I need help!

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Hi,

I am taking pre-reqs for my school's nursing program, but I've had some advice that I should work as an CNA while studying to be a nurse. To gain experience and to see if nursing is really right for me. But I have no idea on how to become a CNA, mind you I'm in school right now full time.

Mabel

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Specializes in LTC.

Community colleges and vocational schools usually offer the course (which is generally a semester), and sometimes certain nursing homes will train you if you agree to work for them for a certain period afterwards.

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Community colleges and vocational schools usually offer the course (which is generally a semester), and sometimes certain nursing homes will train you if you agree to work for them for a certain period afterwards.

Do you think I'll be able to handle my nursing pre-reqs and the CNA courses? Or should I wait until I'm waiting to get accepted until the nursing program to do the CNA training? I don't want to risk getting low grades in my science courses, because ultimately I want to be a nurse.

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I think that being a CNA would be a good choice while attending school. You can always work on call or something part time and see how it goes.

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Specializes in LTC.

I don't know if you can do the full time pre-reqs and take the cna course at the same time- I didn't- I took the semester off. Academically, the cna class is really easy, but it's really time consuming. Mine was 3 nights a week for 3 hours and then once clinicals came around that turned into 5 hours 3x a week. So it makes it kind of hard to schedule your classes esp if you work a lot. I had 3 jobs at the time so I decided not to bother with any more pre-reqs until after I got certified.

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Finish your science classes first. The clinicals for the CNA are time-consuming, as noted above.

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I am going to do a 9 week CNA course in the summer. If I get in. I am on the waiting list. It's at a community college. Look into summer courses maybe?

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Specializes in LTC.

Do you want to work in geriatrics? What field of nursing do you want to get into?

If I were you, I would train as a surg. tech, or ED tech.

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Finish your science classes first. The clinicals for the CNA are time-consuming, as noted above.

That's good advice, I'm taking two science classes at the moment and it's a lot of studying:uhoh3:. I will probably go for a CNA program while I wait to get into nursing program, I might have a whole semester of nothing to do before Nursing school. Thank you for all the advice everyone :)

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Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.

You can find 1 to 3 week CNA programs in nearly every major city.

They are basically crash courses in being a CNA.

Being a CNA has the advantage of being able to work 3 days a week (full time) while going to school full time. I worked as a CNA through school on a Tele floor, best thing I ever did.

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You can find 1 to 3 week CNA programs in nearly every major city.

They are basically crash courses in being a CNA.

Being a CNA has the advantage of being able to work 3 days a week (full time) while going to school full time. I worked as a CNA through school on a Tele floor, best thing I ever did.

Thank you , I will definitely search around my area and see if I can find a short program. How is the salary for a CNA, I plan to move out with my boyfriend, so rent for a small place, food, transportation ect. Thank you for the help :)

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