CNA course left me feeling inadequately trained

verene, MSN · Mar 12, 2016

No this is not common practice for CNA programs. I attended a very well run 6 week program from a CNA/HHA vocational school. While I certainly did not know everything necessary for my first job, no one does. We were all well prepared though to take our state certification exam and go through orientation at our eventual places of employment.

This program you attended should be reported - both to whomever regulates CNAs in your state (BON or Board of Health) and the better business bureau.

Before looking for employment please make sure you are even qualified to be employed. In my state taking the coursework is not enough, we have to pass a state sponsored exam as proof of competency. The program has to certify to the state that the student passed the course and attended the mandated clinical and classroom hours before students can register for the exam.

Assuming you are eligible to work - employers know that you don't know everything coming out of CNA training and facilities provide orientation and training to new hires, particularly if you don't have previous experience. My first job I had about 2 weeks of training, and my second provided a full month of orientation. You still end up learning a lot on the job though.

Zyprexa_Ho · Mar 12, 2016

That sounds like a horrible experience. My CNA class was not run that way at all, and it was also a six week course, similar to yours (with the exception that we actually were in class and clinicals for the entire time). It sounds to me like you guys could threaten to sue the school because you did not get what you paid for (and not some partial reimbursement, a full one). Even a great CNA course doesn't really prepare you for what being a CNA is like in the real world. Like many school programs, you learn some fundamentals but then really learn on the job. To be cut short of some of that time is ridiculous.

If you're a new CNA they know you need some training. Even if you had learned these things you'd probably need a refresher on the job. While you are orienting at your new job, ASK ASK ASK every question that pops up in your mind.

BioChic · Mar 12, 2016

Thank you so much for your response. I will look into what I need to do to report that facility.

I failed to include this in my post, but I did sit for the state exam and passed with 98/100. The information and protocol within the curriculum was mostly facts and concepts I already knew (except maybe the specific bath temperature). It's the hands-on experience that I was eager to attain.

While I DO believe that I am most certainly qualified to be a CNA (and a darn good one), I cannot be confident that everyone who gets "passed" through a class at that school has gained the knowledge/skill set necessary to adequately prepare them for the job.

It puts me at ease to know that I will receive some training/orientation for the job before being turned loose to sink or swim.

Zyprexa_Ho · Mar 12, 2016

Any good place to work should train you, especially because they'll know you're a new CNA, but never be afraid to ask questions. It's better to ask a """stupid""" question than to do something to harm a patient

VampyrSlayer, CNA · Mar 12, 2016

Wow. Def not normal. My LNA class occasionally got out an hour early due to residents being in bed (in addition to the actual LNAs, students were each assigned a resident so things got done quicker), but your class sounds like a mess. Legally and ethically.

jayrow · Mar 13, 2016

My CNA class was 3 months long, 4 days a week for 6-7 hours a day. Our state exam had a timed written and a timed skills exam. I got recommendations on where to take my class.

I'm sorry for your experience. It actually sounds scary and I hope there aren't more places like this. I agree you need to contact your state's board of nursing or health or whomever is in charge of these trainings. Also file a complaint with the BBB. You can rally your classmates to do this as well--power in numbers.

While you may not know or have vast experience with every skill, I was told that I needed to have experienced all skills on my list (and did, many of them multiple times because it was so busy at the clinical site). This also helped with the skills portion of the exam. You could learn some skills on the job, but there are certain tasks like assisting a non-ambulatory person with showering that pose serious risks to the patient and yourself.

Your experience was (I hope!!) and should not be normal. I suspect it does happen though and it might explain some of the egregious CNA behavior I have witnessed (full PPE in hallways :no: ).

BioChic · Mar 13, 2016

Your experience was (I hope!!) and should not be normal. I suspect it does happen though and it might explain some of the egregious CNA behavior I have witnessed (full PPE in hallways ).

THIS is the part that has me very concerned. I doubt that my experience is rare. In my *brief* time in clinicals, I witnessed plenty of disregard by the CNAs. No gloves while giving a bath (which, thankfully, is a skill that I was able to practice multiple times - but I wore gloves!!!), no PPE whatsoever when caring for a patient in isolation (but plenty of contact with the patient), no hand washing following contact with isolated patient, and off to give another gloveless bath without washing hands!

To be clear: I was furious after witnessing ^that^. And she was training me? I knew I was only a student using the facility for learning, but I was outraged by the particularly careless CNA described above. I did the only thing I could do- I reported those things to my instructor after the day was finished. She told me to keep my mouth shut, it wasn't my place. She made it clear that keeping my mouth shut was necessary if I wanted to finish the course and be eligible to register for the state examination. So I kept my mouth shut (until now) But man! That CNA was endangering patients! I kind of fell apart after clinicals that day, fearing that my skin just isn't thick enough for this career path. I'm still not sure that it is, but I'm banking on my ability to grow a thicker skin.

I assume the CNA I reported to my instructor was a previous student of hers- that's the vibe I got. Either way, the whole experience has me concerned for the elderly who find themselves in those hands.

jayrow · Mar 13, 2016

It's going to be okay. I mean, easier said than lived with, right? This brings me back a bit. While my experience was, thank goodness, very little like yours, there were many times when I found myself literally sleepless and dropping weight with concern for residents.

Once I did have to make the decision to report a CNA at the site to my instructor (it needed to be done). She took reports from her students very seriously and at the same time was very understanding about the whole thing. Like you, I also felt that maybe I should have done more. BUT our instructor was very clear with us that we were to come to her first with any issues--as I am guessing yours was.

After my CNA experiences it has been a difficult fact for me to accept that I cannot personally overhaul the entire care system of our older and disabled population, haha? BUT not so difficult that it obscures this picture: when we learn better, safer, and foster a community of care and best practices, it may not help every patient everyday. But it will help some, some days. That is so much more than if you weren't there. Or if I weren't there (not to sound too arrogant).

Where I live there's something called an rCNA which is a rehabilitative (or restorative, I think?) CNA. They are supposed to work with residents specifically to help restore ROM and maintain strength and mobility. It's a few weeks of extra training and you wouldn't have to remediate your whole CNA course.

Not sure if you have looked into this or if your state also has HHA courses available...you could also consider applying for an administrative position and then moving into CNA role once you feel more comfortable. Many people do this at the hospital where I was.