how to become certified nursing Assistant?

Discussion in 'CLEP, DANTES, and Other Exams for Credit' started by nursingcareer, Jun 11, 2014.

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  1. nursingcareer

    nursingcareer New Member

    I want to be Nurse .
    Can anyone help me, Where i can get the information regarding Nursing courses in Chicago?

    What will be the duration of course and other procedures?
     
  2. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    Certified Nursing Assistant courses are generally low cost and short term training offered through local community colleges or hospitals. Expect to pay about $100-$400. You'll need to complete these in person, since hands on learning is part of the training as well as testing. You'll also be required to complete clinical hours (unpaid) that will be part of the class. You'll also be required to be licensed in the state to practice as a CNA.
    You probably won't be able to use distance learning except to supplement your study. I know there are videos on youtube that show how to do specific clinical tasks (change a bed, change gloves, wash hands, etc). In Illinois, you will find most nursing (RN) programs require you to become a CNA before applying to nursing school. Perhaps if you follow this route, you'll find distance learning opportunities for your general education courses, which cuts down the attendance time on campus. Good luck!
     
  3. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    My community colleges charge nearly $1,000! You can, however, receive a state grant if you qualify. The cheapest option I found in my area was around $900. CNAs where I live make about $8-11 an hour, so unless I really needed it to get into a nursing program, I would not waste money on becoming a CNA.
     
  4. rook901

    rook901 New Member

    The best source of information on CNA programs will be your state board of nursing. Apparently, in Illinois, CNA's are actually governed by the Dept of Public Health. DPH has a comprehensive list of CNA programs in your state here: https://hcwbcsearch.dph.illinois.gov/BgChecks.Public/Programs.aspx

    CNA programs are typically about 5 weeks in length and shouldn't cost more than $500-1000 on average. Some places, like the American Red Cross, offer CNA training for free if you agree to volunteer for a short period of time after training. Check with your local ARC branch to see if they have a program like this.

    Be wary of career colleges like Concorde who will be happy to milk you out of $20,000 for a year-long "Patient Care Assistant" program where you'll end up with a CNA license and more debt than you can work off.

    If your end goal is to be a nurse, look into EMT programs, unless your state requires CNA as a pre-req. The pay is a little better, the opportunities are a little more broad, and -- in my humble opinion as a nurse for 8 years (counting time as both LPN and RN) and an EMT for 5 years --the experience is much more relevant. CNA's, at least in my region, typically only work in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. EMT's, however, can work both on the ambulance and in the ER as techs.

    I'm not sure how this thread ended up in the CLEP/DANTES forum, or in an online forum at all. There is no 100% online CNA program.

    Good luck!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 12, 2014
  5. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    This is the actual class I completed. The price has went up since I did it- I think I paid $375. Iowa has a reciprocal relationship with Illinois, meaning you can get an IL license when you have successfully earned an IA license. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
     

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