interested in becoming a CNA/STNA (OH)

[shrimpchips]

Right now I have my HS diploma and I'm nearing the end of my freshman year in college. I live in Ohio and I'm persuing my BSN (and later an MSN) but in the meantime I would really like to get a job as a CNA/STNA because I really think that it would help prepare me for nursing school, and I think I'm just overly excited about "getting out there" in the nursing field so being a CNA/STNA sounds like a good option. I was also thinking about an LPN but most colleges that offer LPN programs have waiting lists and I don't want to deal with that! Anyway, I have some questions concerning becoming a CNA/STNA...

1. Does anybody know of any CNA/STNA training programs in the Cleveland *OR* Akron area?

2. How much do these programs generally cost (or are they free?)

3. What's the pay like?

4. What kind of hours do you work? I don't want to work TOO much because even though I'm a "prenursing" student (that's already admitted to the college of nursing at my university lol) I'm still hoping to actually get a seat in the CON so I can start my clincals - and school comes first. I'm looking to only work maybe a few nights / week.

5. What exactly is the difference between a CNA and an STNA? I know CNA stands for certified nurses' assistant and STNA stands for state trained nursing aid and apparently STNA is really only used in ohio, but is there a difference?

[shetaker]

Hi Amber I have been looking around alot for a stna program the only free one i found was as Pleasant late villa in Parma Ohio but since they dont have another class starting until june the cheapest place i found was Absolute health services located in Independence Ohio they are $450.00 and the class takes 2 weeks full time days or $500.00 part time evenings they offer 2 classes a month for full time and 1 class every 6 or 7 weeks for part time hope this helps

1. Does anybody know of any CNA/STNA training programs in the Cleveland *OR* Akron area?

Look around, a lot of nursing homes offer classes or go to a career center. thats where I went in high school

2. How much do these programs generally cost (or are they free?)

Mine was a couple hundred. It was in my school fees so I'm not sure of the exact amount.

3. What's the pay like?

I started out @ $10.25 three years ago and is now making $11.30, but my nursing pays better than some. My friend started out and just over $9

4. What kind of hours do you work?

I work a few nights a week on 2nd which is 2-10 @ my job

5. What exactly is the difference between a CNA and an STNA? I know CNA stands for certified nurses' assistant and STNA stands for state trained nursing aid and apparently STNA is really only used in ohio, but is there a difference?

Just a different certification, and yes, I believe Ohio and maybe some other states have State Tested Nursing Assistants while others have Certified Nursing Assistants

hi amber there is a nursing home on ridge road in parma called Pleasant lake villa that offers a free stna class the only down fall is that they are booked for april and are not having a class in may the next class starts in june I didnt want to wait that long so i started checking around and the cheapest place i found to go is Absolute health services located on rockside woods blvd. off rockside in Indepenence They have a 2 week full time class that they offer 2 times a month which is a day time class the price of that class is $450.00 they also offer a part time evening class that is offered every 6 or 7 weeks and the price of that class is $500.00 I hope this helps you