When to fit in CNA course

[snow_bear]

I would like to take a CNA course before nursing school if at all possible as I will not be able to keep my current job once I'm accepted into a program and I will need to find work.

My Pell grant requires me to take no less than six credits per semester. This summer, I'm taking Intro to Computers (my credits were too old to transfer) & Nutrition, both on-line. For fall, I've registered for A&P I (evening class & lab one night per week) & Human Growth & Development (on-line). In the spring, I'm planning on taking A&P II & Statistics.

My school does not have any evening CNA classes this summer or fall. They did this spring, but I won't know what next spring's schedule is until mid-way thru the fall semester. If I could be sure to take it for credit in the spring, I could put off Stats until next summer with Microbiology. But, there is a vo-tech center that offers a CNA class this fall two nights a week, but I'm concerned that may be too much considering I work full-time as well.

Any suggestions? Advice? Ideas? Help........

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Call local community and technical colleges and ask if they know of CNA courses available over the summer. Also, call some of the nursing schools and ask. They will often know of summer CNA courses.

[mangopeach]

Not sure if this will work for you, but in my state, a nursing student can work as a Patient Care Tech after 2 semesters. Thats my plan after the summer. I've even seen 1 job advertised that said you can work as a PCT after 1 clinical rotation. It was for a Psych tech. Of course if you need to be working as soon as you start school then this won't work, but if you can wait until after 2nd semester then this is great since you won't have to pay for a CNA course.