14 Jan Choosing the Right CNA Class
In the US, there are more than 900 schools and universities which offer CNA programs! With so many programs it can be hard to know where to start your selection process. There are some steps you can take though to find the best CNA schools & universities. You’ll want to think about some of your specific requirements and then use those constraints to narrow down your list of possible CNA schools.
What are some factors to take into account when choosing a school where you can study nursing? Firstly, consider location. Do you want to stay in your hometown or study and work somewhere else? You may want to take into account where you want to work, not just where you want to go to school. Many nursing programs are available which can save you money if you are willing to pay them back in years of employment after your education is complete. If you already know what address you’ll be living at, also think about commuting. You’ll be spending a lot of time doing on the job training. How far away is the school where you’d take classes from the hospital where you’d be training? How far away are both from the place you’ll be living?
What field of nursing do you want to specialize in? You may not know this yet, but if you’ve decided, you want to look for a school which specializes in the same field, not a general one which doesn’t offer what you specifically need. The environment where you want to work (hospital, clinic, ER, etc.) may also weigh in here. What specialty you want and your general life plan for the next few years can help you decide on whether to attend a university or a community college. Visiting these schools can also help you to finalize your decision. You’ll get a much better feel for the quality of the programs and what the whole experience will be like this way.
You’ll also need to think about money. There is a wide price range for nursing programs. You can save a lot of money by getting an associate’s degree instead of a bachelor’s degree, or by doing programs which let you trade training for work, or get paid to train. You also can save even more money by taking online classes. Just remember that if you choose to study online, you’ll need to make arrangements to fulfill the clinical part of your studies in the field somewhere. Look up the requirements for licensing in the state where you want to practice so that you can ensure your educational path will fill all the requirements.
Some of the top CNA universities and colleges offline include the University of California, John Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, and the University of Michigan. Online there are a host of universities like the University of Phoenix, DeVry University, Virginia College Online, and dozens more. Choosing the best CNA school is going to be a highly individual process. So make a detailed list of your needs and then start your search. Good luck finding the best CNA schools & universities!
Finding the right CNA program
If you’re interested in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, one of your first steps will be to enroll in a training program. CNA training programs vary widely based on location and other factors, and some of the regulations vary as well by state. As such, when choosing the right CNA classes to take, you should begin your search by contacting the State Nurse Aide Registry or the State Licensing Board for your state for information about regulations. This will tell you what all the requirements are which you need to meet, and can also help you find programs which are certified by the state regulatory boards.
CNAs are known by other names, which can be helpful to keep in mind as you do your research. Look up programs for nursing assistants, orderlies, patient care technicians, and others. These are all types of CNAs.
In terms of classes, you have several different options. You can of course pay for your training, but you may also find programs at local facilities which allow you to apprentice—you work and are paid, and in return you are given “free” classes. Sometimes these programs will also pay your testing fees, but in return you will be asked to work at the facility for a certain time period once you complete your training and receive your certification.
You can also attend classes at a community college or trade school (which costs money), or train with the Red Cross (this also costs money). Your state test will involve both a written and clinical portion, so on the job training is essential to help you pass the second part of your exam.
You may also consider training for nursing online, especially if you don’t have a lot of money on hand, or you work fulltime. Online CNA classes can cost less than courses you take in a classroom, and can fulfill the theoretical requirements of your training. Just remember that if you go with this option for your CNA classes, you’ll still need to do some practical on the job training somewhere.
In terms of the specifics of which CNA classes you go with, this will be a matter of personal preference in many ways. The location of the school where you study and the hospital where you train may both be relevant to your choice. The size of the hospital and the kinds of conditions which are treated there may also influence your decision. Nursing is a broad discipline, and at some point you’ll need to figure out whether you want to do general practice or something more specific. You also probably want to check into reviews of various programs to find out about their quality.
Whatever your financial situation and whether you’re employed full time, part time, or not at all, there should be a program out there which can help you become a CNA. Taking the right CNA classes is going to be a question of finding a quality program which meets state regulations and also fits the specific constraints of your own life situation.