CNA requirement after 1st quarter completion?

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · May 17, 2015

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.

How did this school enforce their "No Work" policy? As long as we show up to class/clinicals and make the grades whether or not we choose to work is none of their concern. How do they know if we are working or not? It could be advised but almost impossible to enforce. The only group that should be concerned if I worked or not is the IRS, because they will want their share of what I made.

It's the schools choice whether or not they have a CNA prior to admission requirement. A community college around where I live used to have this. Then they dropped the requirement. Want to guess what happened to their first semester drop rate? Per a college professor it nearly doubled. Some students found out that being a nurse will also require them to do CNA tasks during their practice and there will not always be an aide to drop the dirty work on (and those who have the attitude that they can do so irritate me something fierce. Nursing is teamwork) so they dropped out.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 17, 2015

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?

Who pays the tuition isn't relevant at all; Federal funding of your tuition has no bearing on admission or retention decisions by the school.

The school requires that every student in their nursing program have a nursing aid certification (a side note:most CNAs do not hold licenses, but rather certifications of completion of a program).

Presumably you would have been informed and understood this to be the requirement; do you agree that you knew that this requirement was in place? If so.....it really doesn't matter if the school sent a letter admitting you, it would be up to you to submit proof of anything they require at any time they ask. Because they did not ask for proof of your having completed the requirement prior to sending you the letter of admission doesn't excuse you from having to PROVIDE the proof.

Somewhere in the application process you would have signed something that stated you were responsible to complete all requirements of the program and that you were responsible to provide evidence of satisfactory completion if asked. The fact that they didn't ask prior to letting you in might just have been a streamlining process BUT doesn't relieve you of the responsibility.

A similar scenario would be a student knowing that a specific college course is required as a pre-requisite to the nursing program. Should the school admitting the student not happen to notice that the pre-requisite wasn't completed, it's still the student's responsibility to get it done.

When a nurse renews her State license to practice, the person renewing has to sign a statement that all CEUs have been completed as required....doesn't mean he/she has to submit proof right THEN, but the responsibility is on the nurse if he/she is ASKED for it and....oopsie....he/she never did them. The license they were then given under renewal is impacted, potentially even revoked.

You can get a lawyer if you like, but I strongly suspect it will go nowhere and you will then be out not only the cost of the lawyer but the cost of your first semester, as you would be removed from the program anyway. How well you are doing in the coursework is irrelevant, as the pre-requisite for even being there has not been met.

Seems like the thing to do would be to get the CNA done asap: can be done in as little as 6 weeks, if your program is willing to let you do it RIGHT NOW. If they are not, well, it will have been an expensive lesson to learn that all ducks must be in order.... no matter what.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 24, 2015

What's wrong with meeting the requirements and actually getting the CNA certification? If the thought of actually working as a CNA is what's yanking your chain, remember getting the certification doesn't mean you actually have to get work as a CNA.

mrsboots87 · May 24, 2015

So, after all the comments basically agreeing wiht RedKriptonite, and saying you should have and still should get your CNA, you choose to only come back and keep personally attacking that user. Its a bit childish and concerning for your future bedside manner.

Anyway, you read the pre reqs for the program before applying. You applied with out completing your CNA FIRST and it got overlooked, or it was assumed you would get it. You didn't ever get your CNA even though you knew it was a requirement. ANd now you are mad that the school caught the mistake and want you to get your CNA. You have no leg to stand on. You are blaming the school and saying they took federal money and let you in. But YOU disregarded a prerequisite requirement and now got caught. Too bad. Either take the CNA course or see if your state offers an education waiver to just take the state exam instead of the full CNA course, or quit while you are behind. CNA would be cheaper and take less time then a lawyer.

THinks about this, for clinical, we are also required to take a yearly PPD, keep our CPR current, keep our other vaxes current, and so on. If any of these requirements are not met and it gets overlooked one semester. Then the student would continue for that semester. If it gets caught the next semester, the student will be dropped for non compliance. This is the fault of the student seeing as the student knows the requirements. Not the fault of the school who has to over see hundreds of students.

