Washtenaw CC - New Requirements

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Ugh. Got a letter yesterday from WCC saying that in order to be accepted into the program (I'm already on the waitlist) I need to be a CNA. :angryfire I guess I really don't get this. I understand that it will give me some clinical time, but it's pretty much just yet another hurdle to getting into the actual program. I can not find ANY CNA jobs around here, and I think the pay would be too low for me to switch at this point anyway.

On top of the CNA requirement, they require that you pass med term and anat/phys. Both of which are required in the program anyway, but I was hoping to take my A/P closer to clinicals when it would be fresh in my brain.

Does anyone elses school require this? What benifits will having a CNA give me? Help me see the bright side of this! ;)

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:idea: Okay, bright side!! From looking at the course, it is only a 3-week class. It is not required at Wayne County. Since I have never worked in the healthcare setting, I was considering this course at Wayne (it is an 8 week course there:uhoh3: ) I am thinking since they only admit 80 people per year, they are really trying to weed out people applying to the program. I have a friend woking as a CNA, he says it is no joke. He is working shoulder to shoulder with nurses and he is seeing what is required of a nurse.

How long is the list at Washtenaw? I was considering WCC but since I live in Wayne County, they said my chances of getting in are slim to none.:o

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DAMomma-

Yes. If I had unlimited funds, I think that working as a CNA would be great experience, however, at this point, I can't give up my current job for one that would pay less than 1/2 of what I make now. I haven't even been accepted into a program yet! Besides, I can't find any CNA jobs available in the Ann Arbor area. Maybe I'm not looking at the right thing...

As for Washtenaw, I'm number 254 on the waiting list (just applied this year). They only let in like 40 people at a time, so I've been told that if you don't live in Washtenaw County, you have no chance of getting in :o .

I need to step up my effort of applying everywhere and not put all my eggs in one basket I guess ;)

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DAMomma-

Yes. If I had unlimited funds, I think that working as a CNA would be great experience, however, at this point, I can't give up my current job for one that would pay less than 1/2 of what I make now. I haven't even been accepted into a program yet! Besides, I can't find any CNA jobs available in the Ann Arbor area. Maybe I'm not looking at the right thing...

As for Washtenaw, I'm number 254 on the waiting list (just applied this year). They only let in like 40 people at a time, so I've been told that if you don't live in Washtenaw County, you have no chance of getting in :o .

I need to step up my effort of applying everywhere and not put all my eggs in one basket I guess ;)

Where have you been looking at pay scales for CNA's? In the hospitals they make pretty good money. Nursing homes are the lowest paying on the scale. Working as a CNA is a requirement of many nursing schools in other area's. It will weed out those who really don't know what they are getting into. I have been an aide for years. It does show you how things are and you can tell from that stand point if you still want to be a nurse. You do work under the nurse's license and assist them. They will show you many, many things if they know you are going in to nursing. Even if you are not, they will show you many things, heheh. It helps as a tool to see if you really want to be a nurse. Some people realize after working as an aide, they do not wish to pursue nursing. It is totally different in the field, than it is in school. You might be really doing well in the text book stuff, but the real deal is just that on the floor. I think it is a good requirement myself. It would weed out people. In a good way, if they don't like it then they can move on to something else.

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Redlady, do they let in 40 people per year? If you are 254 and they let in 40 people per year, then it is a 5-6 year wait?:eek:

I understand what you mean about the finances. My family is in the process of downsizing so we don't have to worry about $$ while I am in school. First thing on my agenda is to ditch the Yukon along with the out of control gasoline bill:trout: .

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Redlady, do they let in 40 people per year? If you are 254 and they let in 40 people per year, then it is a 5-6 year wait?:eek:

I understand what you mean about the finances. My family is in the process of downsizing so we don't have to worry about $$ while I am in school. First thing on my agenda is to ditch the Yukon along with the out of control gasoline bill:trout: .

I know what you mean on the gas hogs. I drive a van that is very thirsty. We did a lot of downsizing about a year ago. You can do it though. You just have to give up many of the frivilous things you get in the habit of doing. Like eating out, going out to a social event, and with our housing costs we moved in to a smaller place to save money. You can get really crafty on downsizing, I haven't figured out how to get another vehicle yet though. People want way too much money for cars anymore, especially the smaller ones.

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Hi,

I'm also going to be trying for Washtenaw. I'm planning on doing the CNA course first, but I haven't even applied to the nursing program yet!!! I had no idea the waitlist was so long. Have you considered Schoolcraft in Livonia? I have a friend who is trying to get in there, but rumor has it that that waitlist is about 2 years long. It seems whereever we go, we're going to have to wait. I like the CNA idea because you'll be getting hospital experience while going to nursing school. But you're right, they don't make a whole lot of money. If I do it, I'll have to give up a lot of things...like eating. :bluecry1: Good luck to you!!!!

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:lol2: I am a washtenaw grad from several years ago. My advice is stick with washtenaw it is the best community college around. Gloria is back as head and things will straighten out again.
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I have always loved Washtenaw. I got my Associtate's in Liberal Arts from there (I wanted some college, but had no idea what I wanted to do :) ). I think I'm going to try to wait for WCC as well. Maybe we'll have some classes together!!!!!!

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Specializes in OB, critical care, hospice, farm/industr.

We are making students train as CNAs because the Fundaemntals course is soon to be phased out. It didn't work well anyway--students learned in lab and got checked off in lab, but then couldn't handle a real life situation. Big difference between making a bed containing a manikin and making a bed containing a 300 lb pt with c. diff diarrhea.

Believe me, being a CNA will make school a lot easier.

You are right about the pay cut though. That part stinks.

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