What is the LNA training like?

U.S.A. New Hampshire

Published

I have a friend who just signed up for the LNA training and he asked me what was in it. I honestly had no clue as I got my LNA after completing Fundamentals and our first clinical rotation. He wants to become a nurse now but needs to have good employment before he starts that journey. He has college loans as he just graduated with graphic arts and printing technology degree and hates that.

I know this much:

Bedmaking

comfort measures

BP and other vitals

I&O

Reporting abnormals or even "something not right" feelings to RN

Showering & personal care

Feeding

transfers, how to use lifts

CPR, First aid stuff

But I feel like I am missing something can you all help fill in the blanks?

Thanks everyone!

Sounds about right...but I have a question, what does the training consist of? I mean, how long does it take to get licensed and what is the process?

Im getting into school to start my pre-req's to become an RN and am considering trying the LPN thing to gain experience in the field in the mean time, cuz i have NONE. lol. good idea? bad idea?

BassMaster- I found out that Univerity of New Hampshire has a direct entry Masters program for people who have a Bachelors in a field other than Nursing. It is a 2 year program and you will have your Masters as well as your RN in 2 years!!! They also have a manchester campus that does Nursing if I remember right.

You will even be able to teach Nursing in two years if you want- what a deal!

I wish I had gone to college when I was younger and was getting my Masters now instead of the ADN that will be walking away with!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
BassMaster- I found out that Univerity of New Hampshire has a direct entry Masters program for people who have a Bachelors in a field other than Nursing. It is a 2 year program and you will have your Masters as well as your RN in 2 years!!! They also have a manchester campus that does Nursing if I remember right.

You will even be able to teach Nursing in two years if you want- what a deal!

I wish I had gone to college when I was younger and was getting my Masters now instead of the ADN that will be walking away with!

WOW! Holy cow... now if this is for real, that IS a deal. I will follow up on Monday A.M. and Ill let you know how it works out. i really don't think I could manage travelling to UNH and I def cant move there, but if Manchester has the program there, COUNT ME IN!!!!!! Durham is just too far. THANK YOU SOO MUCH! :up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternity, quality.
WOW! Holy cow... now if this is for real, that IS a deal. I will follow up on Monday A.M. and Ill let you know how it works out. i really don't think I could manage travelling to UNH and I def cant move there, but if Manchester has the program there, COUNT ME IN!!!!!! Durham is just too far. THANK YOU SOO MUCH! :up:

Yes, it's for real. It's the program that I am in. Here's the link to the details: http://www.chhs.unh.edu/nursing/demn.html

It's only offered at the Durham campus. I'm not sure where in MA you are, but we do have quite a few people who commute (Cambridge, Fitchburg, northern NH) and have found it do-able. The amount of time actually spent on-campus in Durham is relatively little, especially as the program goes on. This past semester we were only on campus one day a week most weeks due to online classes and clinical time, and clinicals have been in places that might be easier for you (I live near Manchester and have been placed in Manchester hospitals three times, Lawrence once, and will be in Methuen this semester... I only had bad commutes twice and one was by choice because I wanted to do a clinical in a certain part of the state).

They usually have an info session in the spring, but the website also has a lot of info as well. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks Arciedee!!! How difficult is it to get accepted into the NS program?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternity, quality.

bassmasterangler, I heard that 80-something people applied my year and 24 were accepted (plus some students were waitlisted). I am not sure how many people applied for the class that is starting now. They did change the admissions requirements for that class slightly, so I am not sure if that affected the number of applications or not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi! I was just looking at clinicalcareertraining.com for info on LNA training.

Truth is, I can't stand doing my job for longer than I absolutely have to. So, what I planned to do was save some $$ from now until March, ask and hope that my boss lets me work 4 days/week and have sat and sun off through it (which will be difficult as the busiest days where I work are sat/sun!), and take the LNA course in Berlin, through CCT. If she doesn't work with me on the days I need off, then unfortunately.. I have to give my notice. I want to get into healthcare, and I just started my pre-req's so it will be Fall 2009 before I can be in the RN program.

Definitely go for LNA if you want to get into healthcare while going to school for your RN!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry for the delay, but the UNH program is legit, however I would hafta quit my job and I just don't have the $$$$$ to do that. Plus, I haven't set foot in a classroom in almost 5 yrs, I think the whole Masters Degree AND RN program would be a bit overwhelming even w/out a job.

Any thoughts?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternity, quality.
Sorry for the delay, but the UNH program is legit, however I would hafta quit my job and I just don't have the $$$$$ to do that. Plus, I haven't set foot in a classroom in almost 5 yrs, I think the whole Masters Degree AND RN program would be a bit overwhelming even w/out a job.

Any thoughts?

Phew, I'm relieved to know that my program is legit! ;)

The money concerns are certainly valid. I am a single homeowner and trying to live on student loans is a challenge to say the least. Many of my classmates have found different ways around the cost-of-living thing. Some work part time (usually around 10 hrs a week during the semesters, more during breaks). Many also live with parents/roommates/SOs, which is also a significant help. But ultimately we are all living on borrowed money which will need to be paid back and that is a scary thought at times!

For me going the ADN route wouldn't have been much help financially. Since I already have a degree I didn't think that I'd be able to get any federal aid and my job was not the sort that would be flexible enough to accomodate me having a weird schedule that changed every few months. So that was going to be an added stress/challenge for me. It sounds like your job would work better, however.

As for the academics, I had been taking pre-reqs for a couple years prior to school, so I was used to balancing a full-time job (complete with a 2-3 hr round-trip commute) and 4-8 credits/semester. I was comfortable being in a classroom and had established some pretty good study habits. Are you taking any courses this semester? I highly recommend using the time in pre-reqs to get yourself comfortable with school again and to teach yourself good study habits, as those are essential no matter what program you end up doing. Combining the RN classes and the master's classes hasn't been much of an issue. It's just the sheer volume of classes that's the challenge.

Ultimately you have to make the right choice for you. For many reasons the UNH program was the right one for me based on what I eventually want to be doing in nursing, my financial situation, and my academic desires. However, many people choose to go other routes and become equally skilled and talented nurses. The best program is the one that works best for you, not the one that is best for someone else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Got an extra bedroom? LoL j/k.. i still live at home, i dont have a ton of $ saved and i have a auto loan and cell phone, etc.. so i can't quit my job and I don't think 10hrs a week will cut it for me.

I am taking Developmental Psych I this semester. I plan on taking DevPsy II in the summer along w/ A+P I, then A+P II in the fall, that way I will be qualified to apply for the nursing prog at my local C.C. for the fall of '09 class.

I do have a degree and I'd love to get my masters as well, esp w/ a RN degree too... but I just don't know if I can cut it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Bassmaster, they sound like really good classes, whre are they offered? (devel psych)

Which CC are you looking at for nsg program? Make sure you know when test dates are (NLN) and application deadlines. It sounds like you already have and are planning accordingly.

I found out Friday nite a friends daughter (grads this yr from HS with Health Sciences major and LNA) who wants to go into the nsg program has not done ANY of this or taken the NLN. The deadline for applying to the 2 closest schools is Feb 1. She isn't gonna make it this year without those NLNs. The friend wants me to go over there and sit with the kid and tell her the ins and outs, what the program is like, etc. I told her to have her dau. call me and I would be happy to set something up but she has to take the first step to show that she is interested and not wasting my time, which I feel like I may be.

It helped me to take the other classes needed to gradutate before the nsg classes began. I got stuck taking micro last semester with Nsg V and it was BRUTAL, NEVER AGAIN!

I too am doing the student loan dance to survive and reading all the books I can now about paying down debt, investing, etc. so when I do graduate I will live simply and pay off everything and finally be able to breathe. It has been really really tough at times, but very much worth it!

Currently needing to tweak my resume and get a job as an LNA until I graduate. Not looking forward to it, but looking like it may be necessary to keep head above water.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am enrolled at Northern Essex Community College... i love this class so far, the prof. seems cool, except for the 10 pg paper due at the end of the semester, LOL. I haven't been in a classroom in almost 4yrs.

I am not looking to be eligible for Nsg until the fall of 2009. I sort of have my pre-req's spread out over the next few semesters so i will have them done.

NECC offers a spring and fall semester along w/ two summer semesters, one longer than the other... it is cruical to have at least A+P I and II done before 2009 comes, but i am so nervous about trying to take A+P I in the summer when the semester is shorter (i assume it'll be the same workload w/ less time!!!)..what do you think??

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hear they are a good school. I have family that attended there.

I have found that shorter classes tend to mean a bit less expectations. I just took a religion course in the winterm (half day classes for 2 wks straight) and was able to ahve a comparison as my daughter had just taken it.

I had one 4page report due, and two tests including the final. On each test we were allowed one full sheet of paper handwritten (both sides) for a cheat sheet. We covered less material d/t time constraints so test was easier (less terms to know).

My daughter had three papers due, a couple other assignments and two quizzes, and three tests for the same class/instructor during the regular semester.

See if you can get a copy of the sylabus early to begin. And also begin memorizing stuff if you can- bones, muscles, stuff like that.

When I was taking my prereqs I made sure to take classes that other schools needed for admission to their programs just in case I did not get into my first choice I could still be eligible to apply to their schools as I found small admission/required course differences in the schools near me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment