CNA requirement after 1st quarter completion?

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My school requires a CNA PRIOR to acceptance to the program. IF the school accepts a student, sends a letter of acceptance with no contingency in completion of a CNA license (the school is fully aware that the student does not hold a CNA) and accept Federal funding (GI Bill) from the VA, can they remove the student for not having it after completion of the first quarter? The student is passing all 4 classes with flying colors. Also, the State does not require a CNA. Would it be adviseable to get a lawyer?

Specializes in Forensic Nurse.
Why are you willing to spend the time and money to hire a lawyer, but not to meet the program's requirement to get your CNA?

Because we live in a very litigious society and people can sue for any and everything:) A very bad flaw in our country.

I feel like these days everyone wants to make a statement to say that they fighting for the little people, and to let our voices be heard.

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Why are you willing to spend the time and money to hire a lawyer, but not to meet the program's requirement to get your CNA?

Cheaper and less of a hassle to have gone for the CNA training during the elapsed time since being admitted.

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Cheaper and less of a hassle to have gone for the CNA training during the elapsed time since being admitted.

Well, that's what I was thinking.

I believe I was in middle school when it dawned on me that having an excuse was good, but not needing an excuse was better. Since then, I've found that when I put in the work up front, it usually saves me time and effort overall. I'm not being superior here; just practical. From experience, shortcuts usually bite me in the butt.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
well stay the way you are; terrible. enjoy CNA

.....this does not bode well for what kind of RN coworker you will be.

In answer to your question, you could try to get a lawyer and fight it but the "best case" end result would be spending a significant amount of money just to win the opportunity to remain in a program where they basically already wanted you gone. They likely wont make life easy for you. If you can go elsewhere, or just get the CNA to appease them, it would make your path easier.

(I feel like I might start using this phrase on here a lot)...."is this the hill that you want to die on?"

Choose your battles.

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Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown, PCU.

At the very least the student in question could appeal the dismissal and ask for a meeting with the DON head to ask why she or he was removed from the program if approval was already in place that allowed for enrollment and acceptance without a CNA. A lawyer cannot likely help you and would very much likely ruin all chances of success you'd have in the program. As for VA money, file a complaint with the VA but it's likely that the school will refund the money or won't get anymore than they already have for the semester/quarter/whatever.

I'd also advise the student that if they were given a special allowance of not having a CNA, that they maybe and hopefully didn't go opening their mouth and bragging about that to everyone. Even mentioning it to a random classmate or a "friend" can be overheard and have a lot of people complain. For all you know perhaps this student in question was doing terribly in clinical and their clinical instructor had some major concerns for their behavior.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

What the state requires doesn't matter, federal funding doesn't matter. If the school requires a CNA prior to admission and made an exception for a student presumably there was a contract in place that the student would complete the CNA. Many places will allow for sitting of the CNA license exam either through CNA training or through 1 quarter of nursing school with letter from the school. Potentially the CNA certification can still be gained. If it can that solves the problem.

If there was no contract that a student needs a CNA by the end of first quarter -it is possible to contact a lawyer for a consultation to see if there is even a case. However, even if there is a case, the case may not be worth pursing simply for matters of time and money. It will very likely put the student on bad terms with their instructors and school administration even if allowed to remain. Not a pleasant place to be for the rest of one's schooling.

If there really wasn't a contract a first step would be to take copies of all admissions documents to the head of the program and ask why the lack of CNA status is a problem now. However given that most students had it prior to admission I'm guessing that there was fine print somewhere with a time line for when a student-exception would need to be caught up to their peers.

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Specializes in ICU.

I find it weird that a school would even require it. My school would not permit us to work at all during the entire first semester.

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Specializes in hospice.
I find it weird that a school would even require it. My school would not permit us to work at all during the entire first semester.

Such a school must not be interested in people with families who need to work. My LPN program requires us to be CNAs before we can even apply, and most of us are working adults with families.

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Common sense tells me that I would have just done what I was supposed to before trying to be accepted. Op...My advice is to become a CNA and then appeal your dismissal. You need to do this ASAP.

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN.
Hey, I call it like I see it, and if you're obviously blowing BS, you're not getting the kid glove treatment.

We need more of this, and less of tender-footed HCAHPS-conscious pamperers. We lost some really, really good nurses to complaints of "negativity" when they called BS on patients, coworkers, and providers. Sure there's a place for kid-gloves, but there's more often a need for no-nonsense reality checks. Sorry, waaaaay off topic. Oops. :bag:

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I find it weird that a school would even require it. My school would not permit us to work at all during the entire first semester.

My school requires CNA certification to enter the program. They don't require working as one. Truthfully, I feel it's just to "weed out" people. If someone can't handle being a CNA, they can't handle being a nurse.

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Why are you willing to spend the time and money to hire a lawyer, but not to meet the program's requirement to get your CNA?

I mentioned the same thing in my post. The time, money, and energy this person will put into suing is far more than what they would spend finishing a CNA course. It just isn't worth it to fight it.

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