If you are looking for financial assistance with your CNA training in New York, here is the information specific for the city of New York. Certified nursing assistants are in demand in large, urban, metropolitan cities, even if the rate of employment is down in other areas. According to the Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for CNA training graduates will continue to increase from now through 2020.

The current cost of CNA training in the United States ranges anywhere from $1,000 to as high as $5,000, depending on where the course is offered. In New York City, CNA training averages between $1500 to $2,000 but not everyone is able to afford this. Even with payment programs, the individuals who are most in need of jobs find it difficult, if not impossible to come up with the CNA training tuition. If this sounds like you, we may have good news for you. Here are several avenues you may not have tried that can offer you CNA training at a reduced cost or sometimes completely free. If you qualify for a grant to pay for you CNA training, this means the total cost will be provided for you. On the other hand, there are some programs who offer to pay for a good portion, leaving the aspiring CNA student to pay for the remainder.

CNA Training through the New York City Department of Education

The New York City Department of Education offers free CNA training in five regions. To qualify, potential students will need to be full time residents of New York City and fall within certain income qualifications. To find out more about how the NYC Department of Education can help you obtain CNA training at free or low cost, visit schools.nyc.org.

CNA Training Through Workforce 1 Grants

Workforce 1 Grants are provided to qualified residents of New York whose household income is not over $56 thousand dollars annually. If you fall within this range, you may qualify for free CNA training by becoming a member of Workforce 1 (which is free of charge to join).

Workforce 1 is a service provided by the New York City Department of Small Business Services who helps prepare candidates for jobs opportunities in New York City. In order to provide strong matches between candidates and employers, Workforce 1 will often help provide education for members.

In 2010 alone, Workforce 1 helped to place over 30,000 New York residents in gainful employment. They provide industry specific education and job placement in the areas of healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation fields. To find out more about CNA training available through the Workforce 1 program, find their site through www.nyc.gov.

You can also contact the Healthcare Career Center by calling 718-609-2144. Why wait? If you live in New York City, put your best foot forward and find out how you can get assistance with your CNA training. With a little bit of work, soon you’ll be well on your way to an exciting career as a confident, qualified, CNA training graduate.

Are you thinking of starting CNA training so you can be a nursing assistant? Well, before you make that step towards CNA training, it’s important that you know what you are getting yourself into. While being a CNA is a rewarding career, it may not be all that’s cracked up to be.

The CNA Training Leads to Low Salary: Worth the Reward?

While becoming a CNA may sound like something that will allow you to give back to those who are less fortunate than you, it can have its drawbacks.

If you’re looking for a career that pays after CNA training, this career is not it. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, most people working in the field after CNA training earn between $10.00 and $15.63 an hour. If you work 40 hours a week at $12.00 an hour, you would make approximately $480 a week. That is $1920 per month before taxes are taken out. If you take this monthly gross income and multiple it by 12, you have a salary of approximately $23,040. Again, this is before taxes.

According to the Federal Government, the poverty line for a family of 3 is $18,530 and a family of 4 is $22,350 gross yearly income. Monthly gross income for a family of 3 is $1,544 and a family of 4 is $1,863.

As you can see, working as a CNA pays you just above the poverty line, which could cause many financial difficulties.

The Repercussions of CNAs’ Wages

Think about all of the bills you currently have such as rent and car payment. Then think about other bills you’ll have to pay throughout the month such as gas, utilities and other miscellaneous bills. You might find that your income barely covers all of the costs.

To better explain this, take a look at this:

This chart above is just an example of bills that people have to pay each month. As you can see, after paying the bills, your career after CNA training may have approximately $460 left over. This money will have to be used for food and other needed items. Most people spend over a $100 on food each week and so that would leave you with no money left over.

If you had a month in which you had a financial emergency, such as your car broke down and needed to be repaired, you can see that you wouldn’t have enough money to fix it. You’d likely have to pay with a credit card, which would then put you in debt and cause you to have to pay more to the credit card company to keep up on that financial responsibility.

Why CNA Training – Starting Out

While CNA training may not prepare you to have a lucrative career as a nursing assistant, it can be a stepping stone to another career that does pay. Nurses make significantly more money than CNAs and in your work you will meet many of them to assess whether you want to move up to this higher position. If you do decide that the field is for you, your CNA training is a beneficial start to a successful start to your nursing career.

CNA Training & Careers

You’ve completed your CNA training and you’re ready to begin a rewarding career as a nursing assistant. While it may sound easy enough to get your resume together and your CNA training credentials to set out for a day of job hunting, we’ve got news for you. More and more medical facilities, especially large organizations, are only hiring through online job sites.

The Internet Alternative to CNA Training Graduate Job Search

Trust us, once you get the hang of searching online to land your first job as a CNA training graduate, you’ll be thankful you don’t have to drive from facility to facility. The internet is a much more efficient way to find your first job. You’ll immediately be aware of the requirements of the medical facility, what type of CNA training you’ll need to have, and whether they will hire a brand new CNA training graduate without experience or not. You’ll even be able to scan and upload copies of your CNA training and certification online.

If you don’t have prior experience, don’t stress,  Indeed.com, a leading job search website, has recent CNA training graduates listed who are actively seeking employment and succeeding. One of the greatest things about this site is that you can post your resume, speak with others and find average salary information for your area, according to Indeed.com.

While each job search website is a bit different in the way that you can post your resume, your certification, and your CNA training credentials, you can usually figure out the steps quite easily. For example, for the Indeed.com job search site, simply fill out the form about the type of CNA employment you would like, your salary requirements and then upload your resume straight from your computer. A benefit to the site Indeed.com is that you’ll receive a personalized URL to send to potential employers who would like to see it.

The site places your job requirements and resume into its database and allows employers to find you.

The Leading Job Search Sites for CNA Training Graduates

It’s always good to go with the most popular ones since they have the most employers searching them. According to PCMag, which listed the top 20 job search websites, the following are the best to upload your resume and search for CNA employment.

#1 Beyond

This site actually has two other sites attached to it: PRJobForce.com and PhillyJobs.com. So when you submit your resume, you are receiving the benefits of three job search sites instead of just one.

#2 CareerBuilder

This site has been around for well over a decade and has millions of visitors a month. The more exposure your resume receives the better.

#3 Monster

Everyone has heard of Monster.com and that is why you should include yourself in their database. It’s also an impressive website for career information and interviewing tips.

#4 SimplyHired

When you go to this website, you’ll notice it looks a lot like Indeed.com but don’t let that stop you. Upload your resume and you’ll be able to also submit to five other websites automatically for free.

#5 Yahoo HotJobs

Finally, don’t forget this site since it’s the most popular one on the net. They have a special feature which allows you to see how many times your resume has been viewed. This can help out greatly since you can use the information to make your basic information more attractive to potential employers so they will want to contact you after viewing your resume and CNA training credentials.

CNA Training and Careers

If you are considering CNA training, but haven’t looked into the details yet, you should be aware of the fact that potential employers after CNA training will require background checks. Yes, a career as a certified nursing assistant is one which demands a past that is untarnished by questionable behavior, a criminal record, or even traffic violations such as a DUI. Why do potential employers require a background check? Isn’t it enough that you’ve completed your CNA training? Unfortunately, no.

Wherever you are applying, whether it’s with a medical facility, a nursing home, or even for a private home, you’ll be required to provide more than your CNA training information. You’ll also need to show that you are an upstanding citizen. A background check not only reveals the details of you past, but it also reveals a bit about your personality as well. How so?

CNA Training & Your Background Check

For a minute, let’s try to think like a potential employer. Let’s say I’m looking for a caregiver for my elderly parent. I look through your resume and I see that you’ve passed your CNA training with flying colors. In fact, you were in the top 2% of your CNA training class, of over 25 students. Great. Then I proceeded with the next step and interviewed you. You’re a mother of three, you seem intelligent, personable, and have a great sense of humor. I feel like my mom will really like you. Now, just one more thing. Let’s take a look at your background check.

I open the envelope to find that you’ve been arrested twice. Once when you were 19 on check fraud charges and once more recently for a DUI. Suddenly, you don’t seem like such a great candidate to me. I mean, after all, this is my mother and I only want the best and most trustworthy person. The check fraud charges make me wonder if you’d consider stealing from my mother. The DUI charge causes concern because you may need to drive my mother to a doctor’s appointment or to the grocery store. What if you still have a problem with alcohol? What if you’d drink on the job? How can I be sure my mother would be well cared for? Do you see the reasoning here?

CNA training is important and graduating at the top of your class is certainly commendable, but CNA’s are responsible for the care of a human being, so ethics and morals are just as important as your nursing skills.

CNA Training: Can You Ever Get Past A Tarnished Past?

If you are still determined to take your CNA training and pursue a career as a nursing assistant, even with a tarnished past, your best bet is to be upfront and honest with your potential new employer. Don’t wait until they run a background check and find out for themselves. Sit down and discuss the matter right from your first interview. Don’t bring it up as the first thing. Talk about your skills, your CNA training, how you love working with patients, and answer any questions your interviewer has. Then, before the interview is completed, bring up the issue in a very matter of fact manner. Say something like, “I’m sure you will be doing a background check and I just wanted to let you know right up front that I’ve had a few problems in my past. I’m past those difficulties now, but of course, my record remains.” Then, let them know what the charges or the “tarnished” parts of your past are. If you are up front and honest, you may be surprised at the willingness of people to give you a second chance. The most important part is to be honest.

On a final note, before signing up for CNA training classes, check the regulations of a few places you are interested in working for. If it’s a state agency and you have a DUI, or have been charged with harassment or theft you may be barred from ever being hired.  This may seem overly strict, but keep in mind that CNAs work with extremely vulnerable individuals and both the state and the facility must ensure that the patients won’t be abused or taken advantage of.

You can overcome your past. Your CNA training coupled with a positive reputation from here on out will go a long way.

For more information on CNA training and careers, we invite you to follow our website.

Free CNA Training

The Displaced Homemakers’ Program doesn’t get a lot of attention, so it’s very likely that you haven’t heard of it. If you are a mother looking for free CNA training, this may be the best news you’ve heard in a long time. Not everyone will qualify for free CNA training through the Displaced Homemakers’ Program, and not every State offers it. Read the following information to find out the details.

CNA Training: What is The Displaced Homemakers’ Program?

The Displaced Homemakers Program was started to help women who have been abandoned or left alone to raise their children. The reason they are considered displaced is because they were previously homemakers or “stay at home moms.” After they were left, abandoned (or widowed), these mothers find themselves in an extremely difficult situation. They have a clear lack of employable skills and are therefore unable to find gainful employment. To assist women in this situation, certain States have adopted a Displaced Homemaker Program and some will fund certain types of education, such as CNA training classes, secretarial training, phlebotomy, legal assistant training and more. Generally, the training they fund involves certifications that can be obtained quickly, such as CNA training, which is usually a 6-12 week course.

Along with offering education, like free CNA training, the Displaced Homemakers’ Program also often offers assistance with resumes, computer classes, uniforms and work clothing, classes about finances and budgeting, as well as mental health counseling. The counseling is often geared toward dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, and building self esteem. You have to figure, this is often invaluable, since some of the women were abandoned or were involved in mentally, emotionally or even physically abusive situations. The free CNA training provides the necessary skills for a new career and also helps with boosting confidence and building self esteem.

The programs are hugely popular with States, since they literally help hundreds of thousands of women get off of public assistance, which ends up saving the State millions of dollars each year. New York, for example, has 22 Displaced Homemaker Centers which saves the State more than $4 million dollars each year.

Requirements For Free CNA Training Through the Displaced Homemakers Program

Although each State will have its own requirements, most of them are very similar. A few of the requirements we’ve seen from State to State include the following:

• 35 years of age or older
• Have been a stay-at-home parent or spouse providing unpaid household services for family members
• Have been dependent on the income of another family member but is no longer supported by this income
• Are not currently gainfully employed

Does My State Offer Free CNA Training?

A quick Google search of your State and the phrase Displaced Homemaker Program will help you determine whether your State provides this type of help or not.

You can also call the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, the Agency for Workforce, or the Department of Education’s Division of Community Colleges in your area. If your State doesn’t offer free CNA training through the Displaced Homemakers Programs, ask them if they know of any other State funded or local programs that provide free CNA training.

So, you have just completed your CNA training and are on the hunt for a new job. However, after filling out a few applications, you are feeling a little discouraged about the state of the economy and the job openings available.

Don’t give up hope yet, though.

With these creative ideas, you’ll have a winning edge and should be able to find that first job after CNA training. All you need is a little effort, a little patience, and a  passion for what you do.

Ideas For Finding Your Dream Job After CNA Training

Locating that first position after CNA training can seem tough. Here are some tips to get you going.

• Sneak In Through The Back Door- Well, not literally. You might end up in a bit of trouble for that. But here’s a unique idea. When you first began your CNA training, you probably already decided where you wanted to work. As luck would have it though, when you finished your CNA training there were no paying jobs to be found. Don’t allow this minor setback to stop you though; it should simply be a stepping stone. If you are determined to work in one location, consider volunteering there first. Show the administrator, director of nursing, the staff, and the residents your skills, your compassion and the way you bond with the residents or patients. Make them believe they can’t live without you. After a little time, they will have no problem hiring you for full-time employment.

• Save Those Phone Numbers- During the course of your CNA training, you most likely made quite a few friends. At the end, you and your fellow classmates exchanged phone numbers and addresses, promising to keep in touch. This information can be used for more than just arranging a night of drinks on the town though. If you are having trouble finding that first position, call up your classmates and see who is already employed. They may be able to put in a good word for you at their facility.

• Make a Deal- Many CNA students have a difficult time paying for their CNA training. If you don’t have the extra cash in your pocket, you may be able to find a facility that will not only pay for your training, but will guarantee your employment. Many facilities, like nursing homes, offer students the deal of a lifetime. If they agree to work for the facility for a certain period of time, usually six months, the facility will pay for all of the costs of their CNA training.

• Check Out Every Facility- Even if your heart is set on working in a hospital or working in a nursing home, don’t be too picky if jobs are scarce. Check out every available healthcare facility. I once walked into a facility to apply for a job at the same time a girl was being fired for missing too many days without calling in. I was hired to fill the open position twenty minutes later. It just goes to show, you never know when you might get lucky. Your CNA training is definitely necessary, but sometimes it also takes a bit of “believing in yourself” and being in the right place at the right time.

• Step Up Your Interview Skills- The interview is an essential part of obtaining that first position after CNA training, so don’t blow it. Make sure you dress professionally; for CNAs, this typically means clean, unwrinkled scrubs. Be professional throughout the interview, be polite, and answer all of the interview questions honestly. Study up on common interview questions for CNAs to thoroughly prepare for the interview process.

Finding that perfect position after CNA training doesn’t have to be difficult. With these creative ideas, you will be hard at work before you know it.

For more information about CNA training, continue to follow our website.

If you’re currently employed as a CNA, you are most likely aware that your CNA certification, which is obtained after proper CNA training, expires after 24 months. In order to hold a license in the first place, you will be required to register with your state’s Nursing Aid Registry, pass a background check, and pass your CNA training written and skills exam.

If you wish to keep working as a CNA, you must make sure to renew it. For many, this is a simple process. However, making mistakes in this renewal process is common.

Avoiding  CNA Training Certification Renewal Mistakes

If you want your CNA training certification renewal process to be smooth sailing, here are a few mistakes to avoid.

• Misplacing Your Letter- In most states, a post card or letter is sent to a CNA about 60 days before their license is due to expire. 60 days is a long time though, and it can be easy to misplace the card or letter reminding you to renew your license. While you may consider that stack of bills you need to pay as a “safe” place to store this important letter, try keeping it in a more obvious place instead. One suggested place would be directly on your refrigerator door so you can see it each time you go grab something to eat or drink.

• Working Errors- So, you finished your CNA training years ago and have been diligent about your renewals. A few years ago, though, you were offered a higher paying job outside of the CNA field. As your renewal time approaches, you may be shocked to learn you can not renew your license without retaking your CNA state exam. Why did this happen? Well, in order to renew your license, you must work as a CNA within the 24 month period between renewals. If you fail to do so, another CNA training state exam will be required. If you want to hold onto your CNA certification, make sure you are employed as a CNA at least a few days each year. Even a couple of days of employment as a float at your local hospital or nursing home will help you avoid having to retake the CNA training test again.

• Forgetting- Even if you do not receive written notification in the mail, it is still your responsibility to renew your CNA training certification license on time. Many CNAs forget if they are not reminded. Keep track of your 24 month period, and if you do not receive notification of your license expiring, contact your Nursing Aid Registry. Many states have websites set up so you can check the status of your license. For this website information, you can visit the Division of Health Service Regulation at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/hcpr/links.html. Some states even have numbers you can call to verify your renewal times. These helpful tools will allow you to use either your name to retrieve information as well, so don’t worry if you don’t know your license number.

If you fail to renew your license for a period of five years, you will have to repeat your CNA training. Avoid these common mistakes, though, and you can easily continue your employment.

Continue to follow our website for the latest information on CNA training.

World War II and Nurse’s Aides

Between 1944 and 1945, through the Red Cross, thousands of nurse’s aides were called to assistant nurses during World War II. Although many of these nurse’s aides had no formal CNA training, they provided a needed service for their country and were known as the Volunteer Nurse’s Aide Corps. By the end of this time period, there were approximately 345 units and more than 12,000 nurse’s aides in military hospitals.

Due to the shortage of nursing staff and physicians, many of the nurses involved with the Red Cross undertook responsibilities far great than their training. The nurses were overwhelmed in military hospitals and need assistance treating all of the injured soldiers. Because of this, the nurse’s aides were called in to help take some of the load off the nurses in the military and civilian hospitals.

When CNA Training Began

While nurse’s aides may have played a vital role in our history, it was not until 1987 that any sort of formal CNA training was established. Before this, anyone wishing to work as a nursing assistant could do so. These aides would fulfill both medical and household tasks without any type of training. Many times, they could perform medical tasks without the supervision or presence of a licensed nurse or a physician.

During the late 1980’s, Congress took a hard look at the medical and long term care facilities and determined a lack of training was leading to the downward spiral of care and safety.

Due to these concerns, Congress passed a law known as the Omnibus Reconciliation Act (OBRA). This law mandates numerous guidelines when it comes to CNA training:

• Initial education, including hours spent in the classroom and clinical setting
• Testing required for certification
• Amount of time needed before re-certification
• Amount of ongoing education needed
• Requirements of aides while working in facilities

While these guidelines are strict and structured, they are required for any nursing assistant wishing to work in a facility that accepts Medicaid and Medicare. The amount of education required, along with the restrictions on renewal of certification have greatly improved the level of care and safety experience in nursing homes, hospitals, and other medical care facilities.

What are the Requirements for CNA Training now?

These days, CNA training usually requires at least 75 to 100 hours of classroom and clinical work. State tests are mandatory after classes are completed, and only after passing the state exam may you call yourself a certified nursing assistant. Most long term care facilities and medical facilities can not and will not hire nursing assistants who have not taken and completed the coursework and exam required by the state.

CNA training has grown over the years. If you are interested in becoming a CNA, consider looking into a reputable CNA training program that will provide you with the knowledge you need to succeed in the medical field.

CNA Training Doesn’t Exactly Cover Staff Personalities

CNA Training & The Positive CNA Team Players

After CNA training, you will come across many coworkers who make the hospital, nursing home, or medical center a better place to work. Many times, these coworkers are hard working and helpful. Every time someone calls in for a day off, these workers are called to fill their place because management knows they are reliable and will hardly ever say no.

