Acute Care or Phlebotomy?

[pnkgirl25]

I am just wrapping up my CNA/HHA Program and now have an opportunity to enroll in an Acute Care program and Phlebotomy program. The only issue is both programs run at the same time so I am only able to complete one. Which one do you think will make me more marketable when looking for a job as a CNA?

My ultimate goal is to skip LTC all together and go right into the hospital setting however I am also looking at money. Should I do the Phlebotomy program so I have a plan B in case I cant find work as a CNA..If I do land a job as a CNA will a phlebotomy certificate look better in my resume? Or should I go right to Acute Care program and hope that that's enough to get me into the hospital setting?

[IsmeAmanda, LPN]

Im sorry but what does the "acute care" program teach you to do? I've not heard of it.

[pnkgirl25]

I was told it gives you "acute care" training. I was told that if I want to work in a hospital setting I would need acute care training. Hmmm is this only a California thing? All the jobs I see for CNA's in hospitals says you must have acute care training. Am I reading this wrong?

[IsmeAmanda, LPN]

I was told it gives you "acute care" training. I was told that if I want to work in a hospital setting I would need acute care training. Hmmm is this only a California thing? All the jobs I see for CNA's in hospitals says you must have acute care training. Am I reading this wrong?

No you're not reading it wrong. From what I've seen, all this stuff varies from state to state. Even the scope of practice for CNA's, LPN's and RN's vary! In Georgia, from most job postings I've seen for CNA's, only require a CNA or PCT certification as well as CPR/AED training. They will see BLS, or ACLS, and First Aid training as a bonus.

Given between the two, I'd choose Acute Care training since he hospitals require it.

But it's a tough choice!

[funtimes]

It depends on the area and state you live in I guess. Where I live acute care training wouldnt help much(no one even offers it), getting a hospital job happens because of who you know, and whether you have CNA experience. Hospitals around here would probably rather hire an experienced LTC CNA and train them in hospital specific things than an inexperienced aide who took some "acute care" course, so phlebotomy training would be much more valuable.