Best strategy for getting a job-opinions!

[FutureRN101]

I'm curious what feedback or opinions others in AZ have for the two situations I'm considering....

My first strategy is to get my CNA (next summer) while I'm on the waitlist for maricopa nursing and work part time as a CNA until I get in and during nursing school so that I would have a pretty much guaranteed job after I graduate with my RN. (This is what I've been told, once a CNA graduates as an RN they are given any RN opening at their hospital then).

My other option is applying to ASU and going straight for my bachelors degree. However, once I graduate I still wouldn't have any on the job experience or any employment with any of the hospitals.

Overall, I'm just trying to figure out which option would help me get a job right out of school the best. I'd love to not have to work through nursing school, but if I had to in order to have a job waiting for me then I'd be willing to do that. I also want my bachelors degree eventually, my hesitation with going for it right away is that I'd likely have to take out a small loan to cover it and I worry about not being able to find a job right away after I graduate and I'd have the loan to start paying off...

Opinions? Feedback? Personal experience?

[mrsboots87]

CNAs having a guaranteed job is not always the case. They have their foot in the door and have a higher chance of getting an interview for an RN position but it wont be any available and it wont be guaranteed. I have known CNAs who did not get hired on as RNs at their job right after licensure and some not at all. If you are a fantastic CNA then, the likely hood is high. But if you get any write-ups, or give the nurse managers of whatever unit you work on a bad impression, or are late sometimes, they may not want you as an RN but cant fire you yet. Also, it is even getting hard to get a hospital CNA job these days. Most hospitals want experience CNAs. Even LTC are starting to want experienced CNAs. This is because a lot of facilities have cut down on unlicensed employees, so they don't want to worry about training a newbie on an understaffed floor. I am not trying to be discouraging. Just realistic.

I would definitely suggest getting you NA certificate and try to work. The experience will look good on your resume when applying for RN jobs, and it may get you an RN job at whoever is your employer at the time you are licensed. If you go for your BSN with ASU and do not work. You wont have the CNA experience, but you will have a BSN. And that is what is wanted at hospitals. If an ADN with CNA experience applies for the same job as a BSN, the CNA experienced nurse wont necessarily get the job over you or you over them. Where I'm going with this is that either option is good. Its just depends on what you want. Heck, if you can work 2 shifts a week and handle BSN school (many students have to do this to support themselves) then that would be even better. GL with whatever path you choose.