CNA class...

Nurses General Nursing

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I will be starting school for my ADN in January, but need to work at the same time. I have a clerical job now, but want to really get some good experience by being a CNA. There's a class I can take in town that is 4 weeks long and only 4 hours a day with 2 weeks classroom study and 2 weeks clinicals. It costs $750. The next class starts in 2 weeks so I could get it done before school starts. Does this sound like a good deal? My other option is after my nursing fundamentals class we can be certified as nursing assistants, but that would be a year away. What do you guys suggest? Thanks!

I will be starting school for my ADN in January, but need to work at the same time. I have a clerical job now, but want to really get some good experience by being a CNA. There's a class I can take in town that is 4 weeks long and only 4 hours a day with 2 weeks classroom study and 2 weeks clinicals. It costs $750. The next class starts in 2 weeks so I could get it done before school starts. Does this sound like a good deal? My other option is after my nursing fundamentals class we can be certified as nursing assistants, but that would be a year away. What do you guys suggest? Thanks!

Hi Blueeyes,

I am starting clinicals next fall and have looked into becoming a CNA for the experience and so that I could work while in school.

I do think that being a CNA is good experience but for me things didn't work out because the CNA classes here are full time- 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for about 3 months and I could not afford to be out of work for 3 months.

I was offered a place in a program at a facility where they would have paid for my training and would have paid me part time while I was in CNA school and then afterward they would offer me a position but this also was not a good deal. I would have to work for them for a year or else repay them for the classes. During the year that I would work for them I would not be guaranteed a full time job and if I ended up working part time for them I would only make half as much an hour as if I was "full time". Plus, I would have to work every single weekend and holiday.

So, I have stayed at my present job because the money is quite good and I can schedule classes around it.

I think you should see how much CNA's in your area make and what types of benefits (vacation time, etc.) they usually recieve. Then, weigh the pros and cons of staying at your current job or becoming a CNA. Determine if it makes sense financially.

Once I considered the money I would give up plus that sick time and vacation time that I get with my current job it just made sense to stay for now rather than jump into a CNA position. I do hope to get a Patient Care Tech job after my first year of clinicals though.

Hi Blueeyes,

I am starting clinicals next fall and have looked into becoming a CNA for the experience and so that I could work while in school.

I do think that being a CNA is good experience but for me things didn't work out because the CNA classes here are full time- 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for about 3 months and I could not afford to be out of work for 3 months.

I was offered a place in a program at a facility where they would have paid for my training and would have paid me part time while I was in CNA school and then afterward they would offer me a position but this also was not a good deal. I would have to work for them for a year or else repay them for the classes. During the year that I would work for them I would not be guaranteed a full time job and if I ended up working part time for them I would only make half as much an hour as if I was "full time". Plus, I would have to work every single weekend and holiday.

So, I have stayed at my present job because the money is quite good and I can schedule classes around it.

I think you should see how much CNA's in your area make and what types of benefits (vacation time, etc.) they usually recieve. Then, weigh the pros and cons of staying at your current job or becoming a CNA. Determine if it makes sense financially.

Once I considered the money I would give up plus that sick time and vacation time that I get with my current job it just made sense to stay for now rather than jump into a CNA position. I do hope to get a Patient Care Tech job after my first year of clinicals though.

PS, where I live after you complete your first year of clinicals you are usually able to get a job as a Patient Care Tech which here makes quite a bit more money than a CNA and also provides more "technical" care to patients.

Depending on where you live you may want to examine this avenue also. For me it makes more sense to get through my first year of clinicals while working my secretarial job and then hopefully I'll find a Patient Care Tech job where I will make more money than I would if I was a CNA.

PS, where I live after you complete your first year of clinicals you are usually able to get a job as a Patient Care Tech which here makes quite a bit more money than a CNA and also provides more "technical" care to patients.

Depending on where you live you may want to examine this avenue also. For me it makes more sense to get through my first year of clinicals while working my secretarial job and then hopefully I'll find a Patient Care Tech job where I will make more money than I would if I was a CNA.

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

Yes, it would be good training and experience to have.

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

Yes, it would be good training and experience to have.

Wow Colleen I did not know that!

I am currently seeking a PCT or Psych tech position...well, trying to transfer into one. You know me from my previous inexperienced lab-blood drawing posts! haha! I am trying to fleeeee!