Also, you say there was no contract or contigency to your acceptance. However, if the pre reqs clearly state a CNA cert is required, and you will have signed something saying that you have completed all coursework required of the program before you can graduate, then you cannot graduate without the CNA. The school may have thought you were smart enough to know you would be required to take that course. Not saying you are dumb, but just that it is VERY unlikely that there wasnt any agreements to get your CNA, or some fine print in the acceptance that either stated you would get your CNA, or stating that all pre reqs will need to be completed before you can graduate your program. Be glad it was caught now instead of right before graduation.

Only other thing I can think of is that someone admitted you without your CNA as a favor or something, and then got caught. Blowing smoke at the school will not get you readmitted without the CNA cert. It will just get them fired or in trouble if it hasnt already happened, and you will still be required to get your CNA.

mrsboots87 · May 24, 2015

Oh, and side note. It would bode well for you to not turn your nose up at CNAs. I am about to be a fourth semester student nurse and will be graduating in December this year. Many of the CNAs on this site are current nursing students. Making fun of one for being a CNA is a low blow and frankly dumb. You have nothing after your name on here. Should you be made fun of or talked down to because of that? I work as a CNA and can tell you I will have nothing but respect for them when I become an RN. Nurses have a lot on their plate. CNAs make that plate more manageable by taking care of more of the physical care aspect of nursing. However, if a CNA cant get to it or if you end up working somewhere that requires total care by nurses, then guess what, CNA work IS nursing care and you will be required to do it. Also, if you have a snooty attitude toward CNAs, they can and will not give the best care and can make your life harder at work. It would be better if your respected the ENTIRE healthcare team. Even us lowly CNAs.

altmer_aldmeri · May 24, 2015

Nurses do gross stuff too, if that's what you're trying to avoid...??

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 24, 2015

Just to say that personal attacks will not be tolerated hence some posts have been either removed from view or deleted.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · May 24, 2015

I'm assuming that this CNA requirement will come back and haunt her later. The school may notice the requirement is not meet just before graduation. Karma.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · May 24, 2015

Oh, and side note. It would bode well for you to not turn your nose up at CNAs. I am about to be a fourth semester student nurse and will be graduating in December this year. Many of the CNAs on this site are current nursing students. Making fun of one for being a CNA is a low blow and frankly dumb. You have nothing after your name on here. Should you be made fun of or talked down to because of that? I work as a CNA and can tell you I will have nothing but respect for them when I become an RN. Nurses have a lot on their plate. CNAs make that plate more manageable by taking care of more of the physical care aspect of nursing. However, if a CNA cant get to it or if you end up working somewhere that requires total care by nurses, then guess what, CNA work IS nursing care and you will be required to do it. Also, if you have a snooty attitude toward CNAs, they can and will not give the best care and can make your life harder at work. It would be better if your respected the ENTIRE healthcare team. Even us lowly CNAs.

This is the truth right here. Every member of the health care team needs to be respected equally as each position is important for good patient outcomes and care. No one deserves disrespect for working a specific position and no nurse should feel that they are above basic care. The patient is the number one priority and if they need something while the nurse is in the room, then they need it. I would never say, "wait, hold that thought while I get the aide".....that kind of attitude annoys me to no end!

katidid114 · May 24, 2015

Thank you for your thoughtful reply...I agree that CNA work would be useful in determining whether one would want to be a nurse. The problem came in because I was admitted and had/have NO time to do the course....the classes are 9-2 and I have school 3 days a week and begin our own clinical rotations this quarter.

As for Red Kryptonite - I believe there were some terribly rude remarks on the part of that user and that is what the CNA comment was - people who become nurses with that attitude terrify me - I have had some really bad nurses and those comments are right in line with the attitudes of those nurses.

katidid114 · May 24, 2015

Apparently my communication is not clear. :/ I've got absolutely NOTHING against ANY healthcare workers that have and do work hard and I'm terribly sorry that I was not clear - I am not being snooty towards you and I apologize for the way that came out. I simply have a problem being spoken to or treated poorly because I'm asking a question. There are a lot of things in the back story that I don't feel comfortable mentioning right now...

Thank you for the time to write and respond and I apologize if I came across being rude. :/

katidid114 · May 24, 2015

Exactly part of my point. Either way, I have completed my first quarter quite successfully and I am withdrawing as I have been accepted to another school; one that does not require a CNA. Again - to be clear - I simply do not have the time to obtain one, it is nothing against the profession AT ALL. I wish you the best of luck. :)