CNA certification/ Nursing School

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I currently live in Las Cruces, NM with my husband and family. I am currently working on my pre-req's for the nursing program. One of the requirements is to be a CNA. I have an Associates of Science and am a MA. But they are still requiring it. I have been trying to get into the CNA program they offer at the community college but it's always full. Was wondering if anyone had any ideas for me? Not sure what else to do, as they won't let me enter the program without it.

My next question is we are only guaranteed to be here for another year. Could possibly be here longer, but not sure. I am kinda nervous to start the nursing program and then have to leave. If I am going for my ADN can I stop like in the middle and start again somewhere else? Will the classes transfer?

I am just not sure what exactly to do and was looking to get some outside ideas......

Thanks for your help.....

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Specializes in med surg-oncology-progressive care-Rehab.

You can start by calling some LTC facilities in your area, most off CNA training that is about 3 wks long. Good Luck!

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as for transferring check and see which completed courses can be transferred some colleges will accept from certain other schools and not from others..can be very frustrating if you cannot graduate because of a mixi[

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Can you be a home health aide or PCA instead of a CNA?! My school let us choose between the 3 and I did the HHA. You might be able to find someone locally who offers this and it's cheaper as well as MUCH LESS time consuming. I believe it was 2 f/t weeks and then you're done. My counselor even told me to do this versus CNA because of that.

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Besides getting the instruction at a local LTC facility, try looking at the local adult education institutions, such as the Regional Occupational Centers or through a high school adult program. I took my CNA training the first time through my high school adult program, the second time through the school district adult program. As far as your question about starting the program and having to transfer: you can make the decision to stay and finish your schooling or you can hold off until you are settled in your new assignment or you can try to transfer. Transferring from one program to another most likely will not be an easy task. You can expect to run into problems, the least of which would be that they would not accept your courses. Until you know where your husband is being assigned, you do not even know where to start inquiring. Have you thought about moving yourself back to your home or to his home and attending school there? You could possibly keep the children with you while you attend school and would hopefully have a support system from your family. Just a thought. It seems it would be better than to stay somewhere where you don't have family to finish school. Good luck with whatever decision you go with and I hope you are able to find a workable solution.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I was about to say the same thing, try vocational training. Don't know about your area, however, many advertise in the newspapers and yellow pages. The Red Cross trains in some states, I understand, and you can possibly ask the college you wish to attend where alternative sites for training are, because it seems that you would not be the only prospective student with this challenge. Good luck!

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I could see why they require the CNA though. I just finished that class & took the state exam. You learn a lot of basic stuff and at least in our school, it was the way for our school to get the state required Alzheimers hours out of the way. The class made me rethink being a nurse & I actually just switched to a rad tech program, so you never know what you'll experience. It's only about 8 weeks, right? Just sign up for the class the first day of registration online.

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Specializes in ED.

Some LTC facilities offer this training and it is fewer days than the 6/8 week courses. I luckily did not have to do this prior to RN school. I would definately NOT start a program I didn't know I could finish. No way. You do not know what requirements will be the same and you may end up repeating stuff or not being able to get in another school. We did not have anyone come from other schools join is the 2nd year in my ADN program. I am sure there are exceptions but schools plan their 2 year program to fulfill all the requirements of the state. It would be a big pain to try to transfer to another school. Plus, ADN programs are very competitive to get into and it may be hard to get a 2nd year spot in another school if they are full. You may have to get on a waiting list and it would take longer. I'd either start knowing you will stay the full 2 years or wait until you move and start then.

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

I would be highly surprised if you could transfer your nursing credits to another school. Most schools will accept 1st quater transfers as all Nursing programs start with the same basic theories in first quater but after that each college will go in a different sequence in education. Some start second quater with Ob some with Med surg some are all quaters mixed areas. Just be ready for that Im afraid. Perhaps you could stay long enough in a ADN program to sit and take the LPN then transfer as a bridge student into another ADN program

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