how can these schools get away with SCAMMING people?

Murse901, MSN, RN · Oct 21, 2011

I'm not really sure how they get away with it, but it's a real shame. Before I went to nursing school, I looked into Concorde Career Institute's PCA program. Pretty much just a glorified 9-month CNA program that was $12,000 at the time. Absolutely ridiculous!

I feel bad for these folks that come out of these programs that cost more than a 2-year ADN degree with nothing more than a CNA cert to show for it. I was really disheartened to learn that Concorde in my area recently got approved for an RN program. I can only imagine how much it's going to cost and the shoddy education people are going to get (not to mention it may not translate well to a BSN, since it isn't actual college credit).

Sanuk · Oct 21, 2011

It's especially sad because a lot of hospitals, at least in this area, will train you to be a PCA. I became a CNA and got paid while doing it. I hate all of these for-profit schools - they're all predatory in my opinion.

caliotter3 · Oct 21, 2011

Paid forty dollars for my CNA program from the adult school and most of that went toward the textbook. The instruction was excellent.

Coulter630 · Oct 21, 2011

You know, I've wondered the same thing and if you look up any of my posts you will see a discussion I've had with others about the same exact thing! Stay away from those places!!!! Waste of time and money!!!! It's a joke! Went to Everest and still paying back on that loan. About to finish nursing school in Dec and wished I just would've gone straight into nursing! ugh!!! ****** me off every time I think about it. It should be illegal!

3xmom · Oct 21, 2011

I can tell you one even better.................right before school started for the kids Remington College was offering free haircuts for kids so I rounded up the neighborhood and took them all in. Anyway I was talking to the girl doing a couple of the kids and she was telling me how she only had a week left but was trying to find a really good job in order to pay back her student loans they gave her. She ended up telling me how her loans were for $38,000.00.................seriously for a cosmetologist? If she is lucky she will make 25,000 a year. I don't understand how they get away with this!

Sun_danc3rRN · Oct 21, 2011

In my area the local branch of our community college does CNA classes with clinicals. You get your class and are prepared to sit for your CNA test for 3 college credits, and lab fees, which is about $200 total, plus the cost of your scrubs, and the CNA test is about $90. Alot of community colleges are offering these types of classes to the community so they are on weeknights and weekends. The nursing program I graduated from used this CNA course as a pre-req for nursing school. It might be worth it to look in to it. Less than $400, and 16 weeks (4 months)of classes and clinicals combined, college credits earned, and certification complete. Sounds way better than thousands of dollars

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2011

My CNA program cost about $1000. It seems sort of high compared to other prices I've seen posted on here, but IMO I think the experience + the money I've made as a CNA justifies the price (that & the fact that the community colleges around here charge similar prices too lol).I totally agree about those programs like Everest, Kaplan,etc..they seem downright scary. Especially those medical assistant programs. I don't have a THING against medical assistants @ all, but I fail to see why it should cost $18,000+ for that particular program.

Rangerjoe · Oct 21, 2011

It's not just Everest. There are plenty of for-profit colleges out there that are just waiting for people to sign up for classes. Just turn on the TV and you will see ad after ad for college degrees from multiple schools. Google search people who have spent thousands of dollars on degrees that aren't accredited and can't get jobs. Remember, student loans aren't like regular loans. You can't get rid of them by filing bankruptcy. It is on you to investigate your school and make sure you are making a good investment.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 21, 2011

I taught a 2-week CNA class in TX, and the students were paid to take it, we paid for testing, and offered jobs to all who wanted them. There was no commitment re: how long they had to stay post test. We were desperate for CNAs, and it worked. Some bailed before finishing, which was just as well- they got to see if it was what they thought it was, and saved everyone the hassle of getting them through, tested, oriented, and THEN bail. :)

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 21, 2011

IMO they get away with it because people don't do their homework. If people looked for the legit places, the pigs would get run out of town.

nettaNDAvalley · Oct 21, 2011

I got my nursing assistant certificate at a nursing home. We had class 2 nights and worked three shifts which was considered our clinicals. This was a way for home to not be very short on CNA and we only had to stay for 6 months.