Should I get my CNA from a Nursing Home in Portland?

[NurseJoli]

Hello Everyone,

I am interested in becoming a RN and I decided to become an CNA first to see if I will like it. I work in the health field already but in a Dental office in the business office. I am moving to Portland and it seems that the tuition and requirements are more there than it is in other states. I found two super cheap state approved programs. One is in a nursing home, the other is in a rehab facility. They are both $100 and I have to pay for my own supplies, equipment and testing. They both recruit people that take their course. The rehab facility said they offer tuition assistance to those who work fulltime for six months. Sounds great to me but I am skeptical. Does this mean that these are horrible places to work and they are desperate for CNAs? Will they pay more if I decide to work there? Is this the best way to get my training? Would a Rehab facility be better than a Nursing home? If anyone got their certification this way, your advice would help.

[NurseJoli]

I think I am going to train at the nursing home because if I don't like it, then I wouldnt have wasted any money.

[Lil_lady2012]

I am doing the same thing...I figured the same as you at least it's no cost to me...what city are you in if you don't mind me asking?

[OliveOyl91, BSN, RN]

I would do it, as well. It cost me over $1200 to take my CNA course and become licensed in Portland, Oregon. Plus, it's a steal that you will only be required to work 6 months to pay off the education... Most places I have seen (including my own work) requires full-time work for a year. And honestly? Rehab is the money maker, but working in a nursing home will truly expose you to the basic nursing care that will essentially be your foundation.

I worked for over a year in the nursing home section of my facility, but transferred over to rehab. In rehab, most of my patients are completely lucid and are primarily there to recover from a surgery or a fall. They let their needs be known, hate being wakened or interrupted for care and have a tendency to call for tedious little things, but are otherwise about 95% continent. In the nursing home you need to be 100% proactive about providing care, because many of your residents will have some sort of dementia or medical condition that prevents them from telling us what they need. They are relying on you for assistance with toileting, incontinence care, oral care, fingernail care, brushing their hair, dressing them, feeding them, etc...

I honestly miss working in the nursing home and am trying to transfer back.

[Princess Bubblegum]

I did my CNA1 class at a facility that had rehab and long term care units. I personally preferred the more acute rehab patient population, but that definitely isn't the case for everyone. Nursing home clinicals will probably better equip you with the skill set you need to pass your CNA1 state boards. I'd be tempted to go with the facility that offered tuition reimbursement, but make sure you really read through the conditions of accepting those funds--you might find it's not worth it. I might have shot myself in the foot with my tuition reimbursement.