American Red Cross CNA program

Published

Hello everyone!

I am currently in the process of deciding to attend the American Red Cross CNA program or not. Has anyone taken courses there for this program? if so, how was your experience? Would you recommend taking courses here? What were your pros and cons about it?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Will you be furthering your education? If so it'd make more sense to take a CNA course with a community college. If not, sorry I have no experience taking a CNA course with the red cross

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

I took my CNA course at a private for-profit school, which also happened to have the highest first-time pass rate on the state certification exam. That did not affect my ability to get into my community college LPN program, which requires active CNA certification for acceptance.

Let's be honest here.....there's not a lot to CNA education. Get it done as quick and cheap as you reputably can.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

I did the Red Cross CNA certification course 25 years ago. My course was taught by retired nurses and was about 6 weeks in length. We had 2 text books that were printed by the Red Cross. I'm sure things have probably changed since those days! However, I can say I received good instruction. I took the course in central Florida back then. Not sure your location in the country. I can only vouch for that particular location. When I went back to nursing school, the first semester covers all the CNA-type stuff and I can honestly say that I remembered a lot of it from my Red Cross instructors.

I will say: I think it looks better on your resume that you have your certification course from the Red Cross than one of those for-profit "career centers". Just my personal opinion. I'm not knocking any one who went to one. However, when I decided to go back to school 20+ years later and was seeking re-certification as a CNA, I was shocked at how many of those centers have shady practices. One actually told me to go to a certain person at a county I did NOT live in and that she'd put the paper work through for me to have the county cover the cost of my class. When I reiterated that I don't live in that county, she said "don't worry, she'll help you out". YIKES! Very shady!!!

Good luck! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
I took my CNA course at a private for-profit school, which also happened to have the highest first-time pass rate on the state certification exam. That did not affect my ability to get into my community college LPN program, which requires active CNA certification for acceptance.

Let's be honest here.....there's not a lot to CNA education. Get it done as quick and cheap as you reputably can.

Yeah, I hope I didn't make it seem like "this way or the highway," but for-profit schools, at least where I'm from, are generally more expensive. I'm just saying if you take a CNA course at a community college it'll be on your transcript as opposed to taking it with the Red Cross.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, LTC.

I took an "accelerated" winter course from my local Red Cross to get my CNA. Paid $1250. Learned useful things. I am now headed to second semester in my nursing program and have to renew my license this August. Two girls from my clinical group got the CNA education from our CC and they hadn't been taught a few things I was taught in my Red Cross program. The standard is the same across programs unless you take an advance PCT course at the college where they show you how to draw blood etc. If you plan on going on to nursing school, I'd take the cheap way. You'll learn the same basics and the license has the same value on the BON.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion