CNA Question

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2004

It may serve as a way to get a foot in the door after you graduate. I dont know about whether you will get any benefit much from it toward your studies. Usually the CNA's are so busy with baths, call lights, etc there isnt much time for them to watch more of the technical stuff you might be intrested in. Good luck it cant hurt if you need to work.

xokelly2 · Nov 27, 2004

Hello there! I worked as a CNA four years while in high school. I thought being a CNA would benefit me ( Hey I was able to skip the intro nursing class!) but I realized that the whole thought process behind being an RN and being a CNA are two totally different things. As a CNA I would take vitals; as an RN it's more assessing what the vitals mean and knowing what to do with that data. I think the exposure and experience in a clinical setting are good it just might be hard to not over step your boundaries. It's also something to look into if you find an agency you like and they offer tution reimbursment if you work for them following graduation. I have also heard from other people it is also easier to work as an RN with your NCLEX scores pending at a clinical site you already work at then to try and get hired in that way. Goodluck! Kell

RedSox33RN · Nov 27, 2004

I have some friends in my clinical group that are CNA's and working. I plan on taking some per diem shifts at a nearby retirement community when I get my CNA license.

not now, RN · Nov 27, 2004

I think it helps me with my prioritizing. Most nights I have 14 residents to myself so I have to learn how to manage my time. Since I work in a LTC I have also gained experience on confused/demetia patients.

We have a resident who is schizophrenic (sp?) along with a landslide of problems. His legs are contractured and he constantly yells instead of hitting the call light. When you get to his room he will ask for one of two things: either a cigarette (not with that Stage III ulcer on your heel pal) or to help him up so he can walk "around the building for a little bit." (Um, no.) When I started I couldn't reason with him. Now, I'm one of the ony people he screams at the least.

I also like that you can see how the same disease/disorder effects people differently. The textbook describes things in a perfect world but you can observe what really happens to a patient with a particular disorder. Granted that's what clinical is for but be honest, you don't always get the chance to see as much as you'd like in clinical.

The frustrating part is learning a bunch of stuff in school but not being able to use any of it at work because it's not in your scope of practice. I'm constantly thinking "Well the nurse will probably do this...I wonder what the nurse is going to do about...."

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Nov 27, 2004

It's a great idea - it's very good experience as far as dealing with patients & taking vital signs. Go for it!

kellyo, LPN · Nov 27, 2004

Thanks, everyone. A girl in my clinicals (yes, a girl she's 18 and I could be her mother !) is a CNA in the ICU at are clinical site. I'm going to ask her what her experience has been, as well.

AllieRN06 · Nov 27, 2004

You may want to look into being a nurse tech. A nurse tech is someone mthat has finished their first semester of clinicals in nursing school. They are like CNA's and baths, vitals etc come first, but you give them your check off sheet from nursing school and they let you do everything that you have been checked off on. At my hospital the nurse techs start/dc IV lines, do dressing changes, ROM excercises, ambulate, do ostomy care, etc. I love it and you get to do a little extra. Plus an added benefit is that our place likes to train the techs on the floor and then hire them on when they graduate. Good luck

Allison

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2004

I just recently quit my job as a patient care tech at a local hospital. It was helpful in that I learned by observation the flow of a med-surg floor, gained familiarity with working with sick patients, venipuncture skills and time management.

As another poster said earlier, the work of a patient care tech doesn't leave much time to be learning nursing procedures. I never got to insert a foley or really do anything out of the scope of my practice as a PCT.

The overall experience did help me for school clinical. Even at the end of second semester, those that have no work experience are still shy of patients and less sure of themselves than those of us who have.

shel_wny · Nov 28, 2004

I'm a full-time CNA and I go to nursing school full time too.

I enjoy my job as a CNA though physically (and sometimes mentally) it can be exhausting.

The nurses on my floor have shown me all sorts of stuff because they know I'm a nursing student. They also keep me on my toes by asking a question here and there.

If I had my choice I'd only be working part-time, but unfortunately life doesn't allow for that right now. Hopefully next semester though...I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Shel

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 28, 2004

IMO, any experience that you can gain in taking care of patients and becoming familiar with the flow of a hospital setting will be beneficial to you as a nurse.

BowlerRN · Nov 28, 2004

I worked as a CNA in a nursing home for 2 years during high school, almost fulltime, during college i worked every weekend, it can be helpful if you work with really good nurses they can be very helpful and some are willing to teach you, but not all.