Info about CNA schools in Pinellas county

hardlyw0rking · Feb 7, 2009

PTEC is State Approved Nurse Assistant Training. I think Red Cross is not. I don't think Reed is but they may be.

I would recommend state approved training. You'll need to call the BoN for the list of State approved schools. There are too many lists from 2005 and 2006 floating on the DoH site for download. Get the right one.

State approved is a little more time and a little more money than test prep. But school is an investment that will pay for itself. All other things equal between you and other job candidates, except you have State Approved NAT and they don't, may mean getting by getting hired weeks earlier than others.

But first, ask a few questions.

Do you want to work as a CNA? Where? Call them and five like them and ask what training program would best prepare you to work there.

At the same time I would mention you have chosen nursing as a career. It might be a little too soon right after the previous question to mention your plan to get your bachelor's degree in nursing, but if you know the college and anticipated graduation date tell them.

I guess I'm saying start at the goal and trace backwards to find the path from where you are.

ncmomof5 · Feb 7, 2009

Great advice! Thank you for your response.

I do have much to think about in pursuing the CNA route -- not convinced it is the best route for me.

I have marketable IT skills and wonder if working as a unit secretary would allow me to gain enough medical experience and to qualify for nursing education assistance. If I worked in a hospital IT department, I think they may only pay for me to take IT courses since that would be the logical career path for someone working in IT.

hardlyw0rking · Feb 8, 2009

I like this question

I have marketable IT skills and wonder if working as a unit secretary would allow me to gain enough medical experience and to qualify for nursing education assistance.

It is direct and can be answered best by a facility. Lots of people have done the sme thing starting out in dietary or building maintenance and become nurses, x-ray techs, CNA's, everything. But you need that answered from the right facility.

Sit down at the PC with a telehone at hand. Go here. Choose the facility type and Pinellas or nearby county. Untick "Only Health Care Providers with Documents" Then search and call. It is too easy to ignore an application, or question submitted online, or email, so I discourage it. Like being in IT I have to tell you people ignore form submissions and e-mail. :)

But you could use the info from the db like exact name or address to Google their website and snoop around. Call to get the education assistance info from the facilities you'd guess have significant IT presence or ones where you'd like to work. Just ask for HR.

Now, punch up the ALF's, zipcode near you, and call to ask where they recommend you go to school for CNA training. If you go CNA test prep, I believe your best chance today for emplyment is an ALF. So that's why the specific search.

Now, punch up the Hospitals or other facility types and call to ask where they recommend you go to school for CNA training. There may be a happy campus that exists on lists from each set of calls. GL

ncmomof5 · Feb 8, 2009

you are just chock-full of info. thank you, thank you, thank you! this is excellent!

HappyHeart721 · Mar 24, 2009

First being a State Approved Nurse CNA Testing Site does not mean anything.... any center can allow the state to USE the SITE.... THAT IS ALL it means... THEY USE THE SITE... it does not guarantee that that program is great or anything. The State of Florida does not pay anyone... so it becomes a marketing tool for those who want to mislead you.

Look deeper at these programs.... you get what you pay for... there are many that do not do a very good job.

Some of these TEST PRE SITES that HOST the Testing have 80% failure rate.

Price is another area... belive me... if they have a good program and are doing everything in their power to HELP YOU PASS THE FIRST TIME... they will not GIVE it away CHEAP... it takes time and money to put together a successful CNA Test PREP program.

Also, some of these sites that advertise a CHEAP PRICE DO NOT have any Hands-On Training.... and some use SIMULATED VIDEOS... which means their is no Hands-On.... Training and No REAL teacher.

Also, a few of them FREQUENTLY CHANGE THEIR NAME..... so when there is a lot of NEGATIVE Internet stuff on the Search Engines... they CHANGE THEIR NAME to something new.

Ask how long they have been in business.... some of these people who set up these centers have NEVER been in Nursing a day in their life.... this is a BIG Problem.

Quality Health Care.

