Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part 7

Today I am reviewing the following Nursing Assistant Schools in California listed on the CDPH (California Department of Public Health) website, of approved schools offering CNA classes in Los Angeles:

• C&S HEALTH ECUCATION SERVICES – pending review.  I just called the school and they are mailing me some brochures.  They currently do not have a website, nor able to email any information.  However, they were open to faxing me, but my MagicJack is not fax capable
• C.U.S.D./ DOMINGUEZ HIGH SCHOOL – pending review. I went on their website and the only information about CNA classes in Los Angeles was from 2009.  I also tried calling the school, but got no answer.  The class schedule posting from 2009 stated that the only cost was $10 for materials, which if still operating is one of the few and bonafide free nursing assistant programs that I have uncovered! The other one was LACOROP that offers free CNA classes in California to high school students. For a small fee of $50 adults may also attend.
• Care Training Services, located at 5336 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043
  Only one class was listed on their 2012-2013 catalog, which is a Restorative Nursing Program, not a Certified Nurse Program.
• Career College Consultants does not give any details about their Nursing Assistant Program other than it consists of a total of 150 hours, broken down into 50 hours of classroom training and 100 hours of clinical training.  Nor does the school catalog list any nursing classes.  There is a form where you can request more information, but the drop-down menu did not have nursing as a selection. Just by perusing their catalog, this school offers more computer graphics and office classes than anything that has to do with the medial field, although they do offer classes for Certified Medical Assistants, a few in pharmacy and pharmacology, medical terminology; you can view the complete catalog by going to their website.  However, since classes range in anywhere from 30 and more, this school most likely will not teach you how to be a CNA in California.
• CAREER COLLEGES OF AMERICA, not to be confused with Career College Consultants, has a slickly designed website with a good amount of information for their Nurse Assistant program, which has a total cost of $2,505 – including books and supplies.  However, please do not ever judge Nursing Assistant Schools in California by their website.  The course consists of 16 modules, but the number of credit hours per module was not posted. The modules cover the following topics:
  • Module  1:  Introduction to Nurse Assistant
  • Module  2:  Patient Rights
  • Module  3:  Communication Skills
  • Module  4:  Safe Environment
  • Module  5:  Body mechanics
  • Module  6:  Principles of Asepsis
  • Module  7:  Observations &  Charting
  • Module  8:  Resident Care Skills
  • Module  9:  Resident Care Procedures
  • Module 10:  Vital Signs
  • Module 11:  Rehabilitative/Restorative Care
  • Module 12:  Emergency Procedures
  • Module 13:  Death & Dying
  • Module 14:  Nutrition
  • Module 15:  Weights & Measures
  • Module 16:  Long-term Care Resident

As one of the better Nursing Assistant Schools in California, after all classes are satisfactorily  completed, there is a Clinical Internship requirement, which places eligible students at a nursing home or other appropriately deemed healthcare facility.  Hours of the internship can range anywhere from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., depending upon the facility.

In order to be eligible for this, you must hold either a high school diploma or equivalency (GED) and pass CPAt entrance evaluation test, which covers basic math and English.

Hopefully, my next installment of Nursing Assistant Schools in California will contain more information about the schools where none was available at the time of this writing.

“Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part 7“ was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz.  All Rights Reserved.

Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part VI

Today’s reviews of Nursing Assistant Schools in California will cover:

• Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education (BPACE)
• Bellflower Adult School
• Burbank Adult School – part of the Burbank Unified School District

These schools have been selected as they appear on the CDPH (California Department of Public Health) website, of approved schools which offer CNA classes in Los Angeles.

BPACE has a limited amount of information on their site, and I wouldn’t have even known that they offer CNA classes in Los Angeles if I hadn’t specifically searched for those terms.  There is no description on their website of the program, syllabus, or cost of tuition, so it’s best to contact them directly at bpaceinfo@bpace.k12.ca.us or call them at 626-939-4456. In the meantime, I sent them an email requesting information and stating that I was writing an article about Nursing Assistant Schools in California.  The few tidbits of information that I did glean from their site is the following:

Students must be at least 18 years of age.

