r/cna

For anyone who has recently gone through CNA training, how long did it actually take from starting the program to getting your first CNA job?

I’m looking at a few programs right now and keep seeing accelerated/fast CNA programs that say you can finish in just a few weeks. LA Skills Academy is one I’ve been looking at, and they have a fast-track CNA program, but I’m trying to understand the realistic timeline after finishing the classes.

How long did it take you to complete the training, do the clinical portion, take the certification exam, and actually start working?

Also, for people who chose a shorter CNA program, did you feel like you were prepared enough for the exam and your first job, or would you recommend taking a longer program?

Just trying to figure out what a realistic timeline looks like rather than going by the advertised program length.

Okay before you say it I know I’m gonna have to get over it eventually. I’ve always been awkward, quiet and never knowing what to say. I want to get over it and my goal is to be a registered nurse. It’s not that I’m scared of talking to people I’m more scared of saying the wrong thing. I got hired at a hospital already and start September 7th. My question is what are some questions you ask residents / patients to get to talking. Is there anything you should try and avoid talking about? What do you normally say to get people talking or get yourself talking. I’ve already learned the “talk through your skills” and things like that but I know that people are talked to about the skills constantly and probably already know what you’re doing, I know it can vary but that’s not the point I’m just assuming that a majority of people would rather talk about something else. I know other people can be quiet and awkward too but I just want everyone to be comfortable I don’t want people to have a bad experience with me. Advice?

Hi! I’m a new CNA, I just got my certification last month and last week I started at an assisted living facility working 6p-6a. It’s been going good so far, I really love my residents and my night shift coworkers. I’ve done 3 out of my 5 training shifts, so I have two more before I’m on my own. Here are the things I don’t feel so confident about:

1. Lifting people (when helping them with toileting, helping them from their chairs to their bed, etc) I wish I felt more confident with this!!! Some of the lighter people I have it down, but with some of our heavier residents I don’t know how the CNAs are able to lift them alone and sometimes I don’t even know where to start or how to approach it if that makes sense. But I don’t want to have to be calling for help to lift people all the time.

2. Getting into a routine/remembering which people need to be checked more during the night and gotten up in the morning, etc. I know this is something that will likely get better with repetition and memorization, but does anyone have any tips with this?

Thank you!!

I finished my CNA course in 2022, took the test in 2024 and didn’t attempt to work in the field until now due to personal reasons. Felt like I forgot everything, went to orientation, did 3 days and quit. I was already called slow by a CNA my first morning on a unit, was told if a patient falls I’m going to jail. It’s also an immediate termination if you attempt a 2 assist on your own. Which I understand. It just scared me and I already felt like I had no idea what I was doing. Told that there will be constant call outs on every unit. Witnessed CNA’s bickering about not feeding residents bc they already did food truck and why is there still trays in the room, they aren’t cleaning it. My preceptors didn’t even have a clue they were supposed to be my preceptor so they weren’t prepared to show me anything. And the other CNA’s expected me to know everything as soon as I walked in. I guess I probably would have if I started working straight out of school. I got 100 on one of the quizzes we took at orientation. I’m book smart but the hands on stuff makes me a nervous wreck. It was $24.65 an hr in NYC, 1199 union. Wish I could have kept going. Feeling like a failure right now.

I feel bad changing facilities especially since I’m about to start orientation tomorrow but the other facility that I interviewed at is way nicer and cleaner. The hiring lady there also told me that I’ll receive a job offer hopefully by next Monday latest. Will there be anything negative that will happen if I change facilities almost immediately after being hired?

I feel so dumb, it was my last skill too. I had gotten catheter care, transfer to wheelchair with gait belt, and assisting resident with meal last. I’m confident in the first two skills but for the last one, I forgot to put the supplies and tray away after doing closing procedure and recording the meal intake. Am I cooked? 😭

Hello.
How do I politely ask cnas to give dad his busy book or anything (even towels to fold) while he sits in wheelchair from 6am to 8am waiting for breakfast? He is late stage with dementia so he likes these things.
He is first to get up in mornings. When I dropped in to spend breakfast with him at 7 he was alone in dining area (it’s a small private area for his pod only) facing a wall with nothing to mess with. He was alert and it just made me really sad. I usually go from 10:30-2 but felt sad today so I went for breakfast. Does it have to be written in his care plan to make it happen?

Hey everybody! I’m going to try to condense this as much as possible.

A huge bit of context for this is that I never attended CNA school myself. I got my CNA in a very drawn out, roundabout way. That aside, all worked out in the end and I have been an aide for over 3 years now. I have been training new CNAs at my facility for several months now.

A new CNA school opened up nearby to help combat our state-wide shortage of CNAs. Multiple nursing homes and hospitals invested in the construction of this school in the hopes of gaining new future employees. I think the state itself even helped fund part of this program, but I’m not positive on that part.

The majority of the CNAs I train of are graduates of this new school. Without trying to sound stuck-up, I am shocked to learn that the majority of them failed their written exams multiple times before actually passing. I’m talking about failing 2+ times before passing the exam. One girl I trained took the test a total of 5 times before passing. They all ace their skills exam just fine and usually on the first try though. Keep in mind, I never took the exam myself. I don’t know what it’s like. It could be really difficult. But it’s odd because the new CNAs I trained before this school opened never complained about failing the written exam portion. I noted this a while ago, but assumed maybe the state exam was updated or changed to be more difficult.

But it keeps going… here’s a list of things I’ve noted:

- More timid than usual. Afraid to interact/physically touch residents. Normal for a new CNA, but seems more noticeable lately.

- More call-offs during the expected training days.

- Needing more total “shadowing” days. Our facility used to have only 4 days of shadowing (mainly just following and watching, learning the facility) and 4 days assisted work (help nearby, but expected to attempt on their own first). Some new CNAs are pushing it to 6-8 days shadowing and some are STILL not off the “assisted” portion of training. I would much rather them be honest and take the extra days, but our scheduler is having a hard time because it has never been this way in the past. We are essentially “short-handed” all the time because 2 CNAs essentially count as 1 on these shadow days.

- “No brainer” mistakes. Lots of them. Hey, we all make mistakes. No one is perfect. But I’ve seen some of these new CNAs attempt to feed someone laying FLAT in bed, try to use slings OBVIOUSLY too small, and even one tried to removed a wound-vac because they “didn’t know what it was.”

Now, please, THIS IS NOT A SLANDER ON NEW CNAs. We all have to start somewhere! This is a tough job and I love being the one to help them train and advance their skills, but I think this school is failing them! Maybe I’m crazy, but I think there is seriously something wrong with this new school. Or maybe the availability of it has now opened the opportunity up to a different group of people? Maybe I’m bad at training? I just don’t know, but something has seriously changed and I’m curious if others have noticed something similar. Rereading my post, I’m not even sure if I have articulated properly how much things seem “off.” It’s not just what I’ve observed, it’s also just a weird feeling.

Hypothetically, if you are asked to assist with several tasks and you’re fairly new, how do you navigate working with an older, more tenured CNA who is taking a lot of shortcuts? As in, they are doing things very differently than how you were instructed or how others told you to do it / what the standard was? I’d imagine you wouldn’t want to ruffle any feathers and can only do your parts correctly and speak up where you can, but knowing how clique-y some floors can be and how terrible colleagues can make your life, what’s the best way to handle?

Edit: thanks, all! This is great advice :)

How long do your guys rounds take you? I’ve been an aid for about a year, and I’m trying night shift for the first time, and I feel like I’m slower than others at bed checks. I don’t really cut corners (aids changing residents without wiping them), but idk if I’m gonna be able to complete rounds. 32 residents to just me and a nurse + 12-15 check and changes per night. Also, what are your night ratios bc 32 feels overwhelming

I just had an interview and found out the starting pay is $20 at this one place, and based on job listings it seems like most other places. It was a snf.

I don’t understand how it’s only $20 for a job that requires a certification when McDonald’s and every other fast food place also pay $20 starting with better benefits!!

I got donning/doffing gloves, partial bed bath, repositioning and lifting in bed, then positioning to supine. The person next to me got vitals and ambulating, it appeared. They were done a good 15 mins before me. Why couldn’t I have gotten vitals. That stuff is cake.
Instead I absolutely butchered my skills because I RAN OUT OF TIME. I only got to finish the head and right side of body when I ran out of time. I’m so mad and angry. 😭😭😭😣😣😣 I feel like a failure and I don’t even wanna come back and take it again.

I honestly thinks its just from trapped sweat but i’ve never really had bacne until i became a cna. I’ve been struggling with it for a while, i’ve tried switching body washes, using acne scrubs and nothing is working. Idk if anyone has sports bras/scrub brand recommendations that may be made of materials to prevent bacne? I’m not sure if this is the right subreddit to ask but i thought maybe it was a common struggle for our field of work. TYIA!!

PCT if it matters. Been there a few months. I just got off training and I'm thinking it was a shit show while I was on it.

I was mostly with three different people. The first guy (First) was very hands off. He showed me where things were, then sent me on my way while he did his own thing. He wasn't open to questions, often giving sarcastic non-answers. Day 3 was supposed to be my first evening shift with another woman (Second) but she cancelled so I was split among two different people, both ladies who were very kind and helpful. Sadly I've only since seem them in passing. On my third day with First, a nurse helped me with two tasks and asked, wasn't first supposed to be helping me. I said yes but he wasn't interested. Later that day I was called into a bosses office and told I'd be with someone else the next day. That day came and the woman was very upset to be training, no one told her, how dare they she wasn't up for it. She went for about 2 hours before I said "lets both talk to boss together. We'll tell her you aren't up for it today. She'll delete it from my schedule and send me home". She became much friendlier after that.!<

Then I started with Second for a few days. Second started out by telling me that PCTs at the hospital talked, and I wasn't doing well and she wouldn't be going easy on me. A nurse on that shift pulled me aside and said when he started as a PCT she nearly made him cry but it got better. Second did run a tight shift, in some areas the later half of her shift was spent on her phone, for which I give her credit. Then I was moved to overnights with Third. Third wasn't up for chatting either, but she was very good about explaining anything I needed. However, she pointed out of some deficiencies in my training that hadn't been told to me before. I wasn't redoing vitals as needed and I was leaving beds up. I said I was shocked to learn those rules and privately wondered why First and Second hadn't mentioned anything.

