Which CNA program would you recommend?

Well, I sure don't always have an extra $550 to spend on classes I could be taking for free, so that would decide it for me, lol. But unless you want to work specifically at the clinical nursing homes for the first class, I don't see how having clinicals in the same town would help you get hired at another facility nearby. If you are looking to eventually become a nurse, I think the hospital experience would be pretty good to have, even just so you know what you're getting into.

Usually if they offer the training for free then you would have to sign a contract to work at that facility for an extended period of time. If you break the contract you must pay them back. Many places where I lived stopped offering the free classes since many people would quit right after the contract is up. I would look a little more into it before making a decision.

If it were me I would take the hospital. You will see so much more then you will in LTC plus since it is free they may hire you on after... built in job =awesome if you ask me. PLUS many people are breaking their necks to get into a hospital but can't because they don't have acute care experience. Even if they make you sign a contract I would do it then move on to another hospital when the contract is up. You will already be one step above your peers since you have the acute care experience. I only WISH I had that option.

Although the drive is further away I would go with the hospital. If you sign a contract you're already in the hospital making more money. After the contract is up you could get into another hospital easier. If you decide you want to work in one of your preferred towns then you now have experience working in a hospital setting. Your resume will be more attractive.

Free is always nice but then again it is further and 40 mins back and forth is a lot of gas to waist and depending on where you live it might be a lot of traffic . Maybe bad weather as well? And if you do your CNA at the hospital who knows if they will hire you, because it's free there might be many more wanting to do their CNA there as well so more competition .

I would say $550 is not bad since its in your location and I'm sure the nursing home you will be doing Clinical's at will hire you, I paid $525 for my CNA and got hired at the nursing home I did my Clinical's at.

Good luck with your choice.

I'd do the free one. I took a free class at a nursing home and did not have to sign a work contract.

It's likely that the hospital is desperate for CNA's. It's free, it's hospital experience and it could end in a job offer.

Either sounds wonderful! Sorry to be such a big help, haha. In NJ I paid $1200 for a course (all books and documents included but not uniforms). The nursing home offered us all positions, but it wasn't for me. I would say it depends where you want to end up working and how much gas costs are in your area. Determine how much gas you would spend driving to and from the location x amount of days for x number of weeks. Good luck!