I want a pre-nursing job but I DON'T want to be a CNA. What else should I try? EMT-B?

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It's really hard to get into nursing schools around here. A few work on a points system and give extra points to those certified in other health careers. Plus, I would like to work in a health-centered job while earning my RN. I am not, however, interested in becoming a CNA. At all. I've spent the last year helping to take care of a sick relative - I know wound care, bathing, how to change an ostomy bag, etc. I'm not interested in doing that for 3 years (I am not yet in college) while I work on my RN. Even when I become a nurse, I am interested in either psych, peds or L&D.

What other jobs should I consider? I was thinking EMT-B, does anyone know if EMT jobs are easy/difficult to come by for students? Other than that, the local community colleges also offers certification for EKG, pharmacy tech or phlebotomy, all of which I'd consider.

Hi,

Why not apply to the school(s) first? I really don't see how paying to attend a certification course is valuable? Nursing student can't require all students to have medical experience... There are people that attend right out of H. School. I nevr heard of this... And, to be honest, not everyone is lucky enough to get a job "in the field" while attending school. These days people are lucky to have jobs :o)

Good Luck!:wink2:

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Why not apply to the school(s) first? I really don't see how paying to attend a certification course is valuable? Nursing student can't require all students to have medical experience... There are people that attend right out of H. School. I nevr heard of this... And, to be honest, not everyone is lucky enough to get a job "in the field" while attending school. These days people are lucky to have jobs :o)

All the colleges near me either have a massive waiting list, require basically a perfect GPA to get in or work on a points system...and most award a few extra points for completing a health-related field. I'm equidistant between two community colleges on either side, and one gives extra points for ANY health-related certificate, whereas the other one absolutely requires a CNA cert to even apply. Yes, people go to college right out of high school...but they don't go to NURSING school right out of high school, they take pre-reqs and then apply to a nursing program.

I know exactly what you mean about no jobs, since I live in Michigan (and I don't see it getting any better here anytime soon) but I want to work in healthcare.

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It's too bad that in Michigan they don't take people right out of HS? Sure there are pre-req's in any 4 yr program, but getting into the Nursing program immediately after school is possible. Best of luck on your journey. :typingB

If you really want to do it, you will get there one way or another... It took me a long time working F/T & going to school P/T till I finished the Pre-Req's & could finally afford (barely) to go F/T. Now I do both, (work F/T & Nursing school F/T)!! But, I know that this is what I wanna do. I have struggled plenty to get here...

~Good Luck

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Specializes in Emergency.

first i beg that you do not take this as an attack, it is just food for thought.

if you don't want to do cna work (even for a few years), why would you want to be a nurse. good nurses do cna work all the time. if this is the case i would highly recommend another field. for the record, i am an emt(loved it), currently working as a cna (not my favorite job but i see the value in it) and in nursing school. the best nurses i have found are ones that have worked as cna's in the past.

take my advise please, and strongly consider why you want to be a nurse and of that is the field you want to get into. being a paramedic, pa, or other hcp are also excellent options.

please do not take me wrong. i hope you do go to nursing school, excel and become an excellent nurse, but there are so many nurses out there that feel that it is beneath them to do primary care, and their pts. and fellow professionals suffer for it.

there are three kinds of nurses:

1. the nurse that will walk past the bed pan three times looking for a cna ask for them to put it under a pt., while the pt strains to "hold it".

2. the nurse that will put the pt. on the bed pan, but then proceed to remind youth through the shift you that she did such noteworthy task for you, and tell all her nurse buddies how she is such a good nurse for doing such a menial (cna) task....and that they have been on the bed pan for 20 min. now and will need to be taken off.

3. the nurse who simply informs you what to record on your i/o sheet.

best of luck!

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

I work as an EMT and it has been wonderful while I am in nursing school. I can continue to work full time since I do get some down time between calls to study. However, you are looking at 6 months of schooling to get your certification and sometimes jobs are hard to come by. I would say go with the phlebotomy job. Most schools have a 6 week certification program. You might not get the experience you would as an EMT but at least you are in the medical field doing something. Best of luck on your decision.

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Specializes in Critical Care-Neuro/Trauma ICU.

You might want to check with the school that you are interesting in applying to because my school, along with many others, are starting to require a CNA certification prior to application. I totally understand your not wanting to do CNA work but unfortunately like someone else said, nurses are NEVER above wound care, bathing, etc. I am about to graduate and am currently working as a Senior PCT in a local hospital and couldn't be having a better experience. If you absolutely refuse to do CNA work I would recommend Phleb. because if you are worried about having a bad work schedule EMT would be the LAST choice I would make. Hope you get it figured out! Oh and also remember that your first semester of nursing school (and some following semesters depending on your clinical instructor) will be nothing BUT CNA work...GOOD LUCK!

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I am not going to repeat what everyone else already said about not doing CNA work. I am thinking you don't feel it's beneath you, but you think you already have the majority of it down, and prefer to go straight to the license-required skills, and I understand. That being said, I worked as a CNA for almost 3 years before earning my RN licensure. I did not work in a med/surg atmosphere, but I think that if I did I would have benefitted more strongly from it, so just consider it.

I worked as a labor and delivery patient care technician, which still required CNA certification. In my hospital we were authorized to do more as PCTs than some hospitals allow, so decide how involved in direct care you would like to be, and research the hospitals or even free standing birthing centers in your area to see how involved their techs/cna's are.

I posted a pretty lengthly response about my job duties here: response #20

and some other info here: response #18

https://allnurses.com/ob-gyn-nursing/cnas-l-d-380030.html

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