Does being a CNA really help if you want to become a nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been wondering about this for a while, people on here say that being a CNA will be beneficial if you want to be a nurse. But my concern is that if all CNA do is do the dirty work that the nurse's don't do. They can't pass meds, they don't really learn that much about patient care like a medical assistant and they make the lowest pay. Then why is it that people tell me to take CNA first, the only thing that they really learn is how to give shots. That's the only thing that has to do with nursing as a whole. Now I know that as a nurse you will have to do some dirty things but you would think that medical assisting would be the first step to being a nurse.

Specializes in Med/Surg.
I have been wondering about this for a while, people on here say that being a CNA will be beneficial if you want to be a nurse. But my concern is that if all CNA do is do the dirty work that the nurse's don't do. They can't pass meds, they don't really learn that much about patient care like a medical assistant and they make the lowest pay. Then why is it that people tell me to take CNA first, the only thing that they really learn is how to give shots. That's the only thing that has to do with nursing as a whole. Now I know that as a nurse you will have to do some dirty things but you would think that medical assisting would be the first step to being a nurse.

I will admit that, many years ago, I also bought into the above attitude. In my case, I couldn't(or wouldn't let myself) understand how working as a CNA, "doing all the dirty work", would benefit me during nursing school or in the real world as a nurse. I even had friends, some that were in nursing school and others whom already finished, trying to convince me of the benefits. Well, it didn't take long before I realized how right they were & how very wrong & ignorant I was. In fact, it was during the first week of my 1st semester of clinicals when it became very apparent how inexperienced and at a disadvantage I was, compared to the other students in my group. All of them were already working in healthcare, the majority as CNAs in hospitals or nursing homes. Thus, they knew how to act & communicate around patients, what to do when, how to prioritize and manage their time wisely, etc, etc. While they made everything look and seem so easy, walked around with their heads held high, and displayed a level of confidence about themselves, here was me with a blank, deer-in-the-headlights, look and truly not a clue about anything....and it showed!! At that point, I vowed to get a CNA job ASAP because, in my opinion, looking as stupid as I felt was very humiliating and the dose of reality medicine that I needed. Within a couple months, I had a job on a Med/Surg unit at a hospital and, four years later, still work there as an LPN. And, in all sincerity, I enjoyed every day I worked as a CNA. Not only for the experiences it gave me, but also for the opportunity to be a part of someone else's life and at a time when they were most vulnerable and dependant on others. To me, encompassing the "clean" and the "dirty" is what nursing is all about.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I do think that the healthcare experience gives you great confidence but you must be able to distinguish proper technique from what you may have learned incorrectly from your experience.

Very good point!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
. Just learn that in the nursing/ medical field you should appreciate everyone elses role because there may be days when you have to work short staff without an aide or a unit secretary. You'll realize just how important they are!

Well said!

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Specializes in general internal medicine.

I too agree with meghanRN spot on really, i am an MA and assist the doc not the nurse, only exception is that i love nursing and treat all the nurses i work with almost like docs. so i do dressing changes suture and staple removal, half the time if you ask someone they will at least show you how to do it. there are also classes if you really want to do other things, IV, blood draw, EKG stuff. thats just what i did though, best of luck to anyone on the path to being a great nurse.

much love-

mose

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The biggest thing I learned from being a nursing assistant was organization. Within 45 minutes I could have vitals done and charted on 15-18 patients. All just mine. I'd also have half of them toileted.

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I dont pass meds all day. I'm coughed on, spit on, I clean up poop, vomit, urine, blood, you name it.

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It may be deja vu, but I thought saw a quote to the above exact post (in whole) on the previous thread page.

Anyway, with your organization and poop cleaning skills, sounds like your patients are forcing up everything they can muster when they see you coming. There may be some betting pools on tasks per time period wagers to break the monotony of sitting in beds all day long.

Hint, the patients making it extra hard on you are betting on over 45 minutes, and the ones being no problem or even helpful are betting under 45 minutes. If so, you will hear yeahs and boos at the 45 minute marke from betting participants :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.
It may be deja vu, but I thought saw a quote to the above exact post (in whole) on the previous thread page.

Anyway, with your organization and poop cleaning skills, sounds like your patients are forcing up everything they can muster when they see you coming. There may be some betting pools on tasks per time period wagers to break the monotony of sitting in beds all day long.

Hint, the patients making it extra hard on you are betting on over 45 minutes, and the ones being no problem or even helpful are betting under 45 minutes. If so, you will hear yeahs and boos at the 45 minute marke from betting participants :uhoh3:

I'm actually insulted by this post, and I dont think you are taking it in the context that I was typing it in.

I wasnt making a statement that time was everything. If you read the sentence before the 45 minute mark, I stated the "biggest thing I learned from being a CNA was organization".

It was a statement showing that with organization, things can be accomplished rather quickly. It also taught me valuable lessons that I used when I graduated, because I knew how to do patient care for numerous patients at a time.

The floor that I was a Nurses Aide on the nurses had taped report. They were extremly appreciative to have their vitals when they got out of report, which was 45 minutes to 1 hour later. By being organized, I was able to accomplish that task. I also dont beleive that any patient forced anything up. We had many elderly on the floor who would need to use the bathroom quite frequently, and I offered each time I was in the room.

I'm going to step down now, and we can resume the original topic.

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Specializes in nill.

hi, i am brand new to the board, but your post made me register in order to reply!

at my school they require you to become a CNA in order to be accepted to the nursing program. as it has been told to me, by taking the CNA course it cuts out about the first 6-8 weeks of your first nursing semster. basic patient care. taking vitals is an aquired talent, imo and more practice can never hurt. why not be the kid that has a "leg up" on your classmates? During my CNA class and clinicals you could absoultely see the progression on vitals, patient care, time management, and even the comfort level. Any experiance you gain is better then none. i recently became a unit secretary on the mother/baby floor just to be in the hospital setting. now that my CNA is complete i sit there wishing that I was able to provide patient care as well. but charting and order entry is also an important facet of nursing, so i feel that by just being there and learning how the floor works is valuable to me as an RN-to-be (wannabe,lol)

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I have been wondering about this for a while, people on here say that being a CNA will be beneficial if you want to be a nurse. But my concern is that if all CNA do is do the dirty work that the nurse's don't do. They can't pass meds, they don't really learn that much about patient care like a medical assistant and they make the lowest pay. Then why is it that people tell me to take CNA first, the only thing that they really learn is how to give shots. That's the only thing that has to do with nursing as a whole. Now I know that as a nurse you will have to do some dirty things but you would think that medical assisting would be the first step to being a nurse.

I think you have been sadly misinformed as to what a CNA is, what a nurse is, and what each of them actually do.

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