Would you recommend doing a CNA program?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I am currently finishing up my prereqs and am looking to apply into nursing school in the spring. Would you recommend doing the CNA to help not only find a job before then but to help your application?

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Hi. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm currently trying to enroll in a CNA course here at my local community college while I finish up my prerequisites for the BSN program here. A friend of mines whose a traveling nurse told me that it would look good on my résumé and that it would give u some experience. So I hope that this was helpful.

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It may not help you but it certainly wouldn't hurt you! My school doesn't count "working as a CNA" toward admission but once we're admitted, we DO have to show either a) that we have taken an approved CNA course or b) that we have CNA experience. I know around here, the nursing students who worked as a CNA in school had an easier time finding a job upon graduation. I hope that's still true when I graduate!

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I can tell you personally that taking a CNA course will help you tremendously! I'm nearing the end of my cna class and have gained an incredible amount of confidence with lab skills and have learned a lot. I start an RN program in the Spring and I feel that the experience from going through the cna program and clinicals has helped me out a lot.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic, Peds CVICU.

Yes, taking a CNA course will help a ton! I got a job at a retirement home and even though it's assisted living, I have learned a lot about how to provide care. I'm starting my BSN program in the spring and I hear that you learn CNA-related tasks your first semester or so. Also, becoming a CNA will allow you to figure out if you really want to become a nurse or not. It's an eye opening experience.

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I completed a CNA class for the 2nd time in May, and this time i actually used my certificate. I got some good experience over the summer as a home health aide. I'm a bit swamped right now with school and my main job (assistant store manager at a store) but in January I plan to do a couple nights a week at a Long Term Care facility :D

A tip: Dont do home health.

The good thing about CNA programs is they dont take long. I took anatomy already, but for CNA I also had to take Medical Terminology (which is acutally not required for the same college's LPN program, so i was so happy I got to take it anyway) and of course the CNA class. However, ours was kind of hard. We started out with like 15 students, and after 4 weeks it was down to 8.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
Yes, taking a CNA course will help a ton! ...I have learned a lot about how to provide care. I'm starting my BSN program in the spring and I hear that you learn CNA-related tasks your first semester or so. Also, becoming a CNA will allow you to figure out if you really want to become a nurse or not. It's an eye opening experience.

I completely agree with what Lame says. I became a CNA while taking prereqs for the BSN program and it made the rest of my prereqs "come alive". I also was able to see what nurses actually do! This has been great experience for me as a Prenursing student.

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Yes, I would recommend it. So far this semester working as a CNA for a year has helped my understanding tremendously. Even if it doesn't make you look good, or give you more opportunities, it still gives you an edge educationally.

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I absolutely recommend it! You'll learn so much!

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