Reinstating CNA

[shannahan]

Hi everyone~

My 25 year old niece is moving from Indiana to AZ in the next couple of weeks. She was a CNA in Indiana but it lapsed while she stayed home with her kids for a couple of years.

Does anyone know if there are any AZ hospitals that will allow you to work in some capacity lower than CNA then help you with classes to reinstate a lapsed license? She says where she's from the hospitals will pay for classes while you work for them.

If not, where would be a good place to go to get the CNA reinstated and how much?

One more question - I'm not in the medical field and have no idea about salaries. What is the pay range in AZ for a non-CNA job as well as for a CNA? Just trying to get an idea of what she'll be able to afford as far as her apartment.

Sorry for so many questions!! I'm so glad to find this message board - any info would help.

Thanks!!

[Knorremeisje]

I'd suggest she takes one of the short, free CNA classes at a local nursing home. She won't get paid while she takes it, but it is free (they also pay for the testing fees) and she will get offered a job afterwards. They usually let you work at the nursing home as a supervised CNA while you wait to take your test.

Such supervised CNA positions usually make about $8/hour. I started out as a CNA in a hospital at $11/hour. Also, a lot of hospitals hire Patient Companions, they basically sit next to patients who need constant surveillance. I think they make about $8-9/hour - once you get licenced however, you can still be a patient companion and make $11 and more/hour. I hope everything works out!

[shannahan]

Thanks for your reply. She actually was a paid companion at one time. We will check into the nursing homes for getting her CNA reinstated. Thanks for giving me a salary range as well!