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I ended up taking my class here as well. I also liked the instructor. Most days class let out WAY early, which was inconvenient for me because I couldn't depend on a schedule for public transportation from the suburbs. The tests were all very easy and I passed the class & exams with flying colors. I also had clinicals at St. Paul's. Didn't get an opportunity to do a whole lot except change resident's incontinence products when in bed, making beds, a little dressing, plenty of feeding, and talking to the residents. CareerChanger2009, did you meet a little blind lady there whose name starts with A? (Don't wanna post it here.) She was my favorite :) She was in isolation my first couple of times there, but out by the end of my clinicals and doing much better.

Lol, no. I adore Grey's. I just wanted to point something out. You said you regret not getting into the field earlier. Remember the recent Grey's episode where the couple came in, and all the male interns and young residents kept coming up and asking the guy what was wrong. The guy kept saying "No, not him. Not him." Then the chief walked in and the guy said "Him! Finally, someone who isn't a kid." He had lost a.. recreational item in his rectum, remember? That's one good thing to starting later! I think if you become a nurse or what-have-you in your 30s, your 30s, you'll still give the impression of having more experience and maturity and that will make your patient's more comfortable!

rdstrasser, do you watch Grey's Anatomy?

I'm glad you took the first step. Sometimes, that's the hardest one :) Let us know how it goes, and if you get accepted!

It's Wednesday DId you get a chance to go? Did you get an interview?

Glad to hear things are going better :)

Hi, I'm Stephanie, 23, just became a CNA. My mom has been a nurse (LPN then RN) for 12 years, and was a CNA before that. She has spent her entire career in Geriatrics, first LTC facility then home health. When I decided to take a CNA course, it was mostly to get out of telemarketing and try out the field of nursing. I thought that I'd like it, but vowed not to spend a lot of time in Geriatrics, like my mom. I figured I'd put my year in, then go to a hospital. When I started the class, my instructor said she'd tried a lot of different specialities, but found her passion in Geriatrics. Inwardly, I thought she might be crazy. I can see stability in Geriatrics.. but passion? No way. Then I started clinicals. My first love was a little blind lady. She had MRSA and was in isolation. So I dutifully put on my PPE and hung out with her while she ate, letting her know what food was what and where her fork was. She always wanted an extra cookie, and I always went out of my way, donned my extensive PPE, just to check on her every couple of hours. She was pretty lonely, being in isolation. My last clinical day she was no longer isolated, and looked so amazing. It was great to see her like that. My second love was a lady who I never saw outside of the dining room. I was never working with the CNA who was assigned to her, but she really needed a lot of encouragement to eat, so each clinical day I took the time to sit with her for a few minutes and chat with her, encouraging her to take a bite every now and again. Each bite was a little victory. Another lady, who I never really got the chance to work with or bond with, I still found amazing. Her whole room was covered with her art, and she had a canvas set up to paint. When I complimented her on my favorite, which was a trapeze artist, she told me that she used to be a trapeze artist in her younger years. She was pretty old, but still quite able-bodied. I guess all that exercise paid off! Each day when I went home, I worried about the residents. When I finished clinicals, I was surprised to find myself sad about not being able to work there, since it was over an hour away. After clinicals, I applied to 8 different facilites, including LTC and ALF, but no hospitals. I took the first job I got offered, at an ALF in an alzheimer's/dementia unit. Now I work with 24 elderly residents who will never remember my name. Each day is a first impression. My favorite will ask me every day where I'm from, why I moved to IL, if I'm married. Another will ask me hourly why she's there, how she got there, how old she is. Each time she'll be surprised. There is another gentleman that I shower every morning, and I can tell what kind of day he's going to have by how well he can tie his shoes. Some days it's heartbreaking. Every day, it's rewarding. Would I still like to try different specialties when I become an RN? Sure. Am I just biding my time in Geriatrics until I have enough experience for a hospital, definitely not. I love my residents, and will be terribly sad to leave them. (So much that I've considered trying to work there when I become an RN, lol.) Anyway, I guess I'm just trying, at length, to echo what azcna said. Don't write off geriatrics until you've tried it. You might be surprised.

Hey. Just got back from court. $228 in fees, 120 days "supervision" (which means I just can't get any tickets or anything), and 4 hours of driving school. The people I hit haven't contacted my insurance co., and they weren't there, so I don't guess they plan on doing anything. *crosses fingers* Coulda been lots worse.

I have liability insurance, so it will cover any medical bills for them up to $25k. I'm sure I'll get lots of court costs and fines, though. It could be worse, though :) Thanks for your well wishes!

I feel you, Shante. Just 3 days after completing my CNA course, I rear-ended a hummer in my little Chevy Prizm. My fault I was on my way to my first interview for a CNA position, and had to call to reschedule. Thankfully, they let me and I'm working there now! Their car was fine, but mine was totalled. $3500 was the starting estimate to get it repaired I ended up buying a 2002 Daewoo Nubira for a reasonable amount, but am having to pay monthly as I borrowed it from my mom's savings. My court date is tomorrow! They're claiming personal injury to their child who was in a car seat, though they didn't go to a hospital or anything. So I guess we'll see how that goes.

There probably isn't a huge difference. In my area, classes ranged from $500 to $900. Some were only 4 weeks, other were 3 months (community college). But they all teach you what you need to know to pass the state exam, and you get clinical time in all of them. Pick depending on your schedule or finances, or whatever applies to you. I wanted to get done and get a job ASAP, so I took a 4 week class, that was about $800, plus supplies.

With my CNA class, we only had to have graduated 8th grade. But I'd check with your individual program.

Nope.

I don't have a lot of experience, so the only thing I can add is just LISTEN to your CNAs. If they're telling you that there's something abnormal with a pt, don't turn your back and start writing on someone elses chart and say "uh huh.." and leave it at that. Listen. Assure us that the resident will get checked on, or you're already aware of it, or whatever. We care about those residents too.

Most places allow you to work 90 days without being state certified, so long as you passed the course. Go ahead and apply. I'm working as a CNA right now, having finished my class at the end of January and not testing till March. You might be able to find something :)

From the Illinois Nurse Aide Testing website: Question: It has been more than 2 years since I have worked as a nurse aide. Do I have to take the training program over again? Answer: If a nurse aide is in good standing with no findings of abuse, neglect or theft and has not worked for pay in the nursing-related services for 24 consecutive months or more, he/she may be able to re-certify by either retraining and testing or testing only. Contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at 217-785-5133 for re-certification information.

In a certain ALF where I work(ed) in IL, they have a position called "Med Care Manager" which is a CNA that they've given a short class on giving medication "reminders." Since the he meds come individually packaged for each resident, they're saying that even though the CNA is gathering the meds and handing them to the resident, they're only reminding them to take it rather than "passing" meds. I think it's a loophole put in place to save money on nurses.

You know you work mornings on an alzheimer's/dementia unit.. when you don't envy graveyard their so-called "light work load" because they have to deal with sundowning.

It's very likely that it will be an on-site interview. The Sunrise that I work at has open interviewing each Thursday at 11 AM, so I would call and ask if they do that as well, and what time. Sunrise cares a lot about neat appearance, so dress as professionally as possible. Outside of that, I think a lot depends on the individual interviewer. I know at some places they have a form the interviewer fills out, so they ask specific questions and present specific scenarios, but it wasn't like that during my interview. However, be prepared to shadow an aide for 20 minutes to a couple of hours (so wear comfy but nice shoes!). My interviewer had me follow the lead CNA around for half an hour just to make sure I had a feel for what would be going on and I had to sign a form saying I'd done it. Also, be prepared for the hiring process to take a couple weeks if you do get it. If you haven't had a TB test lately, they'll want to get that done, and that takes at least 5 days. They'll also do a drug screen and background check. It sounds like you've already interviewed at a couple of other places, so you know what kind of questions to look out for. "Why do you want to work in this field?" "What did you enjoy about your clinicals?" A harder one.. "What did you dislike about your clinicals?" Don't be afraid to ask about tuition assistance (which they do offer!) during the interview. That lets them know you plan on staying around awhile. I asked a ton of questions, and my interviewer didn't seem put off. I asked about patient to CNA ratios, tuition assistance, their different units, health & other benefits. Say hi to any resident you see in the halls as you're touring or even just walking to the interviewer's office, unless you'd be interrupting your interviewer, of course. If I think of anything else before Wednesday, I'll let you know. Best of luck to you. I'll send good vibes your way. Keep in touch :)

Let us know when you find something! :)

Mine was 4 weeks as well, and it was fine. 4x/week. 3 days were lecture, one for clinicals. As long as you have plenty of time to read.. you'll be fine. I spent 1-2 hours a night reading my textbook.

Oh, and just to add, you do have to be a CNA to get hired for the skilled nursing part. All the "caregivers" or "care managers" that I work with in the assisted living unit are CNAs, though. :)

That's pretty much the term they use. Once they hire you, your nametag will say CNA, but the thing is you don't have to be a CNA to get hired for that position, but it definitely makes them consider your application more and if you are a CNA you get paid more for the same work. Most Sunrise facilities have assisted living parts, and skilled nursing parts. The skilled nursing area is more like a nursing home, whereas the assisted living part is less clinical, as in.. less transfers, less catheter care, bedpans, bedbound residents, etc. There is still incontinence & toileting, showers, dressing, etc. I work in the alzheimer's/dementia assisted living unit, and we are assigned to a group of 8 residents that we will be working with every time we work (unless we're filling in for someone.) We get to know those residents, their likes and dislikes, hobbies, history, routine, etc. Since it is less hectic than a skilled nursing unit, we often have time to just chat with the resident, or do a puzzle with them, or something similar. I thought I wanted something more clinical, but I wouldn't have it any other way right now. However, the coordinator on my unit said that sometimes the cnas will transfer to skilled nursing if they don't feel like it's a clinical enough environment (usually the nursing students.) So once I hit nursing school, I may do that too.

Nope. Just had to have a stethoscope before clinicals, even though I never used it during clinicals, lol. The facility that I work at keeps gate belts in a supply drawer.

There is a Sunrise Senior Living in Monroeville. I would apply there. They are a large corporation, and most of their facilities are larger with many different "departments," so to speak. The local Sunrise gave me my first CNA job, 7A-3P. Since they are larger, with more employees, there are often more openings. Good luck to you!