Free CNA training/1 yr contract

MyriadIotas · Oct 27, 2011

I would be wary of committing to a one year obligation. I'm new to my area and about to start my BSN prereqs in January also after already having an unrelated B.A.

Near me there is a nursing home that has a similar arrangement, and after speaking with people who know area facilities, I realized I dodged a bullet by taking the Red Cross CNA training instead. The local nursing home with the contract/free training has a very bad reputation and high turnover. The Red Cross class was pricey though at $1,200.

If you finish a paid training program and get a job in a nursing home/long term care within a year of your training, then the facility is obligated to reimburse your training expense under OBRA 87. I would double check that though - I am about to start working at a hospital (orientation next week!), so I won't be eligible and haven't inquired further.

If you do decide to go with the nursing home, see if you can -at the very least- take a tour of the facility. Ask around your community about the facility's reputation. Find out what shifts you would be obligated to work. What floor would you be on? Will they schedule and be flexible around your class schedule? Do they provide tuition assistance/reimbursement?

I haven't worked in health care before either. In the Red Cross training, which was an 80 hour, 4 week course, I was really taken aback by working with cognitively impaired, extremely disoriented elders during our nursing home clinicals. I think I'm better suited for patients who are more aware of their surroundings. You can find out how you handle that without being "stuck." I would say pay for a training program where you'll get exposure to LTC residents without an obligation to stay there for a year. You may even be eligible for the tuition to be repaid depending on where you get hired.

scrubs09 · Nov 24, 2011

I am starting my nursing prereqs in January and I've been researching jobs in related areas to gain experience.
My area has a nursing home that gives you free CNA training, but at the end you must commit to a 1 yr. contract. This really scares me, since I've never worked in healthcare and I'm definitely not sure how I'm going to deal with LTC. I'd hate to start a new career dreading to go to work every day... but I'm also going to need to find a job while going to school.
Anyone have any advice?

where is this cause i need to look in to it

GIEndoRN, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2011

I've seen a few of these, this particular training/job is Wesley Health in Albany, NY area.

scrubs09 · Nov 28, 2011

Darn, im in NYC

student forever · Dec 1, 2011

I do not know your area, but when I lived in Ft Lauderdale and looked into this, I found out that the NH pays way low wages compared to the cna to off set the training and it ends up costing you more in the long run. But, there is job security if that is needed more. $.02

Chris787n · Dec 1, 2011

I do not know your area, but when I lived in Ft Lauderdale and looked into this, I found out that the NH pays way low wages compared to the cna to off set the training and it ends up costing you more in the long run. But, there is job security if that is needed more. $.02

Moved out of Ft. Laud? I live in Broward. But I am not going for my CNA. Good luck!

Cuddleswithpuddles · Dec 1, 2011

I am starting my nursing prereqs in January and I've been researching jobs in related areas to gain experience.
My area has a nursing home that gives you free CNA training, but at the end you must commit to a 1 yr. contract. This really scares me, since I've never worked in healthcare and I'm definitely not sure how I'm going to deal with LTC. I'd hate to start a new career dreading to go to work every day... but I'm also going to need to find a job while going to school.
Anyone have any advice?

This is my opinion and only my opinion.

I would not sign a contract to work in a very unfamiliar job and facility for a year, much less in a job that can have extremely high stress, patient loads and turnover rates.

I also would not sign the contract because I cannot fully anticipate the demands of a nursing program. No matter how neatly laid out the syllabi are, how good the school's reputation is, how flexible they claim to be etc. nursing school will often make very sudden demands on your time. It will be hard to balance that with a job you have a contract for (which probably specifies how many hours per pay period you should work).

I do not want to risk falling short of the expectations of either my school or workplace and ending up with unflattering marks on my transcripts or employment record.

Easier said than done but I would save up for a CNA program that has no strings attached. Even if you pay a couple of thousands for a CNA class, that's money that you can earn back by working as a CNA and certainly not money that can erase potential missteps made by taking on too much as a student.

Med Surg RN, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2012

Hi Tara75, I am also looking for CNA classes in my area! So far I know that Allen School and Manhattan Institute in NYC are not recommended, as mentioned by other nurses on this forum. Have you find a CNA program yet?

@ Myriad Iotas, I am currently considering the CNA course offered by the American Red Cross. I read on another thread, the ARC, I think for Los Angeles, was not very good at all and patronizing. You mentioned that you had a positive learning experience with your ARC CNA program. Which ARC did you attend? I live in NYC but am currently looking at the one in Connecticut b/c its the closest one offering the class! Thanks!

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Aug 9, 2012

I'd be worried about signing a year long contract. You'd have to really really love the facility toe sign on for a whole year and not all LTC facilities are super wonderful. On the up side it's a guaranteed job in a LTC facility, and usually after you have a year of experience in LTC you can work anywhere as a CNA. I'm still trying to get a job in LTC or a hospital and most LTC facilities don't want me because I have no real LTC experience.

GIEndoRN, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2012

Hi Tara75, I am also looking for CNA classes in my area! So far I know that Allen School and Manhattan Institute in NYC are not recommended, as mentioned by other nurses on this forum. Have you find a CNA program yet?

I ended up not going the CNA route. I actually went the other way- got my EMT and I'm doing that part-time now while going to school. I really enjoy the field and feel it was a better fit for me.