• BPACE is accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges)
• College credit is not given for courses taken.  However, you may be able to have certain prerequisites waived if your community college has articulation agreement with them.
• CNA classes in Los Angeles are offered on a quarterly basis.
• Students who complete the CNA training (California) will be eligible to take the state CNA certification test.

No information about any current CNA classes (California) is listed on the Bellflower Adult School located at 9242 East Laurel Street, Bellflower, California 90706, but you may contact them at rpresiado@busd.k12.ca.us for further information. I too sent them an email and will follow-up in a future article.

The Burbank Unified School District offers 16 week CNA courses in California at their Burbank Adult School campus, beginning  in August 2012 (8/20/12 – 12/6/12) for $589, which includes the required uniform, equipment, and clinical (hospital) training.  All students must attend a Mandatory Orientation on Monday evening – 8/13/12 at 5:30 pm, where pre-registration will take place.  All applicants must present two forms of identification – a social security card and photo ID.  Attending this course will afford students the following:

• Prepare students to sit for the State CNA exam
• Enter the job market as a California Certified Nurse Assistant
• Classes will cover patient care, emergency care, nutrition, and rehabilitation – skills necessary when working in a hospital or nursing facility.

Prerequisites of the program include the ability to:

• Lift a minimum of 50 lbs.
• Easily  be able to push, pull, stand, and sit
• English proficiency – both written and oral*
  *If necessary, English classes and a GED program is available for students who do not yet meet the minimum language and academic requirements.

The Burbank Adult School appears to be one of the most affordable Nursing Assistant Schools in California that I have reviewed so far.  It might be possible to get financial aid for this program, but you have to contact the school to clarify this.  I also like the idea that they have a Facebook site where students and potential students can interact.  They also seem to be dedicated to lifelong learning and enrichment.  Professionally, they are members of the California Adults Schools Network.  The website is packed with information about all sorts of learning opportunities and is highly recommended that you visit it @ http://www.burbankusd.org/.

“Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part VI” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz.  All Rights Reserved.

Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part V

Yesterday’s review about Nursing Assistant Schools in California was less than positive, primarily regards to two nursing schools listed on the (CDPH) California Department of Public Health website.  One was ANTELOPE VALLEY CAREER ACADEMY, which is no longer in business.  The other was ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE, which does not offer CNA classes in California.  Lastly, there was Atrium School, has its CEU (continuing education units) status expiring on April 20, 2014. Furthermore, nowhere on the site did it state that they provide the necessary CNA classes in California to prepare a person for state licensure.

However, in between reviews, I have found some good programs and CNA courses in California, so I will continue with my reviews to pass this information onto my readers.  Therefore, onward to Azusa Adult School aka Azusa Adult Education.  My first impression of their website is good, as its site is registered with the .edu designation, which means it is a bonafide school.   (Writer’s note: I just had to add the word, bonafide to my MS Word dictionary :0.)

The school offers two levels of CNA training in the Los Angeles area – one for the initial California nursing assistant certification – CNA license, and one for a Senior Nurses Assistant, which is for students already enrolled in a CNA program or those who are already licensed.  This program is more for career development, rather than actual medical training in that it offers courses in becoming a role model, leadership skills, clerical duties, and basic medical terminology.

The basic program teaches students how to be a CNA in California by providing them training in the classroom and in a Long-Term/Extended Care facility.  However, it does not list the courses that will be given, but states that this information will be gone over during the mandatory Pre-Admission Orientation prior to enrollment.  The orientation requires the following be done on campus before an applicant can be accepted into the program:

• An English proficiency test where applicants are expected to have a minimum sixth grade level of reading comprehension.
• Department of Justice screening
• Fingerprinting
• TB clearance
• Completion of the California DHS238B form
• Two forms of identification:
  •    California ID or Driver’s License
  •    Original Social Security Card

As with all Nursing Assistant Schools in California, all students must take a pass a CPR American Heart Association – Heartsavers course, which is accomplished in one class meeting.  The certificate is good for two years and covers the following:

• Adult, Child and Infant CPR including choking for both the conscious and unconscious victim
• Introduction to the operation of automatic defibrillators
• Universal precautions, and various legal aspects of performing CPR

Secondly, a First Aid – American Heart Association – HeartSavers First Aid course is also required and will go over some of the same CPR techniques covered in the CPR course as well as techniques for the stoppage of bleeding and injury assessment.  This course is also completed in one class meeting.

Further courses that are recommended, but not stated as mandatory are anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology, which as stated earlier, part of the Senior Nurses Assistant program.

Unlike some of the other Nursing Assistant Schools in California that I have reviewed, students are responsible for their own transportation to and from any offsite training, such as the Long-Term/Extended Care facilities.    No mention of the cost of attendance is posted on their website.

Contact information:
Azusa Adult School, 1134 S. Barranca Ave., Glendora, CA 91740, phone: (626) 852-8400

“Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part V” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz.  All Rights Reserved.

Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part IV

This is the fourth installment of my review of Nursing Assistant Schools in California, beginning with schools that offer CNA classes in Los Angeles.  These reviews are based upon a list of Certified Nurse Aide Training Programs published by the (CDPH) California Department of Public Health website.  So far, my reviews have been mixed.  My previous review was about the Annenberg School of Nursing, where I found the program to be professional and competitively priced.  If I were writing a review on the best nursing schools in California, I would definitely place the Annenberg on that list.

Continuing then onto ANTELOPE VALLEY CAREER ACADEMY, next on the list of Nursing Assistant Schools in California,  I was shocked to read the following from a publication put out by the BOARD OF VOCATIONAL NURSING & PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS, under the auspices of State of California DCA (Department of Consumer Affairs dated September 3, 2009:

Antelope Valley Career Academy, Inc., Vocational Nursing Program is presented to the Board for reconsideration of its provisional accreditation. The program’s status was changed to provisional accreditation on February 1, 2008. That action was taken due to the program’s noncompliance with Section 2530(l) of the Vocational Nursing Rules and Regulations, which states:

“The program shall maintain a yearly average minimum pass rate on the licensure examination that does not fall below 10 percentage points of the state average pass rate for first time candidates of accredited vocational nursing schools for the same period. (1) Failure to maintain the required yearly average minimum pass rate for two years or eight consecutive quarters may be cause to place a program on provisional accreditation.”

I attempted to find more information about this nursing school southern California, but could not find an official website.  After reading further, I saw a post on a site called the Rip-Off Report, where one person stated that it closed; there were other complaints about people still being obligated to pay back their student loans, despite the situation.

It is important not to confuse the Antelope Valley Career Academy with ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE, which also has a campus in Palmdale, as well as their main one in Lancaster, Ca.   Actually, ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE was next on my list of Nursing Assistant Schools in California.   According to their website they are fully accredited by the (ACCJC/WASC) Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges/Western Association of Schools and Colleges as of January 2011.  However, there seems to be no Certified Nurse Program – only a yearlong VOCATIONAL NURSING PROGRAM and an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), which qualifies students to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

Next on the list of CNA programs to review in California is the Atrium School, located in Carson.  The website looks pretty scary – from the point of view that it doesn’t even look like it belongs to a school.  If you do visit the site, it has a music player located at the bottom of the page that begins automatically, but can be paused.  Why I say that it doesn’t even look like a real school is that it has advertisements on it for business cards and making a free business website, which apparently is the same host that its site is located.  Reading further, please be aware that their CEU (continuing education units) expires on April 20, 2014. It doesn’t state anywhere that it provides the necessary CNA training classes to prepare a person for state licensure.  Personally, I would stay away from this school, even though the tuition is only $5 per unit.