Tampa Bay CNA / Sun Coast CNA

Florida Medical Prep

All these above have been in the area for a while and are not going anywhere. They Care about your success.

Ask How Long the Center has been open?

Ask How Long they have been TEACHING the Class?

Ask if there is any hands-on training?

Ask what is their Success Rate?

What is their RETURN to Class Policy? Can you come back and train if you need to?

Ask WHAT the price includes?

BE CLEAR..... If it is too good to be true... usually there is something wrong.

classykaren · Mar 25, 2009

I went to Reed's and loved it it is run by a LPN great school and they allow you to attend as many classes as you like before testing we had hands on training daily

HappyHeart721 · Mar 25, 2009

dear classickaren....

i am happy that you had a great experience.

however, you must realize that the organization you mention... advertises that anyone; even without ever being a cna, lpn,rn or doctor, can open a cna test prep in florida... nothing more needs to be said.

the organizations that i listed are seasoned professionals... not fly by night business deals.

teaching nursing is a passion for them... not a business deal. it is about helping others have better opportunities in life.... it is about walking hand-in-hand with the student and helping them develop their bed side skills... participating in their life.... so they can be greater... and bless their patients with compassionate caring hands and heart. professionals are there because they love helping others... is not about the next new business deal.

some test prep centers open and 3 to 4 months... advertise very cheap price and then .... later when they have high failure rate or few or no students... they close... there are so many people looking for a fast buck today.....

personally, for me, i would say it is best to have a teacher who has walked the walk in the medical field. this is pretty obvious.

how can you teach a class when you have no experience doing the work? what level of teaching and information can you give? where is the life experience to draw to realte to your students?

from their web site: "you can be up and running within weeks. the best thing is you don't have to be in the medical field to own a cna school."in florida you do not have to be in the medical field to teach a prep class.

bottom line.... ask questions....

classykaren · Mar 25, 2009

That organization is wonderful what school do you own again? Is it the one in tampa?

ncmomof5 · Mar 25, 2009

some good points are raised here. i don't know if you work at one of these schools or not -- but regardless you raise some great points.

i firmly believe that to be happy with your career choices and to perform well you must love what you do. you can never be the best-of-the-best unless it is your passion. i think in medicine this is paramount because it is such an emotional job -- not just the nurses emotions. i find it disturbing when someone enters a medicine (or teaching medicine) to get rich or says "that job pays well". i know many people like that; but they usually burn-out.

i think it is important that the technical knowledge combined with the personal experience knowledge is transferred creating a stronger effect and much better quality of education. i was a corporate trainer teaching new bleeding-edge technology (concept to beta phase) computer classes to network engineers. my passion had to be transferred to my students and they needed to retain it to make it through the challenges of the career. i know from my experience as a technical trainer, i could never have effectively trained my students unless i had walked-the-walk. when you have been in the trenches yourself you know their concerns and issues and are more effective. in computers (bleeding edge technology) the technology changes so rapidly you really need an instructor who is also currently working in the trenches. i have been out of the trenches for a few years and that is why i'm making the career change.

i will check into the schools you recommended. thanks to all for the recommendations. personal recommendations go a long way with me too. :)

Jena2008 · Apr 18, 2009

Reeds Medical Prep charges a lower price so people can afford there class, they are not about making money, there pass rate is 99% because they do every thing they can to help you pass, a nurse run's the school with all her heart.:heartbeat The school also offers Scholarships. I'ts not just 1 week, or some kind of Boot camp. Reeds medical Prep lets student's sit in on classes as long as they want until they take there test. It's a shame that other schools feel the need to bash other schools (Is it because they don't like competion or they are afraid of this school's great reputation!!!!!!!) competion is good. As for as business opp that is not part of the school. Let's all live in harmony, be kind to one another. God Bless

classykaren · Apr 18, 2009

I agree with you Jena I loved going to Reeds so much so I am now going to school for LPN I miss everyone up there they really try to help everyone I recomend Reeds to everyone :yeah: