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How do you go about becoming a CNA
I'm currently 20 years old pursuing nursing via Job Corps, and I'm looking forward to making my community a better place. I want to know what does it takes to be successful as a registered nurse as a male? #nursing #registered-nurses
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Suzanne’s Answer
Dear Jermaine,
Nursing is gender non-specific. What it takes to be a good nurse are the following traits: critical thinking, curiosity, empathy, mastery of nursing therapeutics, policies, procedures, and caring. If a person cannot care or empathetically see the other person, they should not enter into the field of healthcare.
So that being said, you ask how to go about becoming a CNA, which is a good first step into the healthcare field.
I see that you are already receiving education through Job Corps. I recommend that you pursue the LVN track if you can. However, working as a CNA will give you a realistic idea of what it means to work in a healthcare institution.
Once you have graduated, passed all boards and are in practice, you can begin working on your RN prerequisites while working. Once you enter into RN school, you may have to work less than part time in order to be a successful nursing student.
Men began entering into the nursing field when I was a student almost 40 years ago. So you will see many men working as RNs in the hospital. As a registered nurse, you will have many more career opportunities, enjoy a broader sense of helping your community, and earn a higher salary as well.
Study hard. Get good grades. Prioritize your activities to ensure that you achieve your goals. They are excellent goals! There will be a huge shortage of registered nurses in the very near future so you are needed!
Here is a link to explore CNA to RN programs:
https://www.registerednursing.org/cna-to-rn/
Best to you,
Sue
Nursing is gender non-specific. What it takes to be a good nurse are the following traits: critical thinking, curiosity, empathy, mastery of nursing therapeutics, policies, procedures, and caring. If a person cannot care or empathetically see the other person, they should not enter into the field of healthcare.
So that being said, you ask how to go about becoming a CNA, which is a good first step into the healthcare field.
I see that you are already receiving education through Job Corps. I recommend that you pursue the LVN track if you can. However, working as a CNA will give you a realistic idea of what it means to work in a healthcare institution.
Once you have graduated, passed all boards and are in practice, you can begin working on your RN prerequisites while working. Once you enter into RN school, you may have to work less than part time in order to be a successful nursing student.
Men began entering into the nursing field when I was a student almost 40 years ago. So you will see many men working as RNs in the hospital. As a registered nurse, you will have many more career opportunities, enjoy a broader sense of helping your community, and earn a higher salary as well.
Study hard. Get good grades. Prioritize your activities to ensure that you achieve your goals. They are excellent goals! There will be a huge shortage of registered nurses in the very near future so you are needed!
Here is a link to explore CNA to RN programs:
https://www.registerednursing.org/cna-to-rn/
Best to you,
Sue
I agree with your answer completely. Adding the link was a nice touch.
Chandra Siim
Updated
Kerrie’s Answer
To become a CNA, I would check the local listings in your area to see who is taking people to train them, how long the program is, what are the entry requirements, and the cost. You can Google this by typing in "Local CNA train in the city, state" and they should easily pop-up. Here is what I found when I googled for Denver, CO:
Top 6 Denver CNA Programs
Don't be overwhelmed while looking for CNA programs in Denver. Consider these six especially popular options to more quickly find one that's right for you:
Emily Griffith Technical College - From its location in downtown Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College offers a Nurse Assisting Program that meets Colorado OBRA certification requirements and is designed to help you take and pass the state certification exam. Approved by the State Board of Nursing, the program is 92 hours in length. The typical cost, including books, is around $520.
Community College of Denver - Also located downtown, the Community College of Denver, or CCD, offers an affordable and popular Nurse Aide Program. You can choose from four-, seven-, or 15-week-long versions of the program, depending on your scheduling needs. Upon graduating, you will be eligible to take the Colorado Nurse Assistant Certification Exam. Tuition for this five-credit program costs around $900, which doesn't include books and other costs and fees.
Pima Medical Institute - Yet another school that's located right in Denver offers a popular CNA program. Pima Medical Institute's Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide Program takes around six weeks to complete. During those six weeks, you will receive 130 hours of training, which is broken up as follows: 52.5 hours theory, 37.5 hours lab, and 40 hours of clinical training. The latter takes place at nearby nursing homes and other extended-care facilities.
Red Rocks Community College - You're really in luck if you live in Denver because this school is located within the city's boundaries and offers a very popular CNA program. Red Rocks' Nurse Aide program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. Upon graduating from the program, you will be able to take the state certification exam, which will enable you to get your license. The total cost of the program, including books, uniforms, and other fees, is around $1,200.
