CNA Training in the Tampa area? HELP!

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Ok, I'm completely lost and I need your help!

My situation: I'm currently working FT as a financial analyst and taking my pre reqs for an ABSN program. I am taking online pre reqs (USF offers EVERYTHING online), and while I am doing OK, I would rather take live lectures and labs after this semester. I am not gaining as much as I could be from this experience!

I want to become a CNA to not only get me patient experience, but do allow me to work a different schedule than I currently do. I have only ever worked in the corporate world, so I want some different experience before I apply to nursing programs in the next year or two.

The issue: I CANNOT find what looks to be any legit CNA training in the tampa bay area. It seems to be a lot of "exam prep" courses, but not any actual hands on training.

Can anyone please refer me to a program they personally used, or know someone who did? I feel dumb asking this. I like to see myself as an educated woman, but every website that claims to list CNA programs is either very user unfriendly, or links to ripoff schools.

*I have e-mailed USF nursing asking for anything they recommend, however they tend to take a while to get back.

Additional question: Will being a CNA hurt my chances of admittance? I have seen this idea thrown around several times. I am very aware being a CNA vs RN is very different (I have both in my family, actually!), but I'm really doing this to get some "boots on the ground" experience before I dive into a 16 month RN program and career change.

Thank you!

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