How being a CNA effected your nursing career?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hey everyone,

I've been on here for a few months now and I have learned so much. I have always been looking forward to progressing through my journey to become a nurse with you guys. From me graduating from High School (June 11th 2010) and starting college this summer to now.

Well, this Saturday at 7:30am I will being taking that true first step toward licensure! I take my CNA exam (both my written and skills evaluations). I am very nervous. I mean I've been on the Pearson Vue website and took the practice exam and missed four questions out of the 60 question full length practice test. I was the top student in my High School Allied health class, which is where I got my CNA training and clinical. I made a 98 on my final exam in that class out of 100 questions. I am still nervous though. The past two days I've been brushing up my clinical skills with one of my mom's (she's and L&D RN) co-workers who teaches a CNA I class at a local CC. Her class is getting ready to test in August and were reviewing their skills. Since I have been out of clinical for month and a half she let me practice with her class. I did well on all of the skills she gave us to do, just like on the testing day.

I'm not to worried about the written part of the test because everyone says it's easy, and if it is anything like that practice test or my final exam I know I'll be OK because they were very easy for me. It is the skills part that scares me to death. They say they are pretty fair, but other say they are very strict. If I miss an important step in the random skills they choose for us to do that day or fail one skill, they'll fail me. I don't want to walk in the testing site all cocky and over-confident, because I want to do well and I am a little nervous.

Was the CNA exam hard for you? Did you pass both parts at the first time?

Anyway, for those nurses, nursing students, and CNAs, how has being a CNA affected your nursing career? I know it will be helpful in NS, but I want to know your experiences that mad you appreciate getting your CNA. Also any advice will be greatly accepted and appreciated. Thanks in advance.

P.S. Hopefully if I pass this Saturday, my username (if we can change our usernames, can we?) will be PatMac10CNA. Lol!!!!

Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I worked as a student nurse (nursing assistant) for a year during my senior year in nursing school before I graduated. I rotated through all areas of a very large teaching hospital. It got my comfortable with patients and with the routine of the hospital. I was able to get to know the nurses and they allowed me to do things that I would never have been able to do otherwise. When I worked in the ICU I had a regular patient load and the charge nurse would just supervise me. I did everything except give meds. On the med surg floors I would go around with the charge nurse on her medication rounds and she would allow me to give all the injections with her supervision. When I graduated I stayed at that facility as a staff nurse and I was ready to hit the ground running when I took my first job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

Just remeber to Wash you hands! :yeah:When in doubt wash your hands. I took my CNA skills test about 4.5 years ago and it was fine, I wouldn't say it was easy because I was full of nerves, but I passed both on the 1st try.

Being a CNA can help prepare you for nursing school, depends on where you get a job. You work in LTC you learn the grunt work and how to manage your time becasue you have to manage the ADLS for 6-10 residents.

I have spent almost 3 years as a CNA in a ED and there I have been able to see a lot of things and have worked with some amazing nurses, and have learned a lot.

I would not say that it puts you ahead of others in nursing school as the CNA skills that you learn are part of the basic foundations of nursing skills that you learn and after the 1st term everyone is up to speed.

My first term of nursing school clinical, my instructor asked who works as aides and me and another student told her we did, she had us pair up together, put us down one hall and told us she wasn't planning on checking on us because we were aides and the other students needed her more:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

I was 45 when I became a CNA.... I loved it so much that I enrolled into the LPN program.... It isn't so much what you will learn from the nurses, it is what you observe and apply to your classes.

I continued on and have been an RN for 3 years. and what I gained from being a CNA was very valuable. Today I am apart of the management team of a Large LTC.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Long term care.

I was a cna before I became an lpn and I think it helps you realize how much work the cnas do. I feel I understand my cnas because I used to be in their shoes. And in LTC cnas are the backbone of a facility...they are the nurses eyes and ears at times and are the first to notice major changes in patients. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, , Home health, Education.

Many nursing schools now require your CNA before you are accepted into a nursing program. I think it helps weed out those who may not have a grasp about the profession. It also gives you some great experience and exposure to the field. You will ace the test- I'm sure the instructors understand how nervous students are and if you forget something minor they take that into consideration. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

I'm officially a CNA I passed my exam today!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA/ ALF & Hospital.

I am so proud of you! :yeah: :up: MOst of my hands on skills pertained of Vitals, F. Bed bath (on a dummy), and Peri Care. It took my 3 tries with the sate of florida to get it right bcuz of nerves but I have been a CNA since 2002 and took my trainig through the Red Cross in Brandon,Florida.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

I was so nervous and thought I had failed. I made one mistake and one mistake only, I forgot to provide privacy on one of the five skills I was tested on. Before I said I am finished with this skill I said " I forgot to provide privacy" but forgot to actuallly go bac kand do the skill, but my evaluator gave me credit. a few people failed today though. I'm so glad I passed. I really feel like i'm on my way to becoming a Registered Nurse, now. I was so excited. It's amazing how a few letters can change your day and your life, imagine how I'll be when I have the honor of placing RN behind my name. :) Until then I can only dream and work hard.

Thanks for the kind and encouraging words guys!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

Being a cna can help you immensely if you take the iniative to observe and learn from the nurses you will work with. Remember to stay within your scope of practice though, there are nurses who will ask a cna to do skills that are not within their scope.

I am very glad that I was a cna/support staff as i worked in a variety of areas so I knew where I wouldn't have liked to work as a nurse. Congratulations on passing your boards!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment