CNA before RN

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What do you guys think of being a CNA before you become an RN?

Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).

I will graduate nursing school in May (RN) and I have recently accepted a position as a student nurse. I feel that even though the work that I'm doing now is different than what I will be doing when I graduate, it is a way for me to become more comfortable in the clinical enviroment. Also, sometimes I'm lucky and have a nurse that really likes to teach and let me do "nursing" things (IV's, venipunctures, caths, etc) so that's an added bonus.

I work in the pool, so I only am required to work 12hrs a month.

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"....it is a way for me to become more comfortable in the clinical enviroment."

Great statement by iwannabeanrn. It is not necessary to be a CNA prior to starting an RN program. As stated in previous posts, the program will teach what you need to know as an RN. It is a good way, however, to be more comfortable in the clinical setting.

One positive argument about not being a CNA prior to being a student in an RN program is that the student has no prior history of thinking. RNs are requied to look at the whole picture (assessment & intervention, psychosocial, prioritizing, triaging, etc). CNAs have specific assignments and are more skills oriented on ADLs toward an assigned group of patients.

It's interesting to do a class case study in prioritizing. Given several situations, here are some responses:

Students who were previously CNAs will provide a bedpan so that the patient will not be incontinent.

The student without CNA experience will first see the patient who has a suspicious red drainage under the dressing so that the patient can be further assessed.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

It's interesting to do a class case study in prioritizing. Given several situations, here are some responses:

Students who were previously CNAs will provide a bedpan so that the patient will not be incontinent.

The student without CNA experience will first see the patient who has a suspicious red drainage under the dressing so that the patient can be further assessed.

I agree to that some what, as I said before I was running and doing what I knew. You are right about that. But Now at work I drive my Nurses bonkers reporting everything I see. I've even got to taking paper with me on my rounds to write down stuff. That serves two purposes I am practicing narrative charting and so I don't forget to tell the nurse anything. Plus I use it when I am doing the round with the next shift. You wont believe how much that helps with that round and to report to the next aide how each person is doing.

Personally I think everyone should do that. There has been a couple of things I have found that had not been reported before. SO since I am an aide, yes I do have that kind of thinking but now that I have been in school I am :uhohbeginning to think like a nurse. (sort of long ways to go there) :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

In my school you have be certified as an CNA to get accepted into the program. I think that is good for a number of reasons..

1. You will learn the CNA skills needed for nursing and wont have to waste so much time learning those skills while in nursing school. I think we can all agree that there is enough to learn, and being a CNA already will help.

2. CNA skills build the foundation of bedside nursing care, IMO.

The downside to being a CNA is the "know it all" syndrome. It is difficult for some CNA's to make the transition from providing total care to critical thinking, delegation, decision making, etc. Dont get me wrong. Im not saying CNA's are not important, they are. CNA's are part of the nursing team. However, being certified before nursing school can help alot.

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My personel opinion would be to get some experience under your belt first, of course you don't need to but if you have it going into the RN program, I feel it will help you tremendously....I have been an LPN for 8yrs, I'm in school for RN at present and being able to work as a LPN has enhanced my abilities so much....for some, jumping into the RN program without experience maybe fine for them.....but I've seen the difference between my confidence and other students who haven't had any clinical exposure and it is pure terror for them and for me it's smooth sailing, I actually feel going through LPN school was so much harder than RN schooling, I cried almost everyday going through LPN school, with the RN program the only stressor i've had was the dosage test (lol), I think doing CNA could only be helpful for you, also, nurses who've had previous CNA or LPN training, they have a special something about them because they basically know both sides....where at one point your underneath the RN and know that you take on a lot of the work the RN doesn't want to deal with to being an RN and understanding that you are a holistic care-giver and no matter what the job requires (changing a bed pain, going on poop patrol, changing your patients linen, etc) you are totally capable and don't feel it's someone else's job. Good luck with your decision:nurse:

