! I really appreciate the information.

Yes, I would be teaching the college sponsored CNA class, it's held at the premier nursing facility in our area and many students go on to bigger and better things. I'm aware that some are apt to be lazy and unmotivated, and you can bet I'll weed them out regardless of the reason they are in the program. I was once a welfare mom myself, and I figure if I can bust my butt and get my family out of the system, anyone can, and I won't accept half-a$$ed effort from anyone. There are already too many CNAs (and nurses too!) who do their jobs as if they were assembling widgets instead of taking care of people, but they won't be coming out of MY program if I have anything to say about it.

We'll see what happens with the interview. Thanks again.

[barb4575]

I had taught at the ADN level then to BSN ... I taught CNA's after those two levels and it was a difficult transition indeed. However, I had been a DON of five different facilities prior to teaching the CNA's so that helped too. I almost gave up entirely on teaching after my final CNA course...there are some of the CNA's who are very disrespectful and because the facility was so short of CNA's, I felt like I had to put up with more than I would have with the RN student. Also, many of them had some very sad life stories which many of them I could not relate to...it was difficult to train someone whom I knew had an addiction to drugs at one point in their lives with the fear that they just might go back to it. The facility where I taught was substandard and very few of my graduates remained there. I do think a college-based program would be different than this environment.

So, I returned to teaching the BSN students and I am so thrilled to be back too. I did have some CNA students who are going on to nursing school and I am proud of them as well.

Good luck!
Barbara

[Brownms46]

Wow mj ...I just found an ad looking for a CNA instructor in my area, at a community college as a clinical instructor.

I did this as a sub for an RN friend of mine, who was going thru chemo. I really enjoyed it, and yes there were some problems, but we worked them out. They had clinicals at a Baptist NH, and there were problems with tardiness, as some had childcare, and familiy problems. But with a lot of encouragement, and refusing to accept less then their best, they made it thru!

At the end I was really sad to leave them, and they threw me a going away party, wiith the sweetest gifts, made a huge card with the most precious things written on it!

Go for it gurl, as I'm sure you will make a GRRREAT instructor!

[barb4575]

I was so embarrassed by my last class's reaction to their special graduation day...I felt like they were focusing on me more than their graduation. Of course, the students who had some difficulty with respect were not there on graduation as they were expelled from the program with a lot of documentation and effort to keep them in the class, but they made choices.

I need to call some of those past students I have had...I miss them....thanks for reminding me!

Barbara