Should RN programs give extra points for working as a CNA?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Perhaps I am biased because I am a CNA myself, but I feel that work experience should get a little heavier weight on nursing school applications than it does. I agree grades should play a large part, but I sincerly feel that actually working as a CNA helps a student develop a bedside manner and perhaps won't be so nervous when clinical comes. It also demonstrates a well-rounded student who has practical experience. Perhaps I am wrong. What are your thoughts? Does your school offer extra application points for actually working as a CNA, instead of just taking the class?

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I agree with you. Actually working as a CNA for some period of time shows that the person is committed to providing nursing care and wants to learn all aspects of the job and be able to apply them.

I don't remember that the schools I applied to differentiated between CNAs who only got the certification versus those who actually worked as CNAs.

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The first CC I was enrolled with did not have a point system. It was wait list only. They required all prospective RN's to have their CNA before they graduated. Working as a CNA was not a requirement.

The CC I'm currently enrolled with does work on a point system and grants 1 point for those who acquire thier CNA and 2 points for those who have worked 500 hours.

While I've done neither, I do agree that it is beneficial and I'm glad that it's given the weight it is. The other required classes are worth 2 points each.

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I'm a CNA myself and I'm currently in VN school and will be working towards my RN once I'm finished....I have to agree, having your CNA is beneficial...and I know I'm gonna get shot down when I say this....but I feel that all nursing schools should make CNA a requirement because

1. It gives you hands on experience in the medical field and you know what to expect

2. Once you're in the nursing program, a lot of terms and procedures will be so familiar to you...

Should you get extra points for being a CNA...If your school doesn't require CNA Certification, then I have to agree that YES, you should get extra points, you have taken the time and effort in becoming a CNA and from that you found that nursing is the right career choice for you....I know lots of nurses who did wel in nursing school w/o their CNA....and I also know lots of people who took the CNA and found, they just don't want to become nurses....So it is beneficial to all involved....Just my opinion... :-)

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I worked as a CNA a few years back. I haven't worked since I had my two youngest..

I do believe it is beneficial to you as a student. But I don't see how a school could give you "extra points" for it unless they were willing to do it for others that had a similiar background. I think they would be causing more trouble for themselves than would be worth it.

For instance, I am a former Army Medic with alot more training. I have done IV's, immunizations, you name it a medic has done it. If they were offereing those "extra points" to CNA's I would want them myself as well. KWIM???

Although, I do think it would be nice for some. It would seem more of a hassle for them.

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I am not sure whether school should give points to students how are CNAs however i think all RN students should be required to be and aid before or during nursing school. I am an aide myself (I start RN school this Aug). I have been working as an aide for over a year and I have learned so many things. I work in the ICU. On my floor we get RN students from various colleges and I cannot tell you how frustrating it is when they don't know the basic bedside manners. And the students we get are senior students who are months away from graduation. I just feel that they need more clinical experience than what is taught during school times. For examples I get questions like "what is a yankaur?" "How do you suction" and from seniors!! I think it would beneficial to RN students to just work as an aide for a summer or a semester. You would be surprised what one can learn. And when you become a nurse..makes you appreciate your aides!

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I worked as a CNA a few years back. I haven't worked since I had my two youngest..

I do believe it is beneficial to you as a student. But I don't see how a school could give you "extra points" for it unless they were willing to do it for others that had a similiar background. I think they would be causing more trouble for themselves than would be worth it.

For instance, I am a former Army Medic with alot more training. I have done IV's, immunizations, you name it a medic has done it. If they were offereing those "extra points" to CNA's I would want them myself as well. KWIM???

Although, I do think it would be nice for some it would seem more of a hassle for them.

I have to agree with Cynders, they should give points to other students with similar "CLINICAL" background....but since the question was in regards to CNA...I believe nursing schools should give extra points for being a CNA....I also have to agree with FutureLatinaRN....there are lots of nursing students, and also RN's who don't have bedside manner....It's kinda sad when you run into an RN freshly out of RN school and you seem to know more about a specific medication (that is used frequently) and it's side effects better than they do....

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I worked as a CNA a few years back. I haven't worked since I had my two youngest..

I do believe it is beneficial to you as a student. But I don't see how a school could give you "extra points" for it unless they were willing to do it for others that had a similiar background. I think they would be causing more trouble for themselves than would be worth it.

For instance, I am a former Army Medic with alot more training. I have done IV's, immunizations, you name it a medic has done it. If they were offereing those "extra points" to CNA's I would want them myself as well. KWIM???

Although, I do think it would be nice for some. It would seem more of a hassle for them.

I couldn't agree more with what you are saying. I guess what I was getting at is that students should get credit for anything that show a geniune interest in the field or skills gained.

Too many people have clouded hollywood ideals about what nurses do. Anyone who works in the field knows better, and also has better patient care skills.

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I think they all should require that students be a CNA.

It takes a serious commitment to be a CNA in any specialty. It is hard work and I think they need to experience that I think to be more effective and considerate nurses. Just my 2 cents

One of our residents went to the hospital and said it took the nursing staff 2 hours to put him in bed because no one knew how to use a vanderlift. He said it was quite comical and they finally found someone that used to work LTC and they showed them how to use a lift.

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