Any CNA advice would be helpful!

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hello! this is my first post here. i've been lurking for a while now and i have to say that this forum is the best thing since legos.

i'll attempt to make this short and sweet. i currently work at a dme clinic (dme=durable medical equip. bipaps,cpaps,02) and i'm making enough money there to put me through school. but too much money to get any grants. i'm taking pre req's to apply for the rn program. ideally i'd like to get into or or somewhere in the er.many people have told me that if and when i get accepted into the program (i'm attending spc) then i can't work a full 9-5 job. its damn near impossible. so...in attept to find out any information possible i started to volunteer in the er every week at a local hospital (owned by baycare.) this thursday one of the nurses stopped by the desk to say good night and i seized the opportunity to ask how to go about getting into the earn as you learn program for baycare. she informed me that i should attempt to go ahead and get a job with baycare asap, and that i should try to for a cna. so i went online and there's like a million places to go to get a cna. and i'm really confused on what school to pick. are there hidden costs i don't know about? i mean they really go from one extreme to the next! ptech is a 3 month program for a thousand bucks. and that's m-thursday! i found another program that's just one day! its $899! is this legit? i don't know where to start? online courses, 2 day programs, weekend programs. ahhhh! where do i start?

i'd also like to know about how much cnas make in my area? i wonder if i would be able to still afford my school? i mean i should qualify for grants...but what if i don't? i'm so confused. and no one in my whole family has ever gone to college. my mom didn't make it past middle school! and the counselors at school are about as much help as my pet rock! it's really all a mess. i'd have to take classes after 5 or on the weekends for the cna thing. i work 9-5 and in jan i go back to school part time in the evenings.spc doesn't have a can program. ahhh! and she mentioned something else other than a cna that you advance up to, but i really don't remember what she said. i'm really anxious to get all my ducks in a row in attempt to do anything i can to get into earn as you learn.

sorry guys. it feels good to vent though. i'd like to get as much advice as possible about this because there are so many directions i could go i feel like i need to find the best route possible. *deep breath* any advice?

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It depends on your learning style. You can try to do it online or ask your supervisor at the hospital where they suggest you going. The course, while highly recommended, is not required to sit for the test. I would search around on this board to find CNA programs in your area. I have not really heard of any CNA program costing over $500, but that is just in my area. I hope someone in the St. Pete area can give you a better idea of where to go. Good luck!

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I took classes at the Red Cross and passed the CNA skills test the first time.

It was about $600.00 and well worth it. I'm in nursing school now.

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Well Florida is an interesting state when it comes to CNA's. In Florida you do nto have to go through any formal training in order to sit for the state exam. The courses you see that are a day or 40hrs etc, well they arent formal schools but are a Test Prep course that basically teaches you what you need to know to pass your exam. Now schools like PTEC that have a CNA course are licensed and will go further into detail with training by reinforcing skills, teach laws, and they proctor the exam on campus. (Currently I go to PTEC for LPN).

The very expensive schools you find out there that are thousands of dollars and up to 9 months, go into further detail teaching you about CNA and role as a PCT (works in hospital). These courses teach EKG and phlebotomy. Personally I think these programs are a waste of money since a shorter course is adequate as most hospitals that have PCTs teach you these additional skills anyway. I hear FL Med Prep has a course that is like $350. Its not detailed but it prepares you for the test and has a pretty good pass rate.

Right now I work as a PCT in the hospital setting in St Pete (Bayfront). The pay scale is based on experience and skills. You can make anywhere from 8.50/hr (no exper & no certification) to 13.50/hr. Currently I make 11.50/hr + shift Diff (3-11pm additional $1.50/hr and 11-7 $2.00/hr). I work 3/12hr shifts overnight. If you accept a PRN or Float position it pays significantly more (some make upwards of 14-16/hr no benefits). I dont get grants either and have found that I have been able to cover my tuition for school. Bayfront also offers tuition reimbursement but I choose not to take advantage of it. I know Bayfront and Morton plant both have an Earn as you learn program. Both require 2 years contract after completing school. At Bayfront you cannot apply for program though until you have finished first year of Nursing school.

