How regarded is the American Red Cross CNA Program in CT?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Specializes in CNA.

Just wondering if anyone took their CNA training with the American Red Cross and how was your experience?

I was taking the CNA course at a local College and the Clinical Instructor was absolutely unbearable. Much more, but that is the gist of it. I met with the Allied Health Coordinator this week with all my documentation and asked if I could change Clinical location. We had 3 Nursing Homes to choose from and I know this location has only a few students. My average is a 94 in the classroom portion, but I cannot learn anything from my current clinical Instructor.

Despite meeting yesterday with the Director of the Allied Health programs, I was denied to move my Clinical until I met with my present instructor, and honestly, this woman is so demeaning, belittling, I simply could not do it.

I dismissed myself from the program and am looking at the American Red Cross for CNA training. There is an open house tonight and I am going to go and check it out.

Anyone else take the course through them? Thank you.

I've heard the Red Cross training is good so I would go for it. Unlike with many careers, in the nursing field the school name is not really all that important. As long as you have received the appropriate certification, that's all a potential employer is going to look at. It's good to pick up a reference or two while you take a course so be sure to ask your teacher or clinical instructor if they will be a future reference for you. Best wishes :)

Specializes in CNA.

Thanks! I went to their open house tonight and registered while up there for the May course. It's a nice set up classroom. Only 10 students and lots of practice tools. Hospital beds with fake patients, wheel chairs, etc.

Good for you for finding another place to learn. When I did it, there were only 8 people in the entire class. It was fun and personable. My instructors were always very nice and helped when they could. Good luck to you come May!!

Wow, you guys both have small classes. My classroom has about 30 students, but for clinicals we only have 10 students per instructor. I like having a large class because there's such a variety of students but my teacher is making us do a presentation, so I definitely wish there were only 10 people we had to present to. The presentation isn't factored into our grade but it's a requirement and you get pass/fail for it. I think we're all dreading it.

Specializes in CNA.

I dismissed myself from the Community College CNA program and yes, we had at least 25 students in the Classroom section. But there were 3 Clinical sites to choose from. And I think those accepted only 10 students a piece.

Good luck on your presentation. Remember, many people are as nervous as you and most likely concerned about their own nervousness when you are presenting. :eek:

I'm taking the American Red Cross CNA training (in week 2 of 4 now). I find it has been a good organization to work with, very professional with prompt follow up to any questions. The instructors are very experienced RN's and have worked in a CNA role at some point during their career. They offer day and evening classes. I am in the day class with only 8 students and finding that we can get through all the material and get out early some days without taking any shortcuts. The instructor will remain onsite for the full duration of class time, so if you want to practice your skills for clinicals, or just stay and read your nightly assignment you are always welcome. They give you everything you need to suceed in the course and pass clinicals for your State certification. If you are nervous about the pass/fail thing the best advice I can give is practice makes perfect! You will not know which skills you will have to perform so utilize your time, the facility, equipment and the instructor. They will even tell you upfront to do as much as you want onsite and get your money's worth out of the program. After only a week, I'm very confident in this program. As far as learning about becoming a CNA, they dont sugar coat it but also give the positives and benefits of the CNA position. The program will go into detail about the differences between working in all the most common types of facilities.

You will get the answers you need to know to decide what setting is right for you depending on where you are going with your career. No, it's not all in the book. You will have to do some research and most importantly be honest with yourself!

I just graduated from a ARC CNA class. It was a 5 week course and I was happy with it. Our clinicals were at an LTC facility and an assisted living facility. I got more practical experience in the nursing home facility than the assisted living facility (I had to work in the closed door section for the dementia patients because I was a male). The course work was geared towards passing your boards. I'm waiting for my letter to tell me when my CNA boards are.

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