CNA Advice?

[laurenswindell1201]

hello :) I have located a cna program and intend to register on friday! It's a convenient location and I have called to confirm some of the details. My only concern is that the program is only 4 days long. And then you have one day to become CPR certified so technically it's a five day program. They seem to have good reviews and outcomes from their students but I am having my doubts! I have been researching online and some people go to a cna program for a year or more? I have also heard of programs that last just a few months, but I have never heard of another program thats only 5 days long. It is monday-thursday 9am-2pm. The lady on the phone said clinicals are part of the program. But when will we have time to do clinicals when were not in a class room learning? Any advice on this would be great! I am very anxious to get started with my CNA, but this seems to be the only program I can afford.

[Get2theChoppa]

You ought to check to make sure that your state has approved of this company / school. For California it's regulated by the California Department of Public Health. Check you state's DPH.

[mvm2]

Yes I have to say that is the shortest cna class I have ever heard of. I personally can not see how you can learn and be a competent cna within 4 days. I think it is a great idea to look into what the state has to say about it. I would think that there might be some state requirements of how many hours of class time and clinical time you need to be able to take the states test. My class was 6 weeks and with all we did and learned I can not see myself knowing the job in that time. You need to think about the place you will want to work as well. You don't want to feel like you were not trained correctly to take on the responsibilities and duties that cnas have. You want to feel confident in your abilities and know you are able to take on the job. I'd hate for you to pay all this money and wished you went to a class that taught you more traditionally. Just my two cents...hope everything will work out for you no matter what you decision will be.

[Poochiewoochie]

What's that old saying? If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

Most CNA courses regardless of where you live are 4-6 weeks and it's usually 20 hours a week. Clinicals are usually 20 hours too.

The program you are planning to attend sounds like the one that I was going to take here. It was very short with only 6 hours of clinicals. Cost? $550-the same as the longer ones here.

[Teeanne]

I don't know, around here anyway, I think 4 weeks is the shortest I've seen, and that's basically 8-5 M-F. Usually my comm college does it in 8 or 16 week formats. We were told the mandate was 40 hours of clinicals, so our class had 44 hours built in to allow for one class cancellation/absence if necessary. And on top of that the lecture, which we also couldn't miss more than one of and still pass the class. I don't see how we could get all that in in 4 days, 9-2. But every state is different!

My program cost $850 through my comm college. The CPR class, exam registration cost and background check were included in that, but those being included might be pretty standard.

The clinicals were really valuable, I wouldn't have wanted to skimp on those at all. On the last day of clinicals, only two people "had" to be there because the rest of us were signed off on our skills and hadn't missed a clinical yet, but every single person showed up anyway.

[dotoriffic]

In Missouri, my CNA program is $850 including text book and supplies. Missouri requires 175 hours for CNA training. My program breaks down to be 90 hours in theory and 110 hours clinical. My program does more than what is required by the state.