Newby wanting to be a nurse/Need advice!

Although I am not from your area so I cannot help with CNA training direction, I will tell you that those with a CNA background were a large step ahead of those who weren't in my nursing class. The things you won't have to think about because they have become second nature to you (like transferring patients, hygiene, patient contact, etc.) when others are just beginning to think about those things will help you to focus your energy on new information. You'll be one step ahead of your class. You also will gain experience learning the process, procedures and inner workings of health care before you learn about it in school, so again, you'll be one step ahead. I chose to get my CNA and work through my first year, and then my LPN/LVN through my second year and it proved to be an invaluable experience feeding directly into my nursing career.
I must say that the task before you probably seems larger than it really is. Start by looking into schools near your area that offer CNA courses and then consider employment in long-term care where they may be willing to train you as a CNA at their expense (long-term care facilities are always looking for new CNA's to train and hire). In addition, you can look into assisted living as well for the training and experience (assisted living is somewhat different from long-term care, but also tend to recruit for new caregivers/CNAs). Once you enter the program, don't let the instructors scare you, they lose "points" with the organization allowing them to stay open if they start booting people out left and right. And most importantly, advocate for your learning and experience. The only one truly interested in your success is you, so take advantage of every opportunity you have to learn. You only get to go to nursing school once! Once you get your RN, you're on your own and you're responsible for the information you may have missed while in school. Take one day, one step at a time and the next thing you know you'll be signing "RN" behind your name. God bless!

I would suggest talking to a guidance counselor at your school for some direction.

I took my CNA training at the Red Cross, but it sure wasn't free.

Sidebar: Does EVERY prospective nurse go through the "I am going to be a CRNA" phase? I know I did. I found it a decent diversion for people who wanted some concrete reason they could understand for why I was going into nursing. "Oooh, they make a lot of money!"

I got over it. I plan on getting more advanced degrees (BSN, MSN) but I still smile a bit at the extremely high percentage of CRNA hopefuls in my ADN-RN program.

i never became a CNA, but i did work direct care for about 4 yrs before starting nursing school (and did it in my first year which made me insane & burnt out with the schedule i was on... dont let yourself get stuck working crazy hours if you can help it)

...it DEFINITELY helped me master the basic skills that we spent the first month learning- like bathing, etc. ...as well as start to develop critical thinking & prioritization skills. i got some experience with equipment, and LOTS of experience with transferring patients & patience
...and i do think it made me sure in my decision to become a nurse.

i definitely recommend doing some form of aide work- its up to you if you get your CNA. for me, it wouldnt have paid much more so it wasnt really anything i felt i needed to consider.

good luck!

Check into St. Johns Mercy and Missouri Baptist Hospitals. They do not have CNA program per se' but they offer their own training through the hospital and you would be a patient care associate/nursing assitant. If you are hired, it is a paid training program. Once the training is complete you pass a test and then are offered a job. Each hospital does it a little differently but if you look on their website or call the HR department they should be able to help you. You would work at their hospital but it doesn't cost you anything. Good Luck.

It isn't always necessary to do a CNA program first. I haven't had any nursing experience but I still got into a really good program and because I do not have experience doesn't mean I won't be a good nurse. If you have time between finishing your pre-reqs and being on a wait list I would do the CNA program but if you go straight into a nursing program then you can learn all that CNA stuff in nursing school. Sure those that are CNA's have an advantage but why waste the money to do a CNA program if your going to turn around and go into a nursing program. Just my opinion. Find out if your school has a wait list for the nursing program and if they do then you can decide if a CNA program is available. Good Luck

Mercedes-
Most instructors I have either heard of or dealt with directly initially make it a point to "scare" their new students into taking the program seriously as well as their nursing profession, and if they don't there is the threat that the student will be separated from the program. Now of course, if a nursing student doesn't take what they're doing seriously it would be sensible to consider a separation from the program. However, this tends to scare nearly all new nursing students into thinking they have to walk on eggshells during the duration of the program. Although absolute care and attention is a must during caregiving for patient, in the classroom is not the time to be timid and pretend you know what the instructors are talking about out of fear of earning a "bad rapp" with the instructor. That is the prefect and nearly only place to ask questions and seek information. You have to be aggressive with your education because when you graduate it's all you've got until you get some experience under your belt.