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
in our school, they just made it a requirement to be a certified nursing assistant to be accepted into the nursing program. imo, the first semester of nursing school, you learn many cna skills, such as bed baths and bed linen changes. that can all be bypassed if the cna is required before acceptance in the program. imo there is enough to learn without spending time on cna skills (which i know are important and used in nursing, dont get me wrong). that's just my opinion.

and, i think that a lot of nursing program educators are beginning to realize that. the knowledge base of nursing has grown so much that two years of nursing classes in a community college may just not be enough time to teach and learn what it takes to get trained rns out into the work force.

it's interesting to do a class case study in prioritizing. given several situations, here are some responses:

students who were previously cnas will provide a bedpan so that the patient will not be incontinent.

the student without cna experience will first see the patient who has a suspicious red drainage under the dressing so that the patient can be further assessed.

but, you see, this points out that students have not grasped the importance of the ability to prioritize and delegate. you have to look at the overall picture of a situation. a student is in clinical to learn and that should be their priority and focus. there is staff in clinical area who are being paid to take care of the patient's needs; it is their job and appropriate tasks should be delegated to them. now, there will be times when you have to absolutely leave student mode and switch to cna mode because the patient is in immediate threat of an accident. there is no doubt about that. however, to avoid the anxiety and frustration of a situation, many people regress to previous behaviors that they feel more comfortable with (going into cna mode) rather than practice a newer rn skill (delegate a task). this becomes a problem for some new grads and nurses who are not very confident in using this authority. they begin doing other people's work because they do not know how, or they are afraid, to delegate tasks to a subordinate. what happens is their own specific rn work, which a subordinate cannot do, fails to get done resulting in a whole heap more of anxiety and frustration. this is a very important distinction about the two jobs that many nurses have failed to learn, or because they lack confidence, fail to put into action. learning how to give basic nursing care is only one element of rn school. all skills need to be practiced again and again before you can say you mastered them. it takes a lot of courage to forge ahead and chose to practice a skill you have still to master rather than slip comfortably back into doing the skill you have already learned well. make no doubt about it, an rn is primarily supervising the care of patients and skills specific to that are what you need to be learning just as much as giving the hands on care.

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I dont think it is a requirement, but it is an option, and I want to work at least on weekends while going to school.

I am planning on taking a CNA class the first summer semester and then get a job after that. I am excited about it.

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i personally think you are wasting your time going through the ropes of becoming a cna first. i went straight for my rn and many times i have heard my clinical instructors comment on how they could tell the difference between the aides and those who were not. the aides were used to their routine and way of giving care, whereas those with no background learned skills the way a "nurse" should.

i felt at first as though i was at a disadvantage by not being a cna or ma to start, but now i realize it wasnt at all necessary and it actually didnt benefit those who were. even the lpn's who entered my program with years of experience can attest that the care they give as an lpn verses an rn is different and they dont feel any more advantaged that the rest of us.

good luck!

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I'm taking the CNA course this Spring and will start my nursing prereg's this summer. The reality is that I need to work as I do these prereq's....so I figured that I might as well work at a place that gives me some basis of experience (although I understand that the role of a CNA and an RN are very different things)...plus, the nursing school I'm looking to attend, is looking for nursing experience on the application...I figure in the scheme of things...it can't hurt.

Peace,

Cathie

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I have just completed my CNA program, a pre-req for the RN program. I too think that it can only help in understanding and gaining hands on training and education while going on for the RN. We did our clinicals at a nursing home and we got to do many things, not exactly what I was hoping for, but it made me feel good inside, knowing we helped people and gave them a little more care -- they enjoyed having us. I am looking forward to RN school, but still think the CNA program first is a great experience! I'm starting my pre-reqs Jan 9th.

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What classes are you taking as far as pre-requisites go? Just currious. I am just starting too.

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Basic stuff unfortunately! Algebra, English Comp, Computer Sciences & Psychology. I'm anxious to get in to the "good stuff" but...these come first!

It's been many years since I was in college, so I have to take the basics all over again first! But am looking forward to getting back to school. Am considering working part time as CNA in a hosptial as well

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