Today’s review of Nursing Assistant Schools in California was a disappointment, particularly because the schools reviewed were taken from the list of approved Certified Nurse Aide Training Programs published by the (CDPH) California Department of Public Health.

“Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part IV” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz.  All Rights Reserved.

How to Be a CNA in California – Part III

This is the third in a series of articles focusing on how to be a CNA in California.  There are many schools and Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCPs) that offer CNA courses in California.  My reviews have focused on those listed on the CDDS (California Department of Developmental Services).  If you have been following this blog, you probably have already come to the conclusion, as I have, that not all those on the list are of the best quality.  In fact, some of them were no longer in business and others appear less than professional.  However, it is not for me to judge, especially just based on a website, or lack thereof.

One of the benefits of attending ROCPs, is that some of them offer free CNA classes in California to high school students and only a small fee, e.g. $50 for adults attending LACOROP (Los Angeles County Regional Occupational Program.  The program is open to students who are 16 years or older who are in grades 11 and 12.  Students below 16 who are interested in the CAN program as well as others, must contact a ROP counselor to determine whether they are eligible for a waiver. Anyone who plans to attend must first complete their enrollment with the help of a ROP counselor at the high school where the particular training is offered before they are officially admitted to the program. High school students are given enrollment priority over adults.

High school students needn’t live in the school district to enroll in the program.  Classes taken at LACOROP can be used towards high school credits.  So, theoretically, students can earn their high school diploma as well as become certified as a nurse assistant.  At the time of graduation, these students are prepared to enter the job market as long as they have passed the courses and the state licensing exam. The exam is administered by the State Department of Health Services, or one of their designees, such as the American Red Cross. Additionally, adults who are in need of job training or have special needs are also welcome to enroll in these CNA classes in Los Angeles, which are held at a public school campus. Currently, the CNA training is being taught at El Monte Union High. The program consists of 240 hours class and lab work according to the LACOROP website, although when I visited the El Monte Union High School website, it stated that the program was only 150 hours.  Confusing as well was the fees and tuition; one page on the site stated that the program cost $401, including the State exam, while another page stated it might require a small fee for materials, but was free to high school students.  You may contact the district directly at (626) 258-5800 for clarification.

Adults who want to will learn how to be a CNA in California must be at least 18 years of age and not enrolled in a high school day program.  It is recommended that you contact the LACOROP at 562-922-6850 to qualify all information supplied and let them know of the discrepancies.

“How to Be a CNA in California – Part III” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz.  All Rights Reserved.

Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part III

This is the third installment of my review of Nursing Assistant Schools in California.  I started my review of nursing schools in Los Angeles, particularly those recommended by the (CDPH) California Department of Public Health website.  In follow-up to my review of Anderson Medical Career College, this is the information I got over the telephone:

The total cost of tuition is $2,175 with a possibility of receiving an $800 in house scholarship which is considered after the applicant takes an assessment test. The tuition covers the following:

• Two sets of uniforms
• Physical exam
• Live Scan (fingerprinting)
• Text books
• Supplies
• State licensing fee

AMCC is quite competitive with the Los Angeles Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant Training classes when it comes to tuition –BUT ONLY IF YOU RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP.

Continuing with my review, the Annenberg School of Nursing is actually located on the campus of the Los Angeles Jewish Home in Grancell Village.  They offer only two educational programs, which are Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or Certified Nurse Assistant.  Below is a compelling video presentation about this nursing school, Los Angeles.

Location and contact information:
7150 Tampa Avenue, Reseda, CA 91335
818-774-3327

The Annenberg School of Nursing boasts a low student to instructor ratio (1:15), which to me is a big selling point, not just from the student’s point of view, but also from the aspect of public health.  It is more comforting for me to know that a student was observed closely before they were given the responsibility to care for me or others.  However, 1:15 is still not particularly that low – especially with such a hands-on intensive program. That said, from a non-nursing instructor, based on the video and the rigor of their program, I vote the Annenberg as one of the best Nursing Assistant Schools in California.

