Frustrated with This CNA school

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I'm pretty frustrated with CNA school I'm currently enrolled in. I've got 2 more weeks to go (I am doing a weekend course) and I'm in it because it's a requirement for their LVN course.

Anyway, most of the theory classes were via videotapes played for us. Then we're expected to practice on each other and be on our own. After 8 days of theory, we were off to do our clinicals at a LTC facility and expected to do everything already.

Two people already quit, feeling unprepared for it all, and not getting the instruction that they felt they needed. I'm ready to quit, too, but since I've got 2 more weekends, I guess I'll tough it out.

Our instructor meanwhile tells us that this LTC will probably be shut down soon because of some of their practices, that if we were taking this CNA course to get into the LVN program, then we should consider other schools instead of this one (she reworded it later on to say that she just wanted us to check out other schools so we don't waste our time and money), and that the LVN instructor who's also there with her students at the same time as we are is not doing what she's supposed to do, blah blah blah.

It's all drama, I think, and try not to get involved.

then midterm rolls in and the isntructor tells us that we have 50 question midterm. When the questionnaire comes, it's 250 questions! She then apologizes and says that because she saw that the last number on the questionnaire was 50, she assumed it was when it turned out that the midterm test is divided into chapters - chap 1 questions go from 1 - 50, then chap 2 questions go from 1 - 43, and so on, and we just fill out the scantron as 1 - 50 for chap 1 and 51 - 93 for chap 2 and so on. In the end, we needed 3 scantrons.

When I submit my test, the instructor tells me that i'm one number short. The girl next to me has the same amount of questions, while another student has one question more than the required number. It was a mess, and after 90 minutes of test taking and confusion over what number I missed in the questionnaire, the instructor told us to throw the scantrons away and that we were going to take a 50-question midterm next week instead.

The Director of the school blamed the instructor for not making her own exam, the instructor blamed the CEO for telling her to use the school exam, and the CEO blamed the school secretary for making the copies. All this in front of the students.

So I'm pretty frustrated :angryfire ...

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WOW, it sounds like my CNA instructor. I couldn't wait to get done. I also attend a University for my BSN. I had a very bad experience getting my CNA cert. I was told by my instructor that I had dyslexia and she also told our class that we were the worst class she ever had. She gave us a lot of encouragement. :devil: It was the worst experience of my entire health experience. I just wanted to give you a little advice. If you are planning on continuing your education into Nursing, CNA is not a bad way to get started. I think you will learn a lot. STICK IT OUT!!!!!!! You only have 2 more wks. I wish you all the luck.

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I just subscribed to this forum because I'm searching for schools that offer CNA training. My child's EIP agency offered to send me info about their CNA training program, but They don't move fast enough for me :lol2: so I decided to do some of my own footwork, as usual. I did find two schools (one closer and just sounds better), so I'm hoping to get info from them and then maybe the agency will have sent me their info. There seems to be a lack of schools in my area offering CNA training, or maybe it's a lack of schools offering the kind of flexibility that I need.

At this point, my plan is to get into a CNA program, get certified, get a job, (take some financial strain off my husband and arrange for some sort of appropriate child care for my special needs child, maybe leaning on extended family a bit) and hopefully eventually find a hospital or some place that will help me become an RN, then maybe RN to BSN ... but that's too far ahead to think about yet.

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At this point, my plan is to get into a CNA program, get certified, get a job, (take some financial strain off my husband and arrange for some sort of appropriate child care for my special needs child, maybe leaning on extended family a bit) and hopefully eventually find a hospital or some place that will help me become an RN, then maybe RN to BSN ... but that's too far ahead to think about yet.

Hi amadoulah713 I'm doing the exact thing as you are ! My son also has special needs and have been a stay at home mom for 9 years. I'm enrolled in a CNA class that will start in Jan. It's an evening program and works with my son's schedule. I just wanted to say Hi and Good Luck!

To the OP: Hang in there your almost done!

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Yeah, I been classes of very poor quality, where the instructor reads verbatim off the powerpoint slides provided and adds no material of his or her own. I can imagine your situation clearly (how accurately is a different matter) and know it can be frustrating. Hopefully you can find material outside of the class and a willing volunteer, that can makeup for the deficiency of the class.

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Hi amadoulah713 I'm doing the exact thing as you are ! My son also has special needs and have been a stay at home mom for 9 years. I'm enrolled in a CNA class that will start in Jan. It's an evening program and works with my son's schedule. I just wanted to say Hi and Good Luck!

To the OP: Hang in there your almost done!

mom2mojolo - your post really means a lot to me, thank you! I've also been a stay at home mom for 9 years - my oldest is 9, my little one is 33 months and will transition into a special ed preschool soon.

Would it be okay if I PM'd you some time? I think it might be helpful if I could talk to someone in similar circumstances.

Tomorrow I hope to visit a local school that looks promising - evening classes, 8 week program ... I'm hopeful.

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mom2mojolo - your post really means a lot to me, thank you! I've also been a stay at home mom for 9 years - my oldest is 9, my little one is 33 months and will transition into a special ed preschool soon.

Would it be okay if I PM'd you some time? I think it might be helpful if I could talk to someone in similar circumstances.

Tomorrow I hope to visit a local school that looks promising - evening classes, 8 week program ... I'm hopeful.

Sure you can PM me anytime! I was going to ask you the same.

Good luck with your school I hope it works out! I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

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Hang in there. You don't have long to go and remember this is something you have to go through to get to your next goal. There are many instructors and many school programs or parts of school programs that are not worth what we pay for them but you have to go through it to get that license in the end. So focus on the right things and don't get discouraged by the negatives.

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