Arapahoe Community College - If you live in or near Littleton, CO, which is about nine miles from downtown Denver, Arapahoe Community College's Nurse Aide Program may be right up your alley. This four-credit program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. It is split into theoretical and practical segments, which ensure that you have the knowledge and skills that you need to pass the exam and earn your certification. At around $2,000, the cost to complete this program is a little higher than others, but most reviews of the program are very positive.
Pickens Technical College - Over in Aurora, which is about 10 miles from downtown Denver, you'll find Pickens Technical College. This popular school offers a very respected Nurse Aide training program that also happens to be very affordable. Indeed, the program only costs around $750, and that includes tuition, books, uniform, and other fees. The total length of the program is 105 hours, with 30 of those hours taking place at local nursing homes, where you will receive clinical training. The program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing, and it arms you with the skills and knowledge that are needed to take and pass the state certification exam.
As you can see, it isn't too difficult to become a CNA in the Denver area. One of the most complicated parts of the process is finding the right training program. There are tons of options, but don't rush into selecting one. Do plenty of research into the top contenders to ensure that the program that you select meets your scheduling needs and financial requirements. Before you know it, you'll be sitting for your exam and be closing in on becoming a CNA.
I would take this step first and then find a job at a local hospital or long-term care center before moving on to the next step as a nurse. There are a hundred more options for that next step and once you get your feet wet with the CNA certificate, you can find great advice from the facility on the next steps as well.
Top 6 Denver CNA Programs
Don't be overwhelmed while looking for CNA programs in Denver. Consider these six especially popular options to more quickly find one that's right for you:
Emily Griffith Technical College - From its location in downtown Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College offers a Nurse Assisting Program that meets Colorado OBRA certification requirements and is designed to help you take and pass the state certification exam. Approved by the State Board of Nursing, the program is 92 hours in length. The typical cost, including books, is around $520.
Community College of Denver - Also located downtown, the Community College of Denver, or CCD, offers an affordable and popular Nurse Aide Program. You can choose from four-, seven-, or 15-week-long versions of the program, depending on your scheduling needs. Upon graduating, you will be eligible to take the Colorado Nurse Assistant Certification Exam. Tuition for this five-credit program costs around $900, which doesn't include books and other costs and fees.
Pima Medical Institute - Yet another school that's located right in Denver offers a popular CNA program. Pima Medical Institute's Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide Program takes around six weeks to complete. During those six weeks, you will receive 130 hours of training, which is broken up as follows: 52.5 hours theory, 37.5 hours lab, and 40 hours of clinical training. The latter takes place at nearby nursing homes and other extended-care facilities.
Red Rocks Community College - You're really in luck if you live in Denver because this school is located within the city's boundaries and offers a very popular CNA program. Red Rocks' Nurse Aide program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. Upon graduating from the program, you will be able to take the state certification exam, which will enable you to get your license. The total cost of the program, including books, uniforms, and other fees, is around $1,200.
Arapahoe Community College - If you live in or near Littleton, CO, which is about nine miles from downtown Denver, Arapahoe Community College's Nurse Aide Program may be right up your alley. This four-credit program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. It is split into theoretical and practical segments, which ensure that you have the knowledge and skills that you need to pass the exam and earn your certification. At around $2,000, the cost to complete this program is a little higher than others, but most reviews of the program are very positive.
Pickens Technical College - Over in Aurora, which is about 10 miles from downtown Denver, you'll find Pickens Technical College. This popular school offers a very respected Nurse Aide training program that also happens to be very affordable. Indeed, the program only costs around $750, and that includes tuition, books, uniform, and other fees. The total length of the program is 105 hours, with 30 of those hours taking place at local nursing homes, where you will receive clinical training. The program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing, and it arms you with the skills and knowledge that are needed to take and pass the state certification exam.
As you can see, it isn't too difficult to become a CNA in the Denver area. One of the most complicated parts of the process is finding the right training program. There are tons of options, but don't rush into selecting one. Do plenty of research into the top contenders to ensure that the program that you select meets your scheduling needs and financial requirements. Before you know it, you'll be sitting for your exam and be closing in on becoming a CNA.
I would take this step first and then find a job at a local hospital or long-term care center before moving on to the next step as a nurse. There are a hundred more options for that next step and once you get your feet wet with the CNA certificate, you can find great advice from the facility on the next steps as well.