Becoming certified after a break

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

I have a question, not sure if anyone can help, but here goes. I took a CNA class in the summer of 2010. Worked as a NA for several months, but HATED it. Then I had not one, but two family emergencies and I had to quit. At the time, I was looking for a reason to leave anyway, it was that bad. I wondered if nursing was even for me if I couldn't handle being an Aide. So I never even bothered testing to become certified.

Long story short, it is 3-1/2 years later, and I am still thinking about nursing. I realized after talking with nurses and reading threads on here, that a lot of nurses actually hated working as a CNA. It doesn't mean I wouldn't like being a nurse. It wasn't so much the duties I couldn't handle. But I don't like geriatrics (though I fell in love with some of the patients), they pretty much threw me in with no training and we were constantly understaffed. So as a newbie, I had to deal with 13-15 patients by myself. It was just too much. I couldn't get anything done and was stressed out all the time.

My question is this: I still need my CNA to pursue nursing. Every college around me requires it. Will I need to take the class over, or can I simply take the test? I realize if I take the test I still need to study and practice my skills. I am just hoping to save some money and not take the class again.

Oh, and I am in CO if that makes a difference.

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