Does where you went for CNA school matter?

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My area has several different schools that provide CNA training. Some programs are only a few hundred dollars and only last 2 weeks while others, like the community and stae colleges, run a whole semester and cost over $1K. Does where you get your CNA training matter? Everyone takes the same exam right? And all programs have to offer nursing home clinicals from what I understand. So as long as the program is approved by my state's Nurse Aide board, it should be okay right? Do hospitals, doctor offices, etc care where you did your CNA course?

TIA!

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

It does not matter one bit as long as the school is approved by the state so you can get your certificate after. Make sure the school is able to do this then I would pick the cheapest and quickest. My CNA school was in a office park cost 400 dollars and lasted 6 weeks.

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

Very simple answer: heck no.

:)

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Specializes in ALF, Medical, ER.

Ditto the first two replies.

My class was $650 at the tech college where I will be taking RN classes. It lasted 6 weeks

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant.

i totally agree with the previous posts. it doesn't matter at all where you get your training as long as you are able to sit for your state exam. many times, the places that cost more extend the length of the class so you feel like you get your money's worth. i took my class before i let it laspe at a nuring home. it lasted for weeks and cost nothing. my friend took her class at the local tech. college, and it cost her $1400, and was six weeks. we both got the certification.

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Specializes in LTC.

As long as the class prepares you to pass the test, it doesn't matter where you take it. I personally, would go for the best deal.

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mine was 450 at a college there are some that can be cheaper

i also had a CPR class that was included( adult and infant card after completion) tb test too hth

:up:

So some may cost more just because

or you can have some that are costly but there are pluses like i have stated

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everyone is right...it doesn't matter at all!!

one suggestion...go get all of your immunizations tb, hep b, mmr as soon as possible, because you usually cannot start clinicals without those and some schools tell you way too late. ...i did find that the county health clinics will do your immunizations for free if it is for school purposes and you don't have insurance (actually, even if you do) otherwise all of the shots will cost you around $300

good luck! its hard, but rewarding work and you can get a job an hour after you take your exam!!!! :p

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my question is does cna experience help u get a job as an rn once u are through with bsn school? everyone says u have to have experience to get a job after obtaining your bsn, but how to get experience if u are just going to school, that seems pretty hard to achieve...lol so i was thinking get some cna experience first?

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It might or might not help you get a job as an RN. It's going to depend entirely on the management of the facility you apply to. I will say that the Director of Nursing at my facility strongly prefers to hire nurses who were aides first.

It IS a good idea to get some CNA experience, regardless. Not only will you be ahead of your class (the first semester is all about basic nursing care), but you will be a lot more comfortable in the healthcare setting and more comfortable with patients. It can't hurt.

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