New CNA soon

yousoldtheworld · Aug 22, 2011

We can't tell you what you will need for classes and clinicals because every class is different. For mine, I needed nothing but a set of scrubs. Don't buy anything until you get your list.

The best place to work as a CNA is the place that will hire you. It can be hard to find a job with no experience, and you might not have the chance to be picky.

CNAs can work in lots of areas. There isn't a lot of opportunity to work with infants specifically, though you could work in a peds unit at a hospital (though some hospitals require more education than a CNA). I myself work at a pediatric long term care facility. We take care of developmentally disabled kids and some adults, our youngest resident at the moment is 4.

I'm not sure how an online CPR class would work, since the class itself is short and all physical, and you have to demonstrate technique to pass.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Aug 22, 2011

The only thing you need for class is a pen. The only things you need for clinicals are a pen, scrubs (probably in a certain color scheme), and a wristwatch that you'll probably never use. Usually the class supplies the textbook and if they don't, they'll tell you. They will also tell you if you need to buy a BP kit, gait belt, etc. I wouldn't recommend buying more than 1 or 2 pairs of scrubs for clinicals, because when you get a job they might make you wear different colors. Where I live there is only one CNA class so for every new employee that shows up in those colors it's like a dead giveaway that they are fresh out of school. Even if your job doesn't make you wear all blue or something, you're gonna see all these different scrubs on everybody else that you want and you'll regret wasting your money on "school scrubs."

I'm blathering on about all this because I see so many threads on here from people who are excited about the CNA class and want to go out and buy all this top of the line stuff that they don't need. In my class we got crappy stethoscopes included in the cost of our tuition. Have I used that thing once since I got a job? Nope. We have plenty of better ones at work and if I did ever bring it in, someone would have swiped it anyway. Save your money if you can. Don't take yourself too seriously either. I see a lot of posts like, "OMG I am going to be a great CNA... the people in my class are awful because they goof off... the CNAs at my clinical are unprofessional... I'm never gonna be like that... I'm gonna work in a hospital omg omg omg." These kinds of posts make us seasoned CNAs roll our eyes. I definitely thought my class was like, super important when I took it, and now I'm kind of embarrassed about that. Thank god I didn't post here yet because I probably would have been really obnoxious.

CNAs mostly work in nursing homes, hospitals, and home health and it's mostly dealing with the elderly. The easiest place to get hired is at a nursing home. Everywhere else usually wants you to have experience and that's where you get it. Working at one isn't a walk in the park but it will force you to develop people skills and time management.

I have never heard of an online CPR class and in my class we only went over CPR- we did not become certified in it.

CoffeemateCNA · Aug 22, 2011

Don't take yourself too seriously either. I see a lot of posts like, "OMG I am going to be a great CNA... the people in my class are awful because they goof off... the CNAs at my clinical are unprofessional... I'm never gonna be like that... I'm gonna work in a hospital omg omg omg." These kinds of posts make us seasoned CNAs roll our eyes. I definitely thought my class was like, super important when I took it, and now I'm kind of embarrassed about that. Thank god I didn't post here yet because I probably would have been really obnoxious.

I went around and told everyone that would listen how I was "going to be taking my *STATE* boards" like it would be imparting to me some special government clearance or something. Instead, all I got was a trip to a nursing home and a generic certificate printed on crappy paper with my name handwritten in. Can anyone say "sucky?"

tomc5555 · Aug 29, 2011

Hello to all...
I just have a few questions. I am starting a CNA program in September and havent heard back from the director of the program yet so I thought id post my questions on here!
What all should I need for my classes and clinicals?
Where is the best place to work once im done with the program?
What all can CNAs do? Can we work with infants? Or just the elderly?
Is it ok to take an online CPR class?
Thanks so much for any info you can give me.

Good luck and congratulations!

Jlsmithh · Aug 29, 2011

Thanks to ALL!!!!!!!!

MissMcCoy · Sep 2, 2011

My school provided scrubs that we had to wear to lab and clinicals. We had to bring a wack load of stuff to labs. Everything from a tooth brush to a bed sheet. So that we could practice skills. The only thing we needed for clinicals was the school scrubs.

The best place to work is where ever you can get a job working as a CNA. Usually its LTC. Rack up the experience and then move on or further your education.

I was shocked to find out all of the stuff we COULD NOT do. Although if there is a stable paitent with a predictible outcome and you are trained and delegated the task by an RN or LPN then you can preform other tasks that you could notmaly not do. Like giving insulin.

I did not need to have my firstaid with CPR... Although I should get it updated just for my own good (mine expired years ago). I don't think doing the CPR course on line is a good idea.

Good luck!