Future medical professionals can get training at CNA Bootcamp of Connecticut: What it offers

When Angelina Zabbo became a recruiter for home care agencies, she realized the importance of the skills needed to care for others.

This motivated her to found CNA Bootcamp of Connecticut, a certified nurse assistant training program located in Danielson. Zabbo, now the program’s founder, director and owner, began to develop the program’s curriculum in 2019 and the first class was held in July 2023.

CNA Bootcamp offers day and evening training programs. The day program meets Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the evening program is held from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both programs last five weeks.

“It’s not easy to take this. It’s a boot camp,” Zabbo said. “We’re squeezing either 100 hours or 105 hours to a schedule that you have. We have exams every day. We have homework every night.”

Program curriculum

Classes are made up no more than 12 students. The bootcamp has three instructors. Two of the instructors are licensed practical nurses and the other is a certified nurse assistant.

Students spend the first four weeks of the program at CNA Bootcamp. There, they watch training videos, learn from textbooks and participate in interactive lessons in the skills lab. The skills lab includes a mannequin, which allows students to practice their caregiving skills.

During the fifth week, students put their skills to work by providing care to patients at Davis Place in Danielson. Training concludes with a ceremony where students receive a certificate for completing the program.

What happens after students complete the program?

After students complete the CNA Boot Camp, they are encouraged to take the state exam. Once they pass the state exam, they earn their certified nurse assistant certification and can begin applying for jobs. Those who completed the CNA Boot Camp have gone on to positions at places such as Backus Hospital in Norwich and Davis Place.

The total cost to enroll in the CNA Boot Camp is $1,400. This includes a $400 registration fee, $780 for tuition and $220 to cover the cost of textbooks. Payment plans are available.

Requirements

To be accepted into the CNA Bootcamp of Connecticut Certified Nursing Assistant training program, the prospective candidate must be at least 16 years old and have the following: two forms of ID (i.e. photo ID, passport, valid social security card, etc.); proof of high school diploma/GED/ESL certification, if applicable; completed medical form provided by CNA Boot Camp and nursing scrubs.

To apply for the training program, visit the CNA Boot Camp website.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: CNA Bootcamp of Connecticut fast tracks students into medical careers