I always assumed CNA's made more than PCT. I really haven't done much research in the pay difference. I am not really sure of the difference. I have heard PCT do bathing, dressing, and transport patients. But, I thought CNA's do the same thing. I assumed that if you were "certified" you just made more $$.

:confused: Who knows! haha! At the hospital in my area, you are hired as PCT in respect that you will be going to school and then you graduate into CNA after fundamentals course. Much like your situation, CNA are stuck EVERY holiday working especially if you are new...no rotation and every other weekend. Pay here is only 6.75

Anyways! Just want to say thanks for your help in previous posts :D

Blueyes...both CNA/PCT are all good beginnings. It helps you build confidence with patients... It will definitely get your feet wet. Good luck with your decision!

Wow Colleen I did not know that!

I am currently seeking a PCT or Psych tech position...well, trying to transfer into one. You know me from my previous inexperienced lab-blood drawing posts! haha! I am trying to fleeeee!

I always assumed CNA's made more than PCT. I really haven't done much research in the pay difference. I am not really sure of the difference. I have heard PCT do bathing, dressing, and transport patients. But, I thought CNA's do the same thing. I assumed that if you were "certified" you just made more $$.

:confused: Who knows! haha! At the hospital in my area, you are hired as PCT in respect that you will be going to school and then you graduate into CNA after fundamentals course. Much like your situation, CNA are stuck EVERY holiday working especially if you are new...no rotation and every other weekend. Pay here is only 6.75

Anyways! Just want to say thanks for your help in previous posts :D

Blueyes...both CNA/PCT are all good beginnings. It helps you build confidence with patients... It will definitely get your feet wet. Good luck with your decision!

wow, thats alot of money. Almost every nursing home you go to will train you for free, and some times pay you while you take there class so when you are certified you can work for them. call around and i bet you can find one. I would not pay that much. being a cna has its advantages and dissadvantages.

advantage: you get use to being with clients, talking to them. the first 4-6 weeks of lab is centered on cna work so you will feel confadent when your in your first few weeks of lab. and I think the most importent lesson you learn is that when you become a nurse you will know how to treat your cna and pca's. That was my biggest this is I said when im a nurse I will not walk around, pass a call light in search for a cna and say hay so and so room 105 has the call light on. grrr. or when they would do a tube feeding and leave the formula that exploded all over the bed because they forgot to pinch the tube, then they would say so and so needs to have there bed changed. any way now as almost a nurse with a little experience under my belt I see that sometimes you dont have the time to change the bed, ect.. but it has made me more considerate, if i have the time, you bet ill stop and help transfer, feed, take a person to the toilet, ect... and you will never catch me walking and searching for an hour for a cna to tell them the call light is on:(

disadvantage: you wind up saying things in class like thats not how we do it at ware i work, and teachers really hate that. another issue at least for me was letting go of the cna role. ide be making beds, and helping old ladies cut up their meat when I had meds to pass. Ive gotten over that now, but I still have some compulsions to do those things, if i have time to do extra, then I do. please pay no attention to my spelling, its bad I know. any way good luck :)

wow, thats alot of money. Almost every nursing home you go to will train you for free, and some times pay you while you take there class so when you are certified you can work for them. call around and i bet you can find one. I would not pay that much. being a cna has its advantages and dissadvantages.

advantage: you get use to being with clients, talking to them. the first 4-6 weeks of lab is centered on cna work so you will feel confadent when your in your first few weeks of lab. and I think the most importent lesson you learn is that when you become a nurse you will know how to treat your cna and pca's. That was my biggest this is I said when im a nurse I will not walk around, pass a call light in search for a cna and say hay so and so room 105 has the call light on. grrr. or when they would do a tube feeding and leave the formula that exploded all over the bed because they forgot to pinch the tube, then they would say so and so needs to have there bed changed. any way now as almost a nurse with a little experience under my belt I see that sometimes you dont have the time to change the bed, ect.. but it has made me more considerate, if i have the time, you bet ill stop and help transfer, feed, take a person to the toilet, ect... and you will never catch me walking and searching for an hour for a cna to tell them the call light is on:(

disadvantage: you wind up saying things in class like thats not how we do it at ware i work, and teachers really hate that. another issue at least for me was letting go of the cna role. ide be making beds, and helping old ladies cut up their meat when I had meds to pass. Ive gotten over that now, but I still have some compulsions to do those things, if i have time to do extra, then I do. please pay no attention to my spelling, its bad I know. any way good luck :)

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