While at work, these CNAs make sure everything gets done. They take pride in their careers and it shows in all they do. If they have a spare minute, you will not find them lounging around. They will be helping others complete their tasks. These aides always have a kind word for the patients and treat them with the utmost respect and care.

The Worst Personalities you may Come Across after CNA Training

As with every profession, there is always good and bad to deal with. Working as a CNA is no exception. Here are some personalities you may clash with after you have completed your CNA training.

• Almost every institution has a CNA who has been around for a while and who considers himself the top dog at the facility. He or she may believe he knows everything there is to know about taking care of the patients and will expect you to follow any orders he gives out. Always refer back to what you learned in your CNA training and do the right thing, regardless of others actions.

• Sadly, some aides are simply working for a paycheck and do not really care about the well being of the patients or the stress of their coworkers. Many times, these aides finish their work sloppily and as quickly as possible. They may hide in their patients’ rooms afterward to avoid being asked to perform any other tasks. These workers frequently call in sick and expect others to pick up the slack.

• Generally, supplies are stocked on a regular basis by other CNAs or a housekeeping staff at the facility. Some aides frequently check these supplies and stock up on all the essentials they will need, and then some. This may leave other aides with very little supplies, which can be frustrating.

• Unfortunately, some aides, regardless of their CNA training, have little to no respect for their patients. They will speak to the patients like they are babies, ignore them, or will yell at them when they think no one is watching. These aides generally do not last very long as CNAs, because the job requires a lot of patience, love, and respect, all of which these CNAs (regardless of their CNA training) do not possess.

CNA training may not be able to prepare you for how to deal with staff members, but it will teach you how to care for you patients, and that is what is important. Those who have the respect of the patients and show respect in return are generally happier with their career and don’t have to worry very much about the bad attitudes of a few coworkers.

Note: Regardless of which CNA training you choose, remember, your unique convictions and personality will shine through. Take your CNA training, but never compromise your work ethic or what you believe in.

What is A CNA Travel Nurse?

This particular job involves the same aspects of any nurse that completes the CNA training program. The difference is that you are hired for a thirteen week period. Once this block of time is complete you are free to move on to another hospital or position. If you enjoy where you are currently employed it is sometimes possible to request your contract to be extended. On the other hand, if you are the more adventurous type, you are free to accept a new thirteen week contract with another medical facility. The contract can be in your own town, or anywhere in the United States. This type of position is perfect for the following:

• Single men and women
• Those who enjoy new challenges and environments
• A CNA with a desire to travel

What Type of CNA Training Does a Travel Nurse Need?

Good news! A travel nurse needs the exact same CNA training as is required for traditional, stationary CNA positions. This involves classes, either online or in a classroom, as well as any required internships for hands-on experience

Depending on the school or program you choose for your education, CNA training classes can take anywhere from a few weeks to six months to complete.

Earning Potential for a CNA Travel Nurse

Once you have completed the CNA training it is normal to start out at an average annual income of $21,000, or as high as $31,000. Choosing to become a travel nurse may actually increase your salary by up to 20%. Salaries also rise with experience, so the longer you’ve been in your position as a CNA travel nurse, the more you can expect to make. The average salary for a CNA travel nurse with several years of experience is $55,000. The good and bad news for travel nurses is that salaries are also dictated by the type of facility that hires you as well as the city and state you are employed in. This means that your salary may actually increase or decrease every thirteen weeks as a new contract is negotiated.

Do You Have What it Takes?

CNA training and travel nursing is not for everyone. Both require the ability to think fast on your feet, work long hours, and deal with a variety of potentially emotionally draining situations. You must be friendly and outgoing and have the ability to work well with a variety of different personality types. Keep in mind, patients can be ill-tempered or even hysterical. It takes certain skills to remain calm and collected.

Travel nursing in particular, requires that you are flexible and prepared to move at the end of your contract. This means finding new employment and a new place to live. There is no guarantee of work once your current contract is up. While the higher pay may be a bonus, if packing your suitcase every thirteen weeks doesn’t sound like a fun adventure, this may not be the career for you. Whether you plan on sticking to one location or traveling the country, CNA training can open exciting doors to a new career.