Advice needed with potential NA course (asap thanks)

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Hi,

I am new to these forums but have been browsing a bit. I am looking for some input on a NA course I have come across in my city. It is through our adult continuing education program. First they have you take a Pre-req of Medical Terminology to be accepted to the program. If you pass with an 80% you can start the NA classes. The program is developed in cooperation with 2 of our local hospitals. We would have 32 class hours, 80 hours in the actual hospital setting and 20 hours of lab in hospital too. They called it an internship.

I was so excited until I learned the cost. $1600 total !! It seems very costly but at the same time I feel like it would be great training and I feel like my foot would be in the door at the hospital I already dreamed of working for.

Also this is NOT a Certified course. I really do not want to work in a nursing home anyhow.

So any thoughts on if sounds like a good program ? I am really just concerned about the cost? Any input would be great. The Med term class starts Monday so I have to act quickly.

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Specializes in LTC.

That does sound like a lot of money.

My CNA class was expensive- $800 (the only option around here), and a medical terminology class at the same cc is a LOT less than another $800. You do get a lot of hours, but I don't know if it's worth it if you're not guaranteed a job afterwards (esp since you're not getting certified! and one med terminology class alone won't get you anywhere either). If you're considering nursing school or not planning on being a CNA for quite some time, there are much cheaper ways of getting what you want.

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Wow! That seems expensive for a CNA course. I don't know what area you live in but I know here in Florida you can get into a course for $300.00-400.00 and some of the courses are for one week. I am sure every state and area are different. I think before you spend that amount of money to look around for something that you might find cheaper. What state are you in? Maybe someone can chime in and give you a place to call or look into.

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Thanks for your input. I am in Michigan. Oakland county. I do know the Red Cross offers the class, but it is not in an area near me. The local community colleges do offer them as well but they are pretty costly too. I agree it is a lot of money. $400 for the med term class and $1200 for the NA class. I am running out of time to make my decision.:scrying:

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Specializes in CNA.

"...Also this is NOT a Certified course. I really do not want to work in a nursing home anyhow....".

UNLESS this class allows you to become certified in the state of Michigan (passing the state written and skills exam however they are administered), this class is NOT useful. The 'c' in CNA means certified --- it is roughly analogous to licensed. Your employment options are all open upon certification.

So, if this is truly not going to lead to certification, it's about as big as a mistake as I can think of (unless I misunderstand your statement).

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No you did not misunderstand. It is not a Certified course. They said it is completely geared towards hospital employment. NA only. A certificate only. They will be offering a Certified class in the fall. That was a red flag to me too. Although I do want to work in the hospital I should keep my options open for that price. Thanks for your advice.:wink2:

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Our local Red Cross in Tampa, FL offers a 94 hour CNA class which 20hrs is hands on for $495.00. After taking this training class - then you take the state exam

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It sounds kind of fishy to me, not a certified course? So you can't challenge the state exam?

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The Red Cross offers the CNA and it is is a certified course. The C is for certified.Once you take any of all the classes offered everywhere - then you take the state exam. The class with the Red Cross does certify you through this class with CPR, HIVAides etc.. I don't know of any place (community college, tech institutes etc) that offer the class and certification. I do know there are some out there but they will be more expensive. To apply for the state exam is approx $135.00. This class is 9 wks every Tues/Wed 6-10pm then every other Sat 8:30 - 3:30 for clinicals. Contact you local Red Cross. They only allow 14 people at at time and Jan class already started. Next one in March. You should be albe to view on computer if you search Red Cross Training.

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Whoops. I told you the Red Cross is a 'certified course' Actually you aren't certified until you take the state exam.The class is Nurse Assistant Training.See below;

Nurse Assistant Training targets adults aged 17 or older who are interested in a career in healthcare. The 94-hour course includes certification in CPR, First Aid and Workplace HIV/AIDS Education as well as 20 hours of actual experience in a healthcare setting. At the end of the course, participants can challenge the state exam to become Certified Nursing Assistants. With Red Cross training, you will master fundamental academic and social skills necessary to be a successful nurse assistant. Coursework includes learning:


  • medical terminology
  • basic human anatomy
  • communication skills
  • basic math skills
  • caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease

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Whoops. I told you the Red Cross is a 'certified course' Actually you aren't certified until you take the state exam.The class is Nurse Assistant Training.See below;

Nurse Assistant Training targets adults aged 17 or older who are interested in a career in healthcare. The 94-hour course includes certification in CPR, First Aid and Workplace HIV/AIDS Education as well as 20 hours of actual experience in a healthcare setting. At the end of the course, participants can challenge the state exam to become Certified Nursing Assistants. With Red Cross training, you will master fundamental academic and social skills necessary to be a successful nurse assistant. Coursework includes learning:


  • medical terminology
  • basic human anatomy
  • communication skills
  • basic math skills
  • caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease

Which Red Cross did you go through??? Because the one I went to here in Michigan DID NOT certify us in CPR, teach med term or basic math skills or basic anatomy and physiology. Thank God I had that background from all my pre-regs in nursing. We ended up having 9 different instructors, each one telling us something different. We ended up teaching ourselves. I did pass the state test for Michigan, and then found out that I have to have CPR for adults and children also to work, so I went and took that this week. So far the total cost for ONE CNA class has cost me 900.00 (course) + 176.00 (State test) + 88.00 (CPR class) +50.00 for books. I can now go through the RED Cross PCT course which will cost me another 950.00 plus state testing, and this course will teach the rest of the items I need to work in a hospital. So by the time I am done with all this I will have paid 2000.00...Unless you have the MI works program, I would look at MCC that is now offering the CNA class. I am done with the Red Cross and just going to go to work in a nursing home for a 6 months and praying to GOD I get into a nursing clinical.:twocents:

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Geez you have really put out some bucks. Good grief! My previous post was directly from the American Red Cross web-site ( I copied and pasted the info for you) This information is from the local Tampa, FL chapter. The total cost for everything (xcept state exam) is $495.00! As you can read; includes CPR certification etc. WOW I can't believe you've had to pay so much money. Perhaps it's because of the state?? There's a toll free number

1-877-741-1444 ext. 850. Maybe you'll be able to get more answers there as to why you are paying so much ?????

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