What I didnt Know......

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Specializes in taken care of elderly.

Hi Everyone,

Wanted to post a post on things that i have come to learn that I wasnt aware of in hope that it will help someone choosing to take the journey of becoming a CNA. I was a schoolbus driver of 4 yrs and decided to make a career change in later life. I am by no means complaining, simply was alot of things I was unprepared for. I went and spoke to my Instuctor at the school that I attended, she was a good salesman! Oh yea, you can make good, good money at this and yadda ,yadda. What wasnt explained to me was the extras I would need for getting certified. Such as a tb test 20.00, Ceu classes 30.00, finger printing and background check 15.00. Make sure you have lots of ink in your printer (You'll need it). BLs course 45.00,

I'm appling for a job with a company that requires that you have a course in alzheimers/Dementia, approved by the elder affairs dept the one I did in other ceu class was not accepted (10.00). Maybe I havent found the right resources yet or havent looked in the right places but i've not found any LTf or any other places to help with the cost of all this. So, things have moved in the right direction, but the cost of the extra things were an extra surprise. I held off on buying alot of scrubs, only enough to get me thur school. My school offers a class for HHa for 75.00, but it is not required for this state. I guess I thought after I took the class, passed the test I would be ready to go to work. I am waiting to hear from the test site now, to get my test date, I continue to study, study and practice my clinicals. I wish everyone luck as we travel this road together.

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I hear you!! I did all the background checks, physical, shots, bought 2 scrub tops and 2 bottoms and am going to take a BLS class through the same school for 75.00 one evening after I get out of CNA class. I hope that I find a job come April!

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Specializes in taken care of elderly.

Hi,

I hope you do to ,I"m finding without my actual Lic.,its rather slow.There are plenty of jobs online and I applied at 2 nursing homes,I'm also a 30 yr cook so right now ,I'll do anything,waiting for unemployment to determine if I get benefits.Its been 4 weeks now.So I made up a resume listing my qualifications thus far.Going to be another busy weel.Good luck.

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I've seen a few jobs online but they are mostly for agency's and I would rather be in a hospital or nursing home. I too am on ue-lost my long time job over a year ago and have not found anything...which is why the career switch was in order. I just hope it was worth it. The school I am going to included the test after so hopefully waiting for a test date won't be an issue. I hope you get a date soon..good luck to you too!!

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Hi Everyone,

Wanted to post a post on things that i have come to learn that I wasnt aware of in hope that it will help someone choosing to take the journey of becoming a CNA. I was a schoolbus driver of 4 yrs and decided to make a career change in later life. I am by no means complaining, simply was alot of things I was unprepared for. I went and spoke to my Instuctor at the school that I attended, she was a good salesman! Oh yea, you can make good, good money at this and yadda ,yadda. What wasnt explained to me was the extras I would need for getting certified. Such as a tb test 20.00, Ceu classes 30.00, finger printing and background check 15.00. Make sure you have lots of ink in your printer (You'll need it). BLs course 45.00,

I'm appling for a job with a company that requires that you have a course in alzheimers/Dementia, approved by the elder affairs dept the one I did in other ceu class was not accepted (10.00). Maybe I havent found the right resources yet or havent looked in the right places but i've not found any LTf or any other places to help with the cost of all this. So, things have moved in the right direction, but the cost of the extra things were an extra surprise. I held off on buying alot of scrubs, only enough to get me thur school. My school offers a class for HHa for 75.00, but it is not required for this state. I guess I thought after I took the class, passed the test I would be ready to go to work. I am waiting to hear from the test site now, to get my test date, I continue to study, study and practice my clinicals. I wish everyone luck as we travel this road together.

Welcome back, Racegirl - wondered what happened to you!

Very sorry to hear you got the "primrose path" treatment, a CNA isn't necessarily the path to untold riches & romance (and, far as I know Brad Pitt's still spoken for) but you can make it into a career - with a lot of work. And, yeah - ran into the "nickel & dime" stuff at the local CC, which is why I opted to go with the Red Cross. Expensive, but I didn't end up running around all over creation either.

As far as reimbursement - have you tried Workforce Development? If you qualify for unemployment (and don't already have a college degree) you should be able to get them to cough up some dough to pay for all of this. If that doesn't work, you can write it off on next year's taxes, so that should help a bit.

And yeah - getting through the class is just the start. State certification, follow-on courses, CEU's to keep current...blecch. If I wasn't shooting for a BSN I'd probably not bother. Trouble is - here in California the CNA is intended to get you directly into an LTC (a.k.a. nursing home), and if you want to go the Home Health route there's a separate certification needed for that (mandated by the State). Plus if you want to work dialysis you need a separate certification for that (mandated by the State and Medicare). And from the sound of things what's needed here may or may not be of any use to you, since it sounds like you've got a completely different setup where you are. Grr.

In any case, wish I could be of more help to you but congrats on getting through the class - best wishes on the state test & getting your funding situation straightened out.

Take care,

----- Dave

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Specializes in taken care of elderly.

Thanks Dave,

Little stressed out right now about things not being able to be taken care of as needed.I'm waiting on a lady to call me now about a job taking care of a 30 yr olds adult child,and I need a class for that tomorrow as well!I just met my insrtuctor to pay her for my first aid course and because i havent paid for my certificate ,she wont let me take the class.So, ill wait to hear from this person and if it falls thur ,ill go to work and put health care on back burner for now.Till I can get the funds for it all.I got a letter from unemployment that i was eleiagle but then after claiming my weeks and not hearing from them ,i called and they ssid itll take 4 to 6 weeks to determine if i get it or not. It seems if nothing has gone as i Planned it.Oh well, itll be ok one way or the other.Good luck

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Specializes in CNA.

Many employers here where I am at will pay for your vaccinations, background check, prints after you are hired. Mine did. I did'nt even have to pay for the company shirts I wear.

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Specializes in CNA.

ALSO....there are many places you can go to get a discount on vaccinations. Like your local health dept

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Specializes in taken care of elderly.

Hey Sosmary,

Have you already taken your test and passed?As of right now ,I havent.Fingerprints were taken ,still waiting on a test date.I made up a resume and went to to ltc and have not heard from them.I( have read in articles that places will train you and so forth but I paid for my school on my own ,reading that when you get hired you can get reimbursement.I'm in Central Fla and their are plenty of ads for CNa's and HHa's,I will call the health dept and ask the cost of a tb test today .Thanks for the information .

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