nursing assistant

Hi Jenni!

I work in a hospital as a Unit Clerk and Patient Care Aid 24 hours a week in two 12 hour shifts. I did have some experience from working in a nursing home years ago, but I am receiving a lot of on the job training. The hospital I work for does a lot of on-the-job training. I'm not exactly in the Metro Detroit area but closer to Ann Arbor, however the system I work for is all over the Metro Detroit area. Check out the Trinity Health System, perhaps there is something there you would be interested in. I think it's a great idea to get some hands on experience before you start your program. Good luck!

Thank you, I will definately look into that!

I am in the Lapeer County area and taking a CNA class one night a week. I also will probably wait approximately a year or more to get into the nursing program, I am in Human Resources right now, so I definitely want to get some experience on the floor. I know a lot of LTC facilities hire you for various shifts, train and orient you then will also certify you. The demand for aids in LTC is much stronger, but if you keep looking and applying you could find a job at a hospital, however they have more requirements. Try getting certified if you find the time! Where are you planning on going to Nursing School at?

Hi Ashdun, I am planning on going to Oakland Community College. Where are you going? I have already applied, and they told me I would probably be accepted in 07, or worst case scenio, 08. I can't beleive how long it takes! Funny, my second choice was to go into Human Resourses! Just curious, why are you leaving that to go to nursing?

In Muskegon, Michigan you can go through Community Education classes at Orchard Veiw they Charge $750.00. If you did not graduation from High School and under 21 you can take the class free..yes free. Well I am 48,

so I went to a local school called Stepping Stones. I took the class for $450.00. The class in offered in daytime or nighttime. You must take a class and pass to be able to take the state test for certification. I finished in January 2005, Received my first Job 2 days later, than took the State Test on March 1. You take the state test after they send you your papers from Thomson Prometric who tells you fo testing sites throughout the state.

The test costs $176.50 (this is additional cost from class cost)

You register for testing, you have 2 parts to the test, first Clinical and if you pass this you go onto the knowledge test. You must pass both parts. If you do not pass the Clinical test, you can't take the knowledge test and must retake the test till you pass the clinical, you get 3 chances.

I was very happy to pass both on first attempt since if you don't pass you must take over and than you pay again for that portion of the test.

I work in a assisted living center right now but I am praying plus doing more studying to get into a hospital.

I would love to go into the LPN classes but it is a two year wait here in our town at the community college.

Thank you for the great information wildwood! Wow, I am sorry that there is a two year wait at your school. I am in the same boat, it is a two year wait at both the community college and the university where I live. I know it is fusterating, but we can't give up! Good luck to you!

Hello, I was wondering if anyone knew how to become a nursing assistant? I have been on some local hospitals websites and haven't been able to find any info. I work full time right now, but I thought it might be a good idea to try to do that part time as I will be waiting at least a year before I get accepted to the program. Does anyone work somewhere that they utilize assistants part time, and if so is it on the job training? I live in the Detroit Metro area. Thank you!

Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn has a nursing assistant program that is specifically designed for those that do not have any health care experience. I would suggest checking out their website. From what I have seen it is the only hospital that offers a program such as this in the Detroit-metro area. All of the others require that you take a CNA course, have patient care experience, or are a nursing student. Good luck.

Thank you MSU, I will look into that!

I took my course through a nursing home that offered it and a job. I know my school also offers a cna course as well so i would check the local community colleges then look at some nursing homes. GOOD LUCK!!:)

hey jeni- i have never wanted to be in HR, this job I got just works for me....i started as a receptionist and just kinda got shoved into it really. i have always wanted to be a nurse. i haven't applied to occ yet, i have been told i have to be completely finished with classes such as---phys. ed credit, political science, intro to chem (if not already in high school), and then the general pre req's like nutrition, composition, micro, A&P, have you finished ALL of your classes required, except the nursing core classes? i haven't even applied yet, and i was told if i finish everything, by this summer, i have a very good chance in getting in for fall of 07...you have already applied, and they are telling you fall of 07 or 08, why not this fall? i was told the sooner i get my classes done, the better chance i have. so whats the deal i wonder what are the classes you finished so far? are you at OCC right now?

Hey Ashdun, yeah I have finished all my classes so all I am waiting for is to get accepted. I left my a&p and my micro for last since those expire in 5 years. I won't be able to attend this fall because the dean of nursing decided in 2005 to guarantee seats in 2006 to all the people who qualified, but that they didn't have room to take in 05. So, I have been told that out of 216 seats, really only about 16 are really not promised to anyone yet. It is my understanding that they are no longer going to do this, and people are just going to have to re-apply if they do not get in every year. I would agree that the sooner you get your classes done the better. If you do decide to go to occ, you should get your application in right away, because the date on your application is one of the things they look at when they are trying to figure out who should get in the program. I have a degree in liberal arts, so the only other classes I needed where the science classes. If you make an appointment with a counsler, they should be able to tell you what you need to take. I have heard that Macomb does not have as big of a wait as occ, but I don't know for sure, you might want to check it out. If you find anything out, let me know. You can pm me anytime. Good luck!

hey jeni- i have never wanted to be in HR, this job I got just works for me....i started as a receptionist and just kinda got shoved into it really. i have always wanted to be a nurse. i haven't applied to occ yet, i have been told i have to be completely finished with classes such as---phys. ed credit, political science, intro to chem (if not already in high school), and then the general pre req's like nutrition, composition, micro, A&P, have you finished ALL of your classes required, except the nursing core classes? i haven't even applied yet, and i was told if i finish everything, by this summer, i have a very good chance in getting in for fall of 07...you have already applied, and they are telling you fall of 07 or 08, why not this fall? i was told the sooner i get my classes done, the better chance i have. so whats the deal i wonder what are the classes you finished so far? are you at OCC right now?

I agree with Jeni too...APPLY NOW if you are applying to OCC. Last I heard, as Jeni stated, they base when you apply to OCC as part of when you get in. So the earlier you apply the better.

Also, Beaumont offers nurse assistant training to people they hire in. Check out their website or call thier HR office.