Tuition & Fees

The program consists of 176 hours, for a little over a month (22 days) at 5 days a week.  The tuition is only $1,400 and includes a Red Cross Exam (value $90.00)!  Here is the breakdown of the cost to attend the Annenberg:

• Application Fee* $10.00
• Student Tuition Recovery Fund Fee* $2.50
• Tuition $987.50
• Books, Supplies, Tests and Exams $400.00 covers the following:
  • Physical Exam $50.00
  • Drug Test $40.00
  • TB Test $20.00
  • Live Scan (fingerprinting) $75.00
  • Red Cross Exam $90.00
  • Graduation Pin $15.00
  • Textbook $100.00
  • T-Shirt $ 10.00

Students attending the CNA training California at Annenberg are eligible to apply for financial aid after completing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) either online at the FAFSA.

Grading Policy

Annenberg students enrolled in CNA classes in Los Angeles must maintain a minimum grade of C (75) or 3.0 on a grading scale of 4.0.  Falling below a C can result in an F (fail) and the student will be required to repeat the class and not be eligible to take any further classes until the repeated class is satisfactorily passed.

Attendance

Within the first 24 hours of the program, there are no allowances absences.  If a student fails to show-up for the first several classes, they will be immediately dismissed from the program. Any absences following this probationary period are required to be made-up and done at the instructor’s discretion.

In my opinion, the Annenberg School of Nursing, in comparison to other Nursing Assistant Schools in California is a serious, top notch school.   I have little doubt that attending their program will teach you how to be a CNA in California. To find out in more detail about their program policies, please visit their website or download their 2012-2013 catalog.

“Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part III” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2011 Brenne Meirowitz.  All Rights Reserved.

How to Be A CNA in California

This article covers the role that the NCSBN plays by covering issues on how to be a CNA in California.  People who hold a Certified Nursing Assistant License, California, are registered in the California Department of Public Health database, as well as the Federal database – HIPDB (Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank).  In California a person becomes licensed to be a Certified Nurse Assistant after completing an accredited nursing program and passing the state licensing exam. This information is compiled and administered by the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing), a non-profit organization, which operates as a collective national nursing board comprised of 60 Member Boards.  Board members include one in all fifty states, Washington, D.C., and all U.S. territories. Founded in 1978, organizers recognized the need to regulate nurses apart from organizations representing professional nurses.

One of the responsibilities of the NCSBN is to inform and enforce a set of nursing standards, and keeping the Nursing Assistive Personnel Registry up-to-date. Licensees in this database include Certified Nursing Assistant I (CNA), Certified Nursing Assistant II (CNA-II), and Medication Assistant-Certified (MA-C). The NCSBN operates as a national watchdog, coordinating issues of discipline, education, and certification. Information, such as disciplinary action taken against a nurse by a state board is shared with the NCSBN, which compiles this information, providing background resources for discipline issues and actions taken.

Once a complaint is filed against a Certified Nursing Assistant, he or she may become subject to investigation, which may lead to an informal conference and when necessary a formal hearing.  Actions addressing the issue of complaint might include simply the re-educating the nurse or restricting their practice – each one carrying certain probationary conditions.  When necessary, a nurse can have their license revoked. All disciplinary actions become public record.  Additionally, any nurse holding a criminal conviction substantially related to the functions of their work is obligated to report this to the board. The board will then determine if the offender’s license warrants revocation. In most cases, applicants convicted of a criminal offense are not eligible for certification.  The NCSBN requires that all 60 Member Boards update their listings of licensees in the registry on a biennial basis.

