CNA Training at a Long-Term Care Facility?

[aaron_j_sutter]

I am a 30 year old male w/ a family at home and currently working in retail. I am looking to transition into the medical field and I am considering CNA training but what I really want to do is PCT (Patient Care Tech). I found a long0term care facility that provides cna training for new employees but they also require a 1 year commitment after the training. Does anyone now if long-term care facilities are good places to get your training? Any advice would be appreciated.

[krissy.tan]

im doing that right now. its not so bad.. as long as you have a GOOD preceptor.

[lvntrail, LPN]

I think the one year commitment is very long for a relatively breif training- especially if its not what you really want to do..is there another practical way for you to get to your goal? And as the other poster said it will depend alot on your trainer- but even with a poor trainer in a year of "on-the job" you would learn alot ;-) good and bad! Since you are 30 with family it seems like finding the fastest way to your real goal would be best. Good luck!

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

You'll probably need a year of experience in long term care to get a PCT position anyway. You might hate it though. CNA work is not for everyone, especially in a nursing home. I guess it's worth a shot- how much do you have to pay them back if you quit before the year is up?

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

LTC's are very good places to get experience. You will work in a busy environment, take care of a lot of patients and get a lot of practice with your CNA skills. If you can get your certification paid for and have a guaranteed job for a year, I wouldn't pass up that opportunity.

[daiseekim]

That is how I got my training as a CNA. I thought it was a great experience. Not only did I get the hands on training but the facility also paid me while I was in class. It is really rough work but rewarding at the same time. I don't remember how long the program was cause it was 12 years ago, but if you are on a time crunch, I would say this is the way to go. Good luck :)

[nguyency77, CNA]

My supervisor actually told me she was skeptical about hiring me, since I was trained when I was a volunteer and then later through a CNA program. She said prefers hiring CNA that were nursing home trained, since they seem to have less trouble transitioning to the real world.

LTC is not for everyone. It is challenging; coworkers, patients' families, and the patients/residents themselves can be trying. The work is physically demanding. But it is also rewarding.

If you go through with it, you'll have a job for a year and certification test paid for. I think that would save you the trouble and possibly some time invested in a job hunt. Best wishes!

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

The one year commitment is an "insurance" on their investment. They give you FREE training, in fact they pay you!! Why shouldn't you give them a year. That is just my take on it.

Anyway, I did just that. I gave them a year of service and then went to the hospital and nursing school. I will always remember my time in long term care. It was hard. I meant to say that it was HARD!! However, I enjoyed the residents so much. They are truly like living history books. It is amazing the lives you will come across. You will find people that once were "powerful" and in-charge that are now bewildered and dependent on others. You will find people that have lived lives and have experienced stuff that we will only read about.

Geriatrics are a huge population in the health care system. It would serve you well in your medical career to have worked with them in LTC. (IMHO)