Do you think CNA is worth it?

caliotter3 · Dec 26, 2014

A CNA certificate would offer more job opportunities. Look for courses in the adult division of your local high school, the regional occupational center, or a community college, for more reasonable tuition/fee rates.

nlitened · Dec 26, 2014

What is the average hourly rate for CNA's in your state? Also, maybe do the full course-CNA, HHA, and PCT. Home health gives you a lot of flexibility. I think getting certified would be worth it...just do a lil research on pay for your area and look into what facilities/agencies are hiring.

Missingyou, CNA · Dec 27, 2014

Living on the border of CT and Rhode Island, with family in CT, I know the average pay for a CNA (in a nursing home)in the north east Connecticut is between $8.75 and $9.50 an hour. New Haven area is also about the same, I don't know about Hartford area, but can bet it is about the same.

It is difficult for a CNA in Northeast CT to find work, tho not impossible. (I've tried unsuccessfully for almost a year & I have +20yrs exp). It is just about impossible to get into a hospital which pays a bit more (but not by much), without at least 6 months experience as a CNA.

In Connecticut, you can work in home health care without being certified, but you will not be able to touch a patient. You will only be allowed to do household cleaning/meal prep/companionship and the pay is minimum wage or slightly higher with unpredictable hours.

I lived and worked in CT for many years.

I personally think you will be better off (in Connecticut) looking for work in group homes for mentally retarded adults. There is more work available, you won't have to pay for certification (group homes pay for your "training"). Working in a group home is much easier than working in a nursing home as it is typically 2 staff for 6 residents or less (in a nursing home it is 1 CNA to 10+ residents). Granted, you may end up working with physically aggressive residents, but you can ask if any of the residents in a home are "behavioral challenges" if you are uncomfortable working with them. (The home will provide you with training to safely deal with behaviors).

The pay is also much better working in a group home for retarded adults. Average pay is about $10. an hour. I worked for one that start pay was $11.50 hr. and after 4 years there, I was making $15 and hr.

Don't know what area of CT you are in, but in New Haven area group home agencies include SARAH ( 2 diffferent branches include SARAH/Tuxis & SARAH/Seneca, Vantage group and GoodWill industries and a few others. In Norwich/New London area there is Whole Life, Connecticut institute for the Blind/oak hill(yes, they are group homes for the mentally retarded even tho name implys for the blind)This agency is HUGE and covers most of the state.

Another possibility is working in an adult day care program or "Adult day Center", which is basically a day program for seniors who need supervision during the day. (average pay about $9. hr).

Check out indeed.com and search Group homes or day programs.

Ashtae220 · Dec 27, 2014

Thank you for the advice, I live near Waterbury. There seems to be tons of CNA jobs available around here. Other people have told me 13-15 an hour is doable, but I want as much feedback as possible. I have worked in group homes before. The work isn't awful but I have found the people who work with me to be awful. I have seen a lot of abuse and a lot of abuse being covered up in this environment. Many people working who have no business working so I am wary of it. I make 1400 a month now only working 35 hours a week and don't want to downgrade from that to much so that's a big consideration.

RunnerD1987 · Dec 27, 2014

Ha I am in the process of applying for 1:1 paraprofessional school jobs right now. I knew our hospital was the highest paying for nursing technicians at $20 to $22 an hour, but you had to take the supplement training of being a PCA beforehand...they are frozen right now. Not all to familiar with the northern side of CT. I know New Haven Hospital is diverse with their staffing pool, but take on a lot of PCAS. With that said they will train good CNAs to be PCAs. Danbury Hospital mostly hires CNAs trains them. Danbury I'd decent pay. I say you probably average $10-$12 as A CNA with a hospital or rehabilitation center. Nursing home pay will probably be on the low end. With PCA you probably average from $14 to $18 an hour with differentials.

I know a lot of the CNAs and PCA programs at the community college are part of the Work Force Initiative act so if you know you are not getting a contract renewal go for that when you apply for unemployment.

