Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Log In | Register | Last 24 Hours
CNA - Nursing Assistant Discussions /

almost a CNA and have some questions



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,561 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Jan 09, 2008 07:53 PM

almost a CNA and have some questions


Hi, I've finished my RN pre-reqs and recently a CNA class. I'm taking my state exam in 10 days. Since I have not been accepted into any nursing programs yet, I have enrolled in an EMT class and Medical Terminology for next semester. I want to stay active in school and I love gaining medical knowledge. My question is which class do you think would be more beneficial and why? This is in case I decide that I can't take both classes at the same time. Has anyone taken these 2 classes together... if so how was it? Also, I plan to work part time as a CNA once certified, however I have been informed that I need to have my official state card first which can take up to 4 months to recieve (hopefully I get it a little faster). Thanks for your input!

Share
Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply
10 Comments
No. 1
from jb2u
Old Jan 10, 2008, 06:40 PM

Default Re: almost a CNA and have some questions
Med term. would be great, but I would think that the EMT class would serve you well and teach you some med term at the same time. Plus, IF nursing school is very competetive in your area you can always take the EMT class, advance to paramedic classes, and then do excelsior online for nursing!!!

OR, if you take the EMT class, you could work as a EMT while going to nursing school. I worked as a cna while going to nursing school, but I think working as a EMT would have been VERY interesting!!!

Good luck with whatever you choose and in nursing school.

Sincerely,
Jay
Top
1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 2
from chickapea
Old Jan 11, 2008, 08:28 PM

Default Re: almost a CNA and have some questions
Originally Posted by jb2u View Post
Med term. would be great, but I would think that the EMT class would serve you well and teach you some med term at the same time. Plus, IF nursing school is very competetive in your area you can always take the EMT class, advance to paramedic classes, and then do excelsior online for nursing!!!

OR, if you take the EMT class, you could work as a EMT while going to nursing school. I worked as a cna while going to nursing school, but I think working as a EMT would have been VERY interesting!!!

Good luck with whatever you choose and in nursing school.

Sincerely,
Jay

Thanks for the input! Yes, nursing school is very competetive in my area. There's about 20-50 people admitted for 500-700 applicants depending on the school. I'm applying for the 3rd time in February and don't want to wait around if I continue not to get accepted. I do plan to work as either a CNA or EMT and can't wait to be a nurse someday. What are excelsior classes? Does that mean if you are a paramedic you don't need to be accepted into RN school? Thanks again and congratulations on becoming an RN!!!
Top
 
No. 3
from AprilRNhere
Old Jan 11, 2008, 10:38 PM

Default Re: almost a CNA and have some questions
Either one sounds great. I wasn't required to take med term...and MANY MANY times considered taking it anyway. It was difficult having to learn terminology AND general nursing information. I felt like I spent half my study time looking up basic terms. BUT- yes...it would be good to work as an EMT as you go to school. Either way...good luck to you!!
Top
 
No. 4
from jb2u
Old Jan 12, 2008, 07:05 PM

Default Re: almost a CNA and have some questions
Originally Posted by 2bnurse.chick View Post
Thanks for the input! Yes, nursing school is very competetive in my area. There's about 20-50 people admitted for 500-700 applicants depending on the school. I'm applying for the 3rd time in February and don't want to wait around if I continue not to get accepted. I do plan to work as either a CNA or EMT and can't wait to be a nurse someday. What are excelsior classes? Does that mean if you are a paramedic you don't need to be accepted into RN school? Thanks again and congratulations on becoming an RN!!!
Excelsior is a way to do nursing school online as oppose to going the "traditional" route. You can go to the distance learning forum here on allnurses, there are many members here doing excelsior. I think it is a GREAT option for some that are self-motivated. You will take the NCLEX to get your license just like any other person that graduates from nursing school. Good luck to you.

Regards,
Jay
Top
 
No. 5
from ivanaBEEaRN
Old Jan 12, 2008, 07:56 PM

Default Re: almost a CNA and have some questions
I havent taken both, I took med terminology. This year is my 3rd year of applying to school, I finished my pre-reqs last year. I dont know where you want to work as a RN, but if it interest you I woul apply to work in a ED as a CNA. I worked in a LTC for a year then got hired in the ED and the last 3 months have felt like I have been in school because of all the new things that I am learning that I would never learn in LTC and the medical terminology has helped.
Top
 
No. 6
from Billsgirl
Old Jan 18, 2008, 09:27 PM

Default Re: almost a CNA and have some questions
I think medical terminology would be best, at least to take first. I am a CNA at a hospital and I WISH I had had some medical term. in my CNA class! I bought myself a book and study on my own, but still!
Top
 
No. 7
from chickapea
Old Jan 20, 2008, 05:28 PM

Default Re: almost a CNA and have some questions
OK, so I dropped the Medical Terminology class and decided to go with the EMT class. I see now that more people were leaning toward the med term, but I've already dropped it. I figured the EMT gives me med term and more hands on pt care experience. I plan to get a med term book and read on my own though too. Thanks for all the help!
Top
 
No. 8
from rn2bnwi
Old Jan 20, 2008, 05:36 PM

Default Re: almost a CNA and have some questions
When I took my cna state certification they gave us doccumentation /test results that day and told us it was sufficient to get a job because they could look our number up in the registry . Good luck.
Top
 
No. 9
from chickapea
Old Jan 20, 2008, 06:17 PM

Default Re: almost a CNA and have some questions
Originally Posted by sschrader View Post
When I took my cna state certification they gave us doccumentation /test results that day and told us it was sufficient to get a job because they could look our number up in the registry . Good luck.
Oooh, I wish we got that. The person I had told me "you have nothing to worry about, but I can't tell you scores or results" so I'm assuming I passed. I don't have a nbr so I can't look anything up in the registry. Is there any way to find out if you passed before your documents are sent? I just can't wait to see for sure... thanks!
Top
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
94 members
1,345 guests
1,439

Nursing News

0

Patient Evaluation of Retail Clinic Care
0

The hard to reach on-call doctor, and its effects on...
3

Woman charged with passing off prescription drug as...
10

Man in "Vegetative State" was conscious for 23...
2

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model
12

Possible breakthrough regarding MS
63

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...
10

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts
10

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't
6

Air Force RN Found Not Guilty


Nursing Articles

1

Society Needs Care Too
13

Why am I doing this, anyway?
2

Nurse Heal Thyself
9

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.
17

I made it through
11

An angel's gaze
16

A Sister Never Forgets
16

Ruby's Marbles
38

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?
14

My Little Old Jedi
20

I love this job......
23

"I hear voices"
19

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...
24

Error and Attitude
11

It's Just a Shower


Does allnurses.com make you a better nurse?


Sponsored Links

Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address:

Available Topics (tags)


Search By Tag:

New To Site
Need Help
Quick Links

Copyright © 1996-2009, allnurses.com. All rights reserved.  allnurses.com, Inc.
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:05 AM.