Do you need experience to be a Nurse's Aide?

fluffwad · Jan 8, 2005

In most states you have to take / pass the nurse aide training course. Many nursing homes have training courses. I'm not sure what the hospitals usually do.

SBUalum03 · Jan 10, 2005

Usually to be a nurses aide you must have experience or a certificate from a program. There are a few programs around the Tri-state. You can try the Allen School (downtown Brooklyn), I think it's $800 for the course. You can also try the Manhattan Institute which is in mid-town and it's cheaper. Both of these can be found on the web. NY Presbyterian and Saint Vincent's both advertise jobs for nurses aides or nurses assistants.

Good Luck!

kjt2004 · Jan 11, 2005

You should go directly to the director of the nursing program at BMCC and find out if there is a waiting list. Also find out what can be your plan of action to enter the program.

If that fail go to Hostos Community College in the Bronx. i know for a fact there is no waiting list there. They have an LPN and RN program. The hurdle to getting into that program is passing the pre req's.

As for working as a NA you can go directly to the hospital websites and find out what positions they have available. call human resoures.

Another position to consider is unit secretary.

I have been reading through the threads on this site, and I would like to thank everyone for all their great responses. I have decided to make a career change to nursing, which I am very excited about! I am taking some pre req's at BMCC starting this month, although I am not sure I will try to get into clinical at BMCC since I have been reading all about the wait lists.
While doing some pre req's I would love to get some experience and I was wondering if experience is necessary to be a nursing aide.
Also, nursing aide jobs don't appear to be posted on local hospital websites, does anyone know of any places in New York City that are looking for Nursing Aides?
Thanks!

SBUalum03 · Jan 11, 2005

You should go directly to the director of the nursing program at BMCC and find out if there is a waiting list. Also find out what can be your plan of action to enter the program.
If that fail go to Hostos Community College in the Bronx. i know for a fact there is no waiting list there. They have an LPN and RN program. The hurdle to getting into that program is passing the pre req's.
As for working as a NA you can go directly to the hospital websites and find out what positions they have available. call human resoures.
Another position to consider is unit secretary.

Acutally there is no waiting list at BMCC, but and that's a BIG BUT, you must have a high GPA to get into clinical. If the mean GPA is 3.8 (which is very possible) and you get a 3.799 you will have to apply the next semster and the semester after that and the semester after that if your GPA is not good enough. It's doable!