Around this time, my boss and her boss told me I couldn't get anymore extensions without needing "to go to HR". At this point I tried to beg for my job by saying 4/5 of my first days shouldn't have counted as I didn't have anyone training me. The next week included a day on another floor. It was an amazing day. The woman training me was sweet and pleasant, the patients were well tempered, the other nurses were great to talk with. I asked my manager if I could move to that floor she said not for six months. I was later marked as good to be off training and on my own.

!One of my first shifts was with Second. She loudly scolded me in front of a hallway for something that occurred before I got on the floor, and that I needed to remember to do X, Y, and Z. Then said I wasn't doing a strong enough boost and had to learn to do better, in front of a patient in the patients room. At this point, I'm no longer thinking she's strict with her job, but that she's a bully. Thankfully her shift ended early. End of the night the new PCT (also a sweet person) and a nurse noted that I never sat down and seemed to work too hard.

I get along well with patients, nurses and about half the PCTs. The other half, ugh they make my shifts miserable. Schools starting soon and I'm thinking my sleep schedule can't handle all the overnights. I'm starting to consider either asking to go from part time to per diem. A few other things about the hospital have me worried and I'm almost wondering if I should resign all together.

Any advice appreciated!

I’m new to this so bear with me 😅

Would anybody be willing to outline exactly what they do (start to finish) when they have to change a resident’s briefs, especially during a nighttime shift? I did brief changes during training but am getting a bit nervous about doing it in real life 😅

Also, I’m assuming the nurse tells you in the beginning that a resident is incontinent and you’ll probably see soiled briefs during the 2H rounds but is there anything else I should keep in mind?? I want to make sure I’m doing a good job and am efficient.

And I’m guessing this is something you have to chart?

EDIT: incredible advice - TY! Worked alongside an experienced NOC CNA just now, and she did it exactly how both commenters laid it out :). So incredibly helpful

We have one resident at our facility who, on his good days, is extremely polite, very amenable and all-around pleasant. On his bad days he throws things, is generous with his profanity, and will respond to a brief check with "no, go away". He does have dementia, but is aware enough to know why we're there and what the brief is for.

I do not bulldoze through his refusal. I re-approach and try to push him towards consenting, but that's as far as I go. The nurse who tends to have his hall has it in her head that I am incompetent because I won't just do it anyway. (This view of me extends to other areas as well, such as when I report an abnormal BP she will loudly say "YOU HAVE TO DO IT MANUAL" literally talking over me as I am specifying that the BP was taken manually).

When this resident refuses a check and change, she will call over a specific other CNA who will essentially change him while he is yelling "I said no goddamn it, go the fuck away!" I certainly don't want to get this other CNA in trouble as the resident isn't being harmed at all and is much better off for being changed (and is often happier afterward), but I'm a little fed up with being looked down on for respecting the resident's rights that they drilled into us in training.

Would anybody be willing to outline exactly what they do (start to finish) during a shift especially during a NOC shift? besides the usual check and changes and charting. what’s the best way to go about my shift? rounds every 2hrs etc. i’d like to make a mental list of everything i’d need to do during my shift so that nothing is missed.

i’ll be coming off orientation in 3 days and with shadowing every person has a different routine. I want to maximize my time and make sure everything is done efficiently.

Posting on behalf of a friend since she doesn’t have Reddit:

First CNA job in CA, I’ve been here for over half a year. I’m starting LVN school soon because the schedule got pushed up, and asked the DSD yesterday for some schedule adjustments so I can take my classes. (Last week I asked for some days off because my elderly mother is in the hospital, too.)

They texted me this morning after I already got there for my shift to not come (which I didn’t see until afterwards), and told me in front of everyone that I’m terminated.

What should I do? Should I ask them to let me resign instead of firing me? I was planning on still working my at least part-time during my studies so I can still have income. Should I just find another job? I’m worried I won’t be able to use this job as a reference since it’s my only CNA job so far. Is unemployment an option? I’m not sure how it works. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!

I’m 23 and have been a CNA for about three years. I have an interview tomorrow for a job that starts at $18.50 an hour. Right now, I’m making $25 an hour, not including the differential.

I like the feeling of helping people, especially when they see that you’re making a difference and acknowledge you for it. But I’m tired, both mentally and physically. CNAs are the foundation of healthcare, yet we often get the sh*t end of the stick.

This new job would help me get my water operator license, CDL, and tractor operator license, and my pay would increase as I earn those licenses. What do you guys think