Completing your training as a Certified Nursing Assistant is a great way to start on the rewarding career path that nursing offers. If you are planning to work in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or skilled nursing facility, you may receive your training for free by agreeing to work at a particular facility once you have received your certification.
The demand for Certified Nursing Assistants continues to grow, and as a result of the shortage of CNAs, some facilities are now offering paid or free training. If you would like to become a Certified Nursing Assistant but don’t have the money to pay for training, this can be an ideal situation for you. The program offers benefits for both the employee and the employer. For employees, it means that training can be completed without worrying about student loans or paying for tuition. For employers, they are able to guarantee that an employee will work for them for a given period of time. Whether you are currently looking for a job or just want to change careers, receiving your training through a nursing facility can be a very good option.
Example of Nursing homes that give paid training/free on the job training:
Elderwood Senior Care in New york
In Home Supportive care Services in California
St Patricks Manor in Massachusetts
These are just a few. In a lot of cases as mentioned above, nursing homes with active vacancies will hire nursing assistant trainees.
Whats The Catch?
When a nursing home agrees to pay for your training, you must usually sign an agreement stating that you will work for them for a period of time after graduation. In most cases, if you drop out of the program or do not successfully complete the state mandated certification exam you will be required to reimburse the nursing home for the cost of the training. For most people who are truly interested in a career in nursing, completing the program and passing the exam is fairly easy. Knowing that you have a job waiting as soon as you graduate can take a lot of the stress out of learning your new profession. If you are working with an employer that has agreed to pay for your education, they will likely be the sort of employer that will provide other training opportunities that will help you learn new skills, take over new responsibilities, and earn more money.
How Will You Be Trained?
When you find a nursing home that will pay for your training, they will most likely select a local community college or training agency to provide the classes. You will want to check out the program thoroughly before you sign an agreement to take the classes. You can do this by requesting a tour of the campus where classes will be given, talking to others who have completed the program, and reading about the program online. Once you are satisfied with the training you will receive, you will be required to sign documents at your future employer which outline your responsibilities and the terms of the offer including the length of post-graduation employment.
As you learn the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to nursing home patients, you will be starting a career that has many possibilities. If you are interested in continuing your education beyond becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, there are programs which can help you pay for further training. You will learn other skills such as how to draw blood and check vital signs that will help you in any area of nursing. You will also complete a clinical program that will give you hands on experience that you will use to provide care at your new employer. Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is a valuable career choice, and receiving your training through an employer is a smart way to start.