osu/okc free CNA program- what is your commitment?

U.S.A. Oklahoma

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Hi guys! I have a quick question, and any info would be a huge help!

Well, I'm going back to school with the long term goal of being accepted to the osu/okc nursing program. In the meantime, though, I was considering getting my CNA license so that I could get the extra medical experience- hoping that will come in handy in nursing school! What I'm really hoping for is a 1 day a week CNA job, because I will be in school full time and I have 3 small kiddos.

I'm looking at the osu/okc CNA program, and was wondering if I should pay for the training myself or go with the free option with a commitment to work in the soonercare LTC's.

My question is basically this: How many hours or shifts are you required to work to fulfill your commitment? I know we have to commit to work for soonercare for a certain amount of months, but does it need to be full time, part time, or can it be even one day a week?

Thanks so much in advance!! :)

Specializes in ICU.

I didn't do that particular program, but I did go through a paid CNA training program at OSU Medical Center in Tulsa, OK. We had to work full-time for 6 months to "pay back" our training, otherwise we owed a percentage of the value of the program based on the remaining time we needed to work to fulfill our commitment.

We applied and were interviewed for full-time nurse aide openings, just as if we were applying for employment (which we technically were), and just spent the first month of our employment in class. I'm sure if something had come up and someone had to go to part-time but was planning to work longer than the required 6 months, it wouldn't have been a problem. They just don't want to pay to train someone who is going to walk out within a week or a month and work for someone else. Maybe there's someone you can call and ask this specific question about regarding that specific program? I would expect they would require full-time employment in the pay back period.

canadian valley is where i got my cna certification...If you want to be a nurse try and get a hospital job..one where you can gain more experience from, as in you will see alot more in hospitals rather than nursing homes.

Juliaann and Alexzilla-Thanks guys! I appreciate your help. I have been talking to the director of the training program, who has been helpful. It seems that there aren't a whole lot of requirements that spell out exactly how many hours are required. I just wanted to get some opinions from other CNA's who might have already gone through the process.

I got my cna license through OSU-OKC and we wondered the same thing. There is no set amount of hours is what I was told, as long as you work at a sooner care ltc facility for one year, doesn't have to be continuous or at the same one. There was never any terms as far as amount of hours worked on any paperwork I had. Wish you luck with whatever decision you make. :twocents:

I got my cna license through OSU-OKC and we wondered the same thing. There is no set amount of hours is what I was told, as long as you work at a sooner care ltc facility for one year, doesn't have to be continuous or at the same one. There was never any terms as far as amount of hours worked on any paperwork I had. Wish you luck with whatever decision you make. :twocents:

Hey, thanks so much! If you don't mind my asking, how was your experience in the osu okc program? Do you still work in LTC or have you gone on to something different?

Sorry I took so long to respond...but I really had fun in the class, good instructor, she was a lot of fun and pretty laidback. I took the part time evening class. She was very helpful and about half of what you learn is sort of common sense stuff, but still learned a lot. I actually haven't worked in an LTC since, I worked in a hospital prn/part time. When you take the class you will go to a LTC nursing home for your clinicals for a couple days. CNA work is just not for everyone and I think especially LTC. I talked to one girl that said she took a cna class and the first day she went to clinicals she decided she couldn't do it, but she also found out she was pregnant around that same time too. You just have to find that out for yourself though, and there are different places you could work that provide a different experience, but the basics will still be the same. I actually just got a job at a nursing home that is brand new so I may work there part time, to satisfy my requirements. If you don't work at a LTC within the 2 years I think you just have to pay it back.

pyt86,

That's all good to know. It's always nice to hear from someone who's been to the class before what it's like. Congratulations on the new job. Sounds like it might turn out to be a nice place to work!

i went through OSU-tulsa to get my certification..most likely the same program because i mailed all of my application stuff to okc.

the commitment that was required of us was to work 12 months out of the next 24 in A ltc...didn't matter which one and the months did not have to be consecutive...if you did not meet that requirement you were required to pay back the cost of training

got my cert on wed applied on thursday and started work a week later after drug test, background check, etc.

still there after two years and will prob work as an lpn with them when i get through school

Thanks! I appreciate the info on your experience. I think it is pretty much the same program, from what I understand.

update:

I talked to the director of the program, as well as the contact person in the health department, and they both confirmed that there was not a set amount of hours needed to fulfill the commitment, but that our work records would be reviewed to see if we were generally employed for that 12 month amount. So it's a little hazy, but she said I could still work PRN and it would be fine.

Thanks again!!!

Where are the Sooner Care locations in OKC and what's the pay like?

I am trying to decide if this program is worth my time, as I am a full time student and planning a wedding - I need some extra income but I want to be CERTAIN this is worth my while.

Most If not all nursing homes are soonercare. And it does have to be a nursing home. I worked at a hospital that accepted soonercare and asked if that would count towards my year commitment. They said no it has to be a nursing home. You could always pay for your cna class and would have no obligation after. As for the pay it varies, I think some nursing homes have shift differentials but base pay can be from 9-12 or so. Before you do become a cna you might want to look at some of the questions on here and different peoples stories and experiences. I wouldn't just do it for extra money as it is a lot of hard work. The only reason I did it was to get more points on my nursing application. Congrats on your wedding.

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