bearsloft

Mike, I'm not seeing your email. Nor am I seeing a way to send you a message. But I'll try to field your question. I just completed the 2 week STNA class at Great Oaks Health Academy located in the old Jewish Hospital (near the corner of MLK and Burnet). We learned a lot in a short time and did 2 days of clinical at Beechwood nursing home in Obryonville. The total cost for the program was about $650. There were 23 of us in the class and most of us were private pay. A lucky few were sent there by their employers (who paid for the class and their salary). There was one from Christ Hospital and 2 or 3 from some place with Mt Washington in the name (sorry I didn't catch the full name). If you're looking around at other schools be careful when you compare the price. The price for this class included books and one shot at the state test to become a registered nurse aide. Not all schools do that. So another school might look cheaper but . . . We're scheduled to take the state test in the last week of May. I believe there are 79 questions and we will have to demonstrate our knowledge of the 33 skills by doing 4 random skills (they're choice not ours :-) and proper hand washing for our 5th skill. I have learned a lot in a short while. Clinicals were a bit of an eye opener too. I know I left determined to make sure that my living will was properly prepared. I am taking the PCA class next also with Great Oaks. I hope to get a job that offers tuition assistance (probably at a hospital). And I'm getting my paperwork in order to enroll in the Cincinnati State LPN program. Although I'll freely admit, I'm more than a little nervous that landing an LPN job in Greater Cincinnati isn't as easy to do as an RN job. Oh, and a brief bit of explanation in case you didn't know. The STNA title primarily prepares you for work in a LTCF (nursing homes and similar places). Hospital will hire STNAs but then they do some additional training to prepare them for work in the hospital as a PCA (personal care assistant). For me to take this class on my own (out of my pocket) is $350. Finally, Great Oaks offers an alternative class. It's a 5 week class that combines the 2 week STNA curriculum and the 1 week PCA curriculum for over $2000. What you may ask is in the extra 2 weeks of class (and the additional G)? Resume help, job coaching, and interviews.

Grumpy, Your story is almost exactly like mine. I turn 40 in another month, I've been an electrician for the last 16 years but I cannot find work, and I've seriously considering STNA and PCA training oh, and I'm a big guy too (actually somewhat larger than you). I'm very close to taking STNA and PCA training locally at Great Oaks (a local vocational program). I view it is a 'first step' toward RN or LPN. I figure that it's a way to get my feet in to the health field and decide if this is something that I can see doing as a career. Also it seems that in order to get into many RN or LPN programs it helps to already be certified in STNA. And finally, I hope to work someplace that offers tuition reimbursement. I will definitely monitor this post for the advice that you get. Please post back what you end up doing, as I also am interested. Good luck, Bear