Best of luck with everything and continue to check

https://k12jobspot.com/Connecticut-teaching-jobs

RunnerD1987 · Dec 27, 2014

Also take it and don't mean to be too personal. I would say you have some college experience. If so your involvement as a Spec Ed. Prof. look into group homes/residential. There are three predominant all female ones in Litchfield, Waterbury, and Bethlehem. Not sure how the pay is...after I loss my job at the hospital worked at a residential making around $13 an hour. I would be confident you wouldn't dip below $11 an hour. The three organizations are CT Junior Republic ask about their CARE program. Wellspring and NAFI Litchfield CT. The latter have a school on site so you might be interested in those programs.

Not meaning to go off track a lot of these programs are state and grant funded so your job is like a piece of thread and a pair of scissors. With the state budget not so hot and back on a hiring freeze it is risky, but think that is how any job's are now. Also DCF is trying to do a big shift from residential and group homes. You have to work to become med certified to get a raise most of the time. With the state micromanagement have to now have a bachelor's to become a supervisor. Having a bachelor's degree opens door's once you are in but the master's degree is the real key to advancement.

RunnerD1987 · Dec 27, 2014

Also sorry for the overload, highly familiar with the job market since looking for job's since May. If you have a bachelor's degree can do long term substitute where after three months can make $200 a day. Only downside no benefits or insurance. Also I am looking into Behavior Technician positions with school's. You have to have a bachelor's degree and certification. However, the certification can be done online in a month for $400. Most of them hire you on and complete the certificate in three months. Waterbury is going to have big hiring for this position soon.

Again I am bias due to me actively looking for job's and need to keep the competive edge. Also with group homes and residentials pay is minimal, job stability is weak, minimum growth, and not a challenging work environment.

Ashtae220 · Dec 27, 2014

I love being a 1:1 paraprofessional. It is so much better than working at group homes. I have also been lucky enough to have some great kids who I adore. Plus you can't beat the paid Christmas, Thanksgiving and April breaks and snow days. I would stay at my school without question but in June we will be losing 1/3 of our students. I work at district funded private school and we are struggling right now. I am a good employee. I frequently get achievement awards. But all the staff is good. I've only worked there two years. Most of my co-workers have worked there five years or more. So I doubt I will be kept.

If you can get a paraprofessional job run with it. Many places pay only 10 an hour. Others only provide 19 hours a week. That's the biggest challenge with the field. Other places will pay you 15-19 an hour but are harder to get into. It's hard to know if you will be working with ED which can be challenging or LD which I think is much less stressful.

I could go back to group homes. I am PMT, Handle With Care, First Aid, and CPR certified. I have previously worked for 3 different agencies. My Med. Cert is lapsed but I can easily pass the test again. But if I did I would be a job coach or work 3rd shift because it's safer. I don't have my bachelors yet but I am over 95 credits in for degree in human services.

Ashtae220 · Dec 27, 2014

If you live in CT and you are looking for a job in a group home it shouldn't be too difficult (so long as you don't live on the side of CT near Rhode Island). I have always been able to find a job within 2 months. Some of the agencies in CT (these are all over) are Ability Beyond Disability, Institute of Professional Practice, CSI, RMI, Key Human Services, Oak Hill, all of the Arcs (arc of meriden, arc of litchfield, etc.), Dungarvin, Marrakech, Education Connection-- there are more those are the ones I remember off the top of my head. Not all of these are the best places to work, but they all do pay over 11 an hour.

I hope that helps some of you guys!

Bbett, MSN, NP · Dec 27, 2014

I am a nurse assistant in Michigan and we start out at 14/hour. If you plan on ever furthering your career I wouldn't get your CNA. If you have any interest in becoming an RN, you can work as a CNA after you complete your first semester of nursing school. Kills two birds with one stone!

ajmclean · Dec 27, 2014

Great advice.