Should I or Shouldn't I?

danaRN2b · Jul 22, 2005

I think part of it would depend on if you plan on working while you are in nursing school or not. I think if you did work as a CNA, even part-time while in school, the experience may help you in getting a job later on down the road.

I didn't have any kind of nursing/CNA training before starting nursing school, and I don't think that it negatively affected me. However, I've now finished my LPN year and would like to work as an LPN part-time during my RN year, and I have no type of clinical experience