Red Cross CNA program??

[southeRNgirl185]

Has anyone else taken the HHA/CNA program through the Red Cross in Worcester?? I am signed up for this summer and I am very excited but a bit nervous with all the material in such a short amount of time (4 weeks!!) Any words of advice from people that have done this before? Thanks! :wink2:

[Jillian01520]

"I am starting my class on the 22nd as well, in Worcester. When I signed up I was told that if you pass the course, they will help you to sign up for the state test at a later date. Hope that helps! "

Thank you. I was told that as well but what I don't understand is that going to clinicals is a part of the CNA course so what test do you have to pass to attend clincals? Maybe I am completely misunderstanding this lol.

You have to pass the red cross skills test before you do clinical portion. there is 4 days of skills testing and then 4 days of clinicals.

[Steph_Student Nurse]

i'm currently at a LTC facility but I have had many many clinicals during my 4 years at my college (i'm one class away from my RN). I was very greatful to be hired at my place of employement soon after after I recieved my license. I literally learned as I went. I had no idea how to use hoyer lifts, gait belts (so simple, right?) which I would think seeing as that is a basic CNA thing they would have taught us. So I definetly felt underprepared going into my first job. Luckily I have great staff where I work (I'm now a supervisor) and they were very understanding when I first started. I'm not too sure how other facilities would be.

With the respect to the "clinicals" in the CNA course..you basically do two rounds at a facility, we were actually at Clifton Nursing and Rehab in Somerset. When we went there (and this just goes to show you how unprepared THEY were) they gave us pretty complex patients seeing as though we had not learned the basic skills of CNA work. I remember I had a patient who was bed bound, extremely overweight, and i was BY MYSELF. I would not think, especially starting out, that that is the type of patient you would want a student to learn off of first. You move on gradually. I got through it, but the instructors were definetly flustered and I would tell they were overwhelmed also.

[southeRNgirl185]

Thank you for everyone's feedback! I feel a little bit better now about the class overall, though I think I will learn much more when I am outside of the classroom. Good luck to everyone who starts class tomorrow! I've read my chapters and I'm ready to go!

[ann22]

I am so surprised to hear the comments about the instructors at Fall River Red Cross. I am taking my CNA there and they to me are extremely qualified. They have years of experience as Nurses. I think they give you patients that require more assistance so that you will be challenged. I think the program there is awesome.

[rpoodlegirl]

The Red Cross has a wonderful program, it is an intense four weeks, but gives you the knowledge and experience to start working as a HHA/CNA. I completed this program last November on the North Shore and I am currently enrolled in a LPN program. The program was a wonderful stepping stone to getting my current position as a CNA and working as a CNA was a huge help getting me into nursing school! I wish you all the luck in the world!