Anyway, hope this helps.

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Or contact your local Red Cross.

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Specializes in Progressive care.

I am in Bradenton so, not far from you. I took a 6 week CNA course through a local ALF. The course was free I just paid the applicable state fees and sat for the test. The 2 week classes and weekend classes that promise you a CNA in a short time are legit but very risky. They don't tell you that in order to pass the skills section of the CNA you have to practice over and over until all the skills are 2nd nature. Good luck and GO FOR IT! As for the pay, I only make $10/hour as a CNA. I am currently working on my pre reqs and start Nursing core classes in September. I have been told that after I start the core I will be able to get on at a Hospital and have the opportunity to earn $14-$16/hour while in school.

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how do I send a message on this thing...???

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hey i went to fl med prep off 66th in pinellas. I loved the program and have my cna :) ...although i haven't worked as one.. i did apply for positions and didnt get any calls or anything.. I landed an awesome job now :) but with it being full time mon-fri.. i too will more than likely g2 work as a CNA as I start an nursing program :) best of luck!!

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To the OP, I go to SPC and in my second semester in the earn as you learn program. It is soooo worth looking into! If you go to baycare's website, it gives you all the requirements. You do not need a CNA to get into the program, but it does look better (especially if you are already a Baycare team member). And CNA's @ Baycare make $9-10/hr. PCT's $11-12/hr. Good luck to ya!

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ahhhh! where do i start? i'd also like to know about how much cnas make in my area? i wonder if i would be able to still afford my school? i mean i should qualify for grants...but what if i don't? i'm so confused. and no one in my whole family has ever gone to college. my mom didn't make it past middle school! and the counselors at school are about as much help as my pet rock! it’s really all a mess. i’d have to take classes after 5 or on the weekends for the cna thing. i work 9-5 and in jan i go back to school part time in the evenings.spc doesn’t have a can program. ahhh! and she mentioned something else other than a cna that you advance up to, but i really don't remember what she said. i'm really anxious to get all my ducks in a row in attempt to do anything i can to get into earn as you learn. sorry guys. it feels good to vent though. i’d like to get as much advice as possible about this because there are so many directions i could go i feel like i need to find the best route possible. *deep breath* any advice?

if you are like me, you often second guess yourself.

first off breath!!

:eek: :uhoh3: :confused:

i totally understand how fustrating this whole nursing thing can be. in south fl, cna's make roughly about $8-$10, pct's $9-$12.. this figure is coming from doing some major research and calling around at hospitals. some hr personnels are actually willing to help you out on your search. experience & certifications do matter, and working nights/wknds!!

the difference between a cna and pct is that a pct has training in ekg/phlebotomy and/or certified in those areas. a cna course can take from 2 wks - 3 mths (1 day a wk classes) and pct can be 4 wks - 9mths. do your research; ask around, go to the schools themselves, speak to students, ask cna/pct's at hospital about the route they took, also look into the schools accreditation, their passing rates fl dept of health provides that info at this link: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/cna/qmr_1_10.pdf !!

unfortunately, their are scam schools out there. tis why, i stress doing your research. look into hospitals, clinics, ltc's, vocational schools, tech schools, your local red cross, and here in sfl community colleges like miami-dade college offer the cna program. they also offer ekg/phlebotomy courses, too. the cna program there costs about $500 for everything. schedules differ. but for me mdc is the best choice for the schedule they offer and passing rate. their classes meet on saturday's, which work great with trying to complete my prereqs for nursing schools. another school i have read a lot about on here is: http://www.nursingunlimited.com ..

as for grants. did you apply for fafsa? if so loans aren't so bad you really have to know how to budget yourself, look in scholarships, ask the counselers at schools or the dme you work at about grants or workstudy programs, or try your local wia program. it will be hard.. no intense to work and go to school. you will reap the rewards later. good luck on your studies!

:idea:

now realizing this post was in 2008 hopefully others can benefit from the replies to this thread..

ijs, my opinion.. don't quote me.. lolz!!

:D

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