Acute Care CNA Certification?

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I'm looking at a job description for a CNA at a hospital that requires either acute care experience OR completion of an acute care CNA course.

I've never heard of such an animal as an acute care CNA course. I did find this online:

http://www.bestamericanhealthed.com/blog/2012/06/11/Acute-Care-CNA-Training-Certification.aspx

Can anyone give me the benefit of his/her experience with this or another course?

Thanks!

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I have to say I never heard of a course either.

The only thing I've had was a private session with a nurse to talk about taking care of some of our acute cases. But never heard of an actual class on it.

I'd be intrested as well to know what they are all taught

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I have to say I never heard of a course either.

The only thing I've had was a private session with a nurse to talk about taking care of some of our acute cases. But never heard of an actual class on it.

I'd be intrested as well to know what they are all taught

Hopefully you and I will both learn from our allnurses knowledge base. I do know at $500 a class this is NOT something I want to sign on to do without knowing the benefits!

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ouch $500 is a lot when you don't know all that you will be learning

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I'm actually currently in a ACNA program and it was 800$ :/. I'm doing my clinicals in oncology right now, and it is definitely interesting to see the differences in settings (hospital/snf), but I don't know how much help it will be when I start applying for hospital positions, I figure anything will help. Still a great experience and a good thing to put on your resume. I've been having trouble getting a CNA position in a hospital without any experience so I'm grasping at straws. Although I recommend it, it's good to get accumulated to med-surg especially if you plan to be a RN.

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I also have the Acute Care CNA certification. My community college where I took my CNA class also offered the Acute Care class so it wasn't very expensive. I can't say that I learned too much more than what I already knew from my initial CNA class, but it was cool to get a little experience in the hospital setting. Having the certificate hasn't gotten me a job in the hospital yet though, so I'm not sure if it was worth it. For now I am doing my time in LTC.

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I'm actually currently in a ACNA program and it was 800$ :/. I'm doing my clinicals in oncology right now, and it is definitely interesting to see the differences in settings (hospital/snf), but I don't know how much help it will be when I start applying for hospital positions, I figure anything will help. Still a great experience and a good thing to put on your resume. I've been having trouble getting a CNA position in a hospital without any experience so I'm grasping at straws. Although I recommend it, it's good to get accumulated to med-surg especially if you plan to be a RN.

Yes, I agree, any little toehold has got to be worth something. Just tough to do the cost/benefit math.

Do you mind telling us the name of your ACNA program? Maybe it will lead me to finding a good one in my area. Thanks!

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I also have the Acute Care CNA certification. My community college where I took my CNA class also offered the Acute Care class so it wasn't very expensive. I can't say that I learned too much more than what I already knew from my initial CNA class, but it was cool to get a little experience in the hospital setting. Having the certificate hasn't gotten me a job in the hospital yet though, so I'm not sure if it was worth it. For now I am doing my time in LTC.

Hmmm, my CNA class had clinicals one week in LTC and one week in a hospital. If only extra from the ACNA program is the chance to work in a hospital, perhaps it's not worth the $500-$800 price tag.

Unless it gave you a chance to make contacts in the hospital. Do you think doing an internship as an ACNA helped with that?

Thanks for the info!

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I'm taking my ACNA at NCP college of nursing, it's a 8 week program (4 days theory, 6 days clinicals). I live in the Bay Area, so it is in South San Francisco. Although the program I'm in doesn't guarantee a job afterwards they do say they help you with leads, I don't know if they just feeding us hopes and dreams, but it's worth a see since I'm having a hard time even getting a interview :/.

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I'm taking my ACNA at NCP college of nursing, it's a 8 week program (4 days theory, 6 days clinicals). I live in the Bay Area, so it is in South San Francisco. Although the program I'm in doesn't guarantee a job afterwards they do say they help you with leads, I don't know if they just feeding us hopes and dreams, but it's worth a see since I'm having a hard time even getting a interview :/.

I'm trusting that class will be helpful to you. It shows you were willing to spend your time and money to increase your learning and your six days of clinicals are six days more than any other new CNA will have in acute care.

I wish I could see the details on your program. The website I found referenced only LPN and LVN programs: Programs | NCP College Of Nursing

I'm still not finding anything in the Seattle area.

:(

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Specializes in Neuro/Trauma Critical Care.

I am from Oregon but am currently living in California. As far as I know, any CNA job in a hospital in both Oregon and MOST of the time in Southern California REQUIRE an Acute Care CNA certification, sometimes also just called "CNA 2." I don't have the certification but from what I can gather all the clinicals are in the hospital and focus more on situations you would encounter in a hospital vs. LTC. All the acute care classes I've looked into are around $800.

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Specializes in None yet..
I am from Oregon but am currently living in California. As far as I know, any CNA job in a hospital in both Oregon and MOST of the time in Southern California REQUIRE an Acute Care CNA certification, sometimes also just called "CNA 2." I don't have the certification but from what I can gather all the clinicals are in the hospital and focus more on situations you would encounter in a hospital vs. LTC. All the acute care classes I've looked into are around $800.

I'd heard that Oregon has a two-level CNA certification program. Just checked it out and it's true. Maybe I could take a course in Oregon.

On the other hand, maybe a year of nursing school will put me in enough of a different career path that getting the acute certification would be unnecessary. Anyone now about that?

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