In addition to the NCSBN’s database of nurse licensees, Federal regulations are also in place to help combat fraud and abuse both in the health insurance industry and the health care delivery system. In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which led to the creation of the HIPDB (Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank) – a Federal tracking system providing information, such as employment history, affiliation, certification, or licensure decisions was put into law. The NCSBN now uses the Nursys® database, which keeps track of all nurse disciplinary actions.

Here is some basic information from the NCSBN on how to be a CNA in California.  According to the NCSBN’s 8.4 Standards for Assistive Personnel, Certified Nursing Assistant licensed in California are bound by law to conform to the following standards:

• Performs nursing tasks and functions within the range of functions authorized in the Nurse Practice Act and rules governing nursing.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity in performing nursing tasks/functions/activities
• Bases nursing tasks/functions/activities on education, training and the direction of the supervising nurse.
• Accepts accountability for one’s behavior and actions while assisting the nurse and providing services to patients.
• Performs delegated aspects patient’s nursing care.
• Assists in observing patients and identifying patient needs.
• Communicates progress toward completing delegated nursing tasks/functions/abilities, as well as any problems or changes in a patient’s status.
• Seeks clarification if unsure of expectations.
• Uses educational and training opportunities as available.
• Takes preventive measures to protect client, others and self.
• Respects client’s rights, concerns, decisions and dignity.
• Functions as a member of the health care team, contributing to the implementation of an integrated health care plan.
• Respects client property and the property of others.
• Protects confidential information unless obligated by law to disclose the information.

For more information about how to be a CNA in California, please contact the California Department of Public Health.  Anyone who tries to circumvent the duties of a Certified Nursing Assistant License California is breaking the law.  Employers that deliberately or irresponsibly ignore board protocol and standards, such as expanding the range of functions of a CNA in California are subject to disciplinary action.  As with disciplinary actions against individual nurses, institution violations are recorded into the various public health databases, such as the HIPDB.

“NCSBN Overview: How to Be A CNA in California” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2009-2012 Brenne Meirowitz.  All Rights Reserved.

Nursing Assistant Schools in California

Unlike colleges or universities, Nursing Assistant Schools in California open and close like most other businesses.  If they are successful and have a long-term plan, they stay open.  If they aren’t, they close.  Although intuitively you would think so, most technical or vocational schools do not have to stand up to the same rigor as universities and colleges, especially those that are public, such as a state university. Perhaps you’ve seen news expos about some private-for-profit schools that take advantage of unknowing students by promising them all sorts of unrealistic career possibilities, while charging them exorbitant fees.  The scary part of all of this is that most of these schools are on the approved, i.e. recommend list of CNA programs California – CDPH (California Department of Public Health).

When I first set out to write reviews about these CNA schools in California, I thought I’d go to the websites and get basic information such as tuition, number of hours, length of the programs, requirements, etc.  To my astonishment, my search turned up to some extent, rather seedy looking programs – if they had a website at all.  One of these nursing schools southern California did not even have its program approved yet!  How can a state agency list non-accredited nursing programs in California? Discoveries like these are what keeps me motivated to keep on investigating and reporting to my readers.  Although it is going to take a while, I am excited about getting through the entire list of Nursing Assistant Schools in California and presenting my findings to the appropriate agencies. There are nearly 544 schools on that list, so it’s going to take some time!  Please send me your feedback with any experience you have had at one of these facilities.

At this point, I am a bit confused about some of the Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCPs) listed on the CDDS (California Department of Developmental Services) as some of them appear to be for-profit schools. For example, Baldy View ROP (Regional Occupational Program) has two CNA training programs in California that cost more than the Red Cross, but is subject to change at any time due to changes to the State Budget!  Nor does Baldy’s tuition include uniforms as the ARC does.  Nothing is mentioned about equipment costs, which is also included with all Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant training.  Unfortunately, Baldy did not bother to list details about the program, i.e. number of hours, schedule, courses offered, etc. This is unfortunate as ROCPs cater especially to high school students – as young as 16, as well as disadvantaged adults.  Every year approximately 470,000 students enroll in one of California’s 74 ROCPs.

Testing the LACOROP Los Angeles County Regional Occupational Program site, I found it difficult to get around.  I had to keep clicking different topics until I was able to find the area where I could search for CNA classes; nursing falls under the heading – Health Science and Medical Technology. When I finally found the course description, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Nurse Assistant Precertification Program is 240 hours – the highest number of classroom/lab hours that I’ve seen so far! High school students are given enrollment priority above all other applicants.  Students do not have to belong to the school district in order to attend. Best of all – there is NO CHARGE for tuition!  In other words – LACOROP offers FREE CNA programs to all high school students! Adults must pay a $50 registration fee per course and are responsible to purchase their own books and equipment.

My investigation is showing me that there are a lot of Nursing Assistant Schools in California, but not all measure up to the standards that they should. On the other hand, there are wonderful opportunities for high school students and adults who persevere in their search to find a school that is both professionally run and staffed, and is low cost or even free.  There is no reason why a student should have to go into debt to pay for a low grade education when there are top level programs at a fraction of the cost.

“Nursing Assistant Schools in California” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz & http://www.phdnursingonlineprograms.com. All Rights Reserved.

Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part II

This is the second installment of reviews of Nursing Assistant Schools in California that are listed on the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) website of approved programs. Concentrating on nursing schools Los Angeles, I started to go down the list and was very disappointed with what I found.  With the exception of the Red Cross certified nursing assistant training locations, the other schools were either not found or appeared to be very unprofessional.  I also found an additional Los Angeles Red Cross location that was not listed.  As I continue my search, it is not getting any better.  Listed at position number 15, American Vocational College’s CNA program is still pending approval. I wonder how they even made the list!

Following AVC is AMHS (Allied Medical & Health Services, Inc.), which has a special week-end program that meets on Saturdays, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The course is 19 days over a period of three months, with a total of 152 hours.  AMHS also offers California accelerated nursing programs that meet for 30 days strait.  In addition to the same week-end schedule as the three month program, students attend school Monday – Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Compared to the American Red Cross Nurse Assistant Program, it has 19 fewer hours of training, which is quite a bit shorter.  The only requirements to admissions are:

• 16 years or older
• 6th grade level or equivalent
• Livescan clearance application
• CPR – “A” card or higher
• Medical Clearance (PE & TB)

AMHS does not list a contact phone number, nor does it have anything on its website about the cost of this or its other programs. However, I did find a listing in the White Pages with a phone number of (818) 637-7871.  In order to test customer service, I filled out a contact form and was required to include my phone number, which I did.  I requested information about the cost of tuition.  Hopefully, I will hear back soon, so that I can include that information in my article.  So far, I am lukewarm about this school.

Next on the list is Anderson Medical Career College, which has two locations in the Los Angeles area – one in the San Fernando Valley and one in Commerce.  AMCC’s program consists of 160 hours in total and can be completed in 7 weeks.  However, they too neglected to list the cost of tuition, but state that they have a “variety of flexible payment options” as well as the possibility of scholarships and grants. Once again, I filled out a form requesting tuition information.  Please see my third installment, Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part III, for the results.

Continuing on the list of Nursing Assistant Schools in California, Angeles College is next on my list.  This program consists of 164 hours with a total cost of $3,000 including tuition ($2,754), books, equipment, and a $50 registration fee. Compared to the Red Cross Nurse Assistant Program, Angeles College costs twice as much! As a bonus, the Red Cross CNA tuition includes all of the following:

• Training books
• 2 Uniforms, stethoscope and training supplies
• CPR for the Professional Rescuer (2yr certification)
• Hands-on real life experience
• State exam for certification
• Instructors are approved by the CA Department of Public Health to teach our state approved program
• We provide the valuable experience and guidance to achieve your goals
• Prepares the student to seek employment in various health care settings
• State exam can be taken right after completion at the training site attended with little or no waiting time

So far, after not getting very far down the list, I definitely know which Nursing Assistant Schools in California I would recommend and which I wouldn’t! Guess which program I choose?  BTW, their phone number is 800-627-7000.

“Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part II” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz & http://www.phdnursingonlineprograms.com. All Rights Reserved.

Nursing Assistant Schools in California – Part I

Since there are so many nursing assistant schools in California, I thought I better start researching them and share my findings on my blog.  I am using the list that I got from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and will begin by going down the list, which is alphabetized by county.  My first two articles about How to Be a CNA in California went over some of the legal points as well as exam requirements.  Before I continue on that, I thought I would review some CNA schools in California.

Since there are also so many nursing schools southern California, I thought I would begin with Los Angeles. The first on the list is A+ HEALTH CARE TRAINING in Van Nuys, but it doesn’t have a website, so if you are reading this and know about this school, please contact me.  The same goes for AMERICAN CAREER INSTITUTE.

The third on the list of accredited nursing schools Los Angeles is American Nursing School.  This school has a nice website, which to me is the first indication of a professional organization.  However, after clicking around the site, I found that most of the links (pages) have not been built yet.  In the footer, under the header of careers, it has a bunch of lines that refer to the Occupy movement.  Additionally, at the bottom of the page is their logo and beneath that is Jesus in a fish.  If you’re not a Christian, you probably won’t want to pursue this school just for that reason.  Again, I am seeking the most professional and best nursing programs in California, and since there are so many, why waste time on those that don’t seem worthwhile.

The next seven nursing assistant schools in California looks much more promising, because they are local Red Cross training centers.  In the years that I have been reviewing and writing about nursing programs, I have always been comfortable writing about any programs offered by this organization. Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant Training programs are led by professionals and the organization speaks for itself.  The main location is at American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, 11355 Ohio Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025, at phone number: 310-445-9900, so you may also contact them for information. According to the CDPH, the following seven locations that offer training:

1. AMERICAN RED CROSS – INGLEWOOD SERVICES CENTER, 9800 LA CIENEGA BLVD.; STE-101, INGLEWOOD, CA 90301, (800) 627-7000
2. Central East District Office, 2227 S. Atlantic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90040, (323) 780-7660 or (800) 627-7000
3. AMERICAN RED CROSS – LONG BEACH, 3150 EAST 29TH STREET, LOS ANGELES 90806 (800) 627-7000
4. American Red Cross of Santa Monica, 1450 11th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401, (310) 394-3773 or (800) 627-7000
5. South Bay District Office, 1995 W. 190th Street, Suite 100, Torrance, CA 90504, (310) 225-2900 or (800) 627-7000
6. West San Fernando Valley District Office, 6800 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91303, (818) 593-3500 or(800) 627-7000
7. Glendale-Crescenta Valley Red Cross: 1501 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204, (818) 243-3121 or (800) 627-7000

The ARC actually has eight nursing schools in Los Angeles; the eighth center is located at:

• ARC Antelope Valley Chapter, 2715 E Avenue P Palmdale, CA 93550, (800) 627-7000.

The cost of tuition in total is $1,500, which includes the following:

• Non-refundable registration fee $100
• Course
• Books
• Stethoscope & Blood Pressure Cuff
• CPR training
• 2 Uniforms
• State Exam Fee

According to the ARC if you cancel or drop the course you forfeit $300 in tuition, but the remaining balance (not including the non-refundable registration fee) will be returned to you. Be sure to contact the American Red Cross chapter where you registered for complete details and policies, as this is only a review article and therefore not responsible for ARC policies.

Before enrolling in any Nursing Assistant Schools in California, make sure to contact the CDPH to verify whether it meets state licensing standards.  It likely that it was an oversight on the state list, but it is best to be cautious and ask.

“Nursing Assistant Schools in California- Part I”

was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz & http://www.phdnursingonlineprograms.com. All Rights Reserved.