RN Nursing Student looking for CNA license

[semester1kid]

Hey all - I've frequently the General Nursing Student forum and this is the my time in this forum. Anyway, here's my query: I'm currently in the second semester of a two year RN program. During the first semester, I completed 90 hours of clinical hours and have a letter from our chair person stating as much (also mentioned that I'm still currently in the program and that I've successfully completed one semester). I called Red Cross in Cambridge, MA (I am an MA resident) - they said all they required was that we completed 75 hours in clinical and that I provide the letter along with an application to determine eligibility to the office and they would respond within 7 days. The problem is that the form itself said something about requiring 100 hrs within the past 5 years.

I sent the application in anyway with the letter - does anyone know what the story is? These requirements are listed on the Red Cross website along with the required forms - if they determine I'm eligible, I then have to fill out an application send that along with $93 check to their attention (to which a testing date would be determined). What's the chances I'll be accepted? Right now I work full time in a finance office of a large retail company and would really like to get into healthcare at any level just to start gaining experience aside from the clinical setting experiences. I believe that while I'm a student, many hospitals will accept the letter and not require that you have a CNA license...but I think I want to get that license in my back pocket nonetheless.

One other query - I notice that the test is in two parts (written and physical). I've been practicing some of the written questions and feel pretty comfortable with them. But is there a place (either physical or on line) where I can practice or observe some of the techniques I'll have to perform? I mean while we did touch upon a number of things during our first semester, we did not dive too deep into any of them - including making an occupied bed, grooming a client (tooth brush, combing hair) and even some of the AM/PM care functions. Also we actually never learned how to go through the entire range of motions with a client - our lab for that was cancelled due to weather last winter and was never made up. Any advice on these? I do plan on talking to my clinical instructor to see if I can somehow incorporate some of these into my interventions....

Anyway - sorry for the long and winding (Beatle/Paul pun intended being that I'm a huge fan) rant. But thanks:-)

[Sally Lou]

I would call your local red cross office and ask them if you could observe or practice the skills.

If you are near the metro-west area i'd be happy to meet up with you and go over some of them with you. I just finished the class in July. I go for my license this month.

[semester1kid]

Thanks a lot - I'm in Framingham, which is pretty much metro west 'central':-). I'll call the Red Cross on Monday to see if they would allow me to observe. There is an open lab available at my school...but for the most part, it still follows some sort of curriculum. I hope the number of clinical hours will be enough for me to be eligible.

[Queen33FutureLPN, CNA]

There is a site on youtube that is very helpful it shows you all of the skills.If it wasn't for that youtube site that I went to I don't think I would have passed.But go to youtube and type in jtduncan56 they are so helpful its shows everything step by step.Good Luck on becoming a Nurse.That is definately my next step!!

[semester1kid]

Thanks a lot for that info - I probably should've figured Youtube:-)

[Queen33FutureLPN, CNA]

Thanks a lot for that info - I probably should've figured Youtube:-)

No problem!!

[lilbearzmom]

Yes, I think you'll definitely want to check out the skills that are going to be part of the test. If you could get your hands on a handbook that tells you step by step, that would be even better. I say this because there's a thread on here somewhere about how a nursing student failed her test because she just went into the test blind, totally relying on what she had learned in school. They will be testing you VERY SPECIFICALLY on steps that should be performed for each skill. Good luck!