questions about STNA training and certification

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Hi everyone I'm new here and I am currently a prenursing student in OH, anyway I need a job that pays more than McDonalds to support my daughter and I whille I'm going to school. I decided to look into to being a nurses aide and I can't find any places that train and the ones that do only do it twice a year and I was hoping to get statrted soon. I found a couple of online schools that have a nursing assistant program but they give their own exam and certificate, since it's really expensive I want to make sure I can take the exam otherwise I'm not going to waste my money. I would really appreciate any reponses and any advice on where to find more info.

Thanks,

Candilin

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What part of Ohio are you in?

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Forget the on-line program for CNA, it won't give you the hands on training that you need. You want to find a Certified Nursing Assistant program and they are offered all over.................

STNA: forget about it............you want CNA, not sure even what the STNA stands for but you won't see it other than from those schools........don't waste your money there.

Check with some of the nursing homes in your area, many offer programs.

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I agree, forget about the online courses.

I thought I would try to do a search for you. I went to www.google.com and did a search for Ohio nursing assistant training

This might be of interest to you

http://www.cleveland.com/nursinghomes/index.ssf?/nursinghomes/more/news/canurse2.html

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Candlin,

Hi, I am also a prenursing student who just finsished her CNA course! I have also just been accepted into a master of nursing program:) Anyway, I agree forget about the online course, it is a waste of money. STNA stands for State Tested Nurses Aide (a CNA that has taken a state board and passed both a written and clincial test). CNA stands for Certified Nurses Assistant. You can take the CNA course at anywhere, I am in Cincinnati OHio and I took mine at Cincinnati State and there you can get financial aid to cover the costs of the tuition, you can either take it two weeks for eight hours a day or take it a whole quarter broken up into two classes a week for two hours. Once you complete your course with a D or better you are a Certified Nurses Assistant, you will then be eligible to sit for the state boards, there is a short written test and then you have a clinical test. For the state of OHio there are 23 skills you must master before becoming an STNA, at boards they will randomly pick five of them (one always being handwashing) and you will have 40 minutes to complete those 5 skills in front of a state instructor, if you do not miss any of the CRITICAL elements of those skills you should pass, they have a grading scale but im not sure exactly what it is. IF you pass both state requirements then you will be State TEsted.

MOst hospitals want you to be state tested before you work as a PCA (patient care assistant), BUT all the ones I have come across here in Cincinnati will hire you as a PCA (another term used for STNA) if you just have a high school degree BUT you must complete their class (which they pay for) it usually takes about 4 weeks if you are not already a CNA , and then you must go take and pass the state test. In my case since I took the CNA course at Cincinnati State I can get a job as a PCA and I will only need two weeks training as you would need 4-6.

Also some nursing homes will hire you as a CNA and pay for you to go get state tested (its about 175.00). Some nursing homes will hire you just as a CNA and you dont need to be state tested at all.:)

One more thought for you: If you are in nursing school, and you complete your first clinical hospitals will considere you qualified to be a PCA without being state tested and without even having to take the CNA class. The program I was just accepted into starts next month in May. After my first semester there I will have completed my first clinical and therefore will be able to work as a PCA at any hospital. My acceptance to this program was sooo sudden, I have already taken the CNA course at C-state and now I am not worried about going to get state tested because I dont really need too, this August I'll be eligible anyway so Im not going to waste my time and money going to get state tested:):)

GOod luck to you, the average salary for a CNA is 10-15$/hr with shift differential if you work evenings or night shifts! Most hospitals and nursing homes also have tuition reimbursement and will help pay for your school! If you are in the CIncinnati area I know that University Hospital pays up to 3500$ a year!:):)

Good Luck Everyone!

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I live in Northeastern Ohio in the Akron/Canton area. Thanks everyone for replying I started checkeing out some of the hospitals and I found one that does train (the last place I would think of).

Candilin

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I also live in the northeast ohio area. Can you tell me what Hospital you found that offers training for STNA?

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I am also wondering which hospital in the area you found that does the training? I am in northeastern ohio as well!

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I live in Cleveland Ohio, I will be starting the STNA classes On january 4, 2010 at the red cross.

I do have a none violent felony, will I have problems getting a job, and if so do you know of any places that will hire me with a record?

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