CNA before RN

Nursing Students General Students

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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 believe part of your statement is true, however, I have been in nursing school for 2 years (will grad in May) and also work as a student nurse. There are many times when I still have a tendency to gag while cleaning up a patient. Don't get me wrong, I do my very best to make sure that the patient doesn't realize this, but it does happen. This doesn't make me incapable of dealing with human fraility. There are just somethings that make me more nauseated than others.

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Specializes in Critical care, Hospice.

I was a CNA for 4 years before becoming a RN and when school started I was on top of everything and understood the basics better than my peers. Now that I am working I have a bigger respect for the CNA's. However, it is sometimes hard for me to ask them to do things that I can do....usually I dont have the time so I will ask them but I feel funny doing so....Good Luck!!

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I have been in the Medical field for almost 7 years. I started out as a CNA in a nursing home which set the stones for me wanting to become a nurse. I also worked in Dr.s office and got great medical terminology background. Now I work at a hospital on a medsurg unit. For exposure and great experience I would go get a job in hospital. I see everything for NG tube to Foley being put in. I draw blood, do EKG, patient care and the nurses are great when they know your going to school for nursing. CNA is really just pt. care. Hospital put you through their own training and most school except that in place of CNA and HHA. My position in called a Multi-skilled Technician basically its CNA work with extra you draw blood, do blood sugars, take out Foley's, etc. I get exposure with nursing home pt to Pt's. just getting their boobs done. I start my first semester for nursing on the 18th and this job is what gives me the confidence that I will do fine.

Good luck

Melissa

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Working as a CNA prior to becoming a Nurse will only help you in the clinical setting. I say go for it.

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I Just Finished My Cna Program And I Loved It. You Really Get To Know The Patients And It Is Good To Know What Everyone Does And To Do It.

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I am currently working as a nurse tech (which is similar to a cna) and have worked as a cna in a nusring home. I am one semester away from graduation. My biggest problem at this point with working as a cna is that I am frustrated I can't do more for my nurses, even though I know how. I have been checked off on all proceedures and have passed meds, done assessments, careplans, complicated dressings in my clinicals. My frustration is watching the nurses run around like chickens with their heads cut off and not being able to help them even though I know how. I took the nurse tech position because it was supposed to transition into working as an RN, but afterwards have found my unit treats nurse techs as cnas and doesn't do any transitioning or take new grads. So when I graduate I have to start over on a new unit.

It is benefitial to work as a cna in the early part of clinicals, but toward the end of school I would recommend a position with as much responsiblity as you are qualified for.

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YES- Absolutely- Without a doubt and I believe that it should be mandatory!

I have seen way toooooo many student nurses that are in their last clinicals and do not know how to change a bed and give a bath and refuse to learn it! I was a CNA while getting my BSN and would not give up all that experience for anything.

As a CNA you can either 1. work as a CNA which is fine or 2. Work as CNA and every opportunity you get watch, participate, listen and learn. You will see the type of RN you want to be and the type you are scared of. The way I looked at it for 6 years I listened, watched, participated and learned and many things in nursing school were very easy for me as a result of that. Ask many questions of that RN on the floor that is willing to answer and any doctors around that want to share any advice/knowledge.

There were a few physicians at a previous place I worked that were known to be "rude" (imagine that!):uhoh21: and some even said that they would not allow new nurses to take care of their patients. Well.... I found the IN!!! I appproached one thoracic surgeon in a professional manner and requested any possible opportunity he had for me to participate. I just knew that he would bite my head off, laugh at me or ignore me.. but I was wrong. Since that point he taught me sooo many things, allowed me to observe in the OR with him, and was not rude at all-- and a couple other md's followed suit. When I graduated he actually congratulated me with a big hug and never said a word about me taking his patients as a new RN. As with anything, what you put in is a good indicator of what you get out of it- unless you work for a bad place. Good luck.:p

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my school requires it so i'm in the process right now. first clinical is tomorrow! i'm scared! :uhoh21: good luck!!

like some said, i think it's a good idea. i'm just scared that it will lead me away from nursing. better to know now than later i guess! :p

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Specializes in ICU CNA.

I dont know about other places, but Milwaukee Area Technical College in Milwaukee WI requires that you be a CNA before you can take their RN course. Personally I feel that it is a smart idea because this way you really know what the inner workings of the industry is like before you go and invest thousands of dollars of student loans only to find out that nursing isnt for you. Not only that, but most hospitals and nursing homes will pay for their CNA's to go back to school if they sign a contract stating for each of year that they pay for, you owe them one year of service after you graduate.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

The nurses I've worked with who were not CNAs before or during nursing school are not people I'd want taking care of me and they're not people I like to work with. They have no bedside manner and treat their CNAs like slaves because they don't seem to understand how taxing the work is.

I'm not saying everyone is like that, but the people I've worked with have been.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I really don't see how being a CNA first is a waste of time or money. You can get your certification through a nursing home or sometimes even at a hospital while working there, so you're actually being paid to take the course. You're bringing home a paycheck. I've never heard of a nursing facility that doesn't offer health insurance. How on Earth is that a waste of time or money?

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I don't believe it should be made mantatory to be a CNA before RN but I agree that it certainly helps you feel more comfortable working with patients. I was a CNA for 8 months and AIN for a year before becoming an RN and I noticed that those of us with clinical experience had struggled less than those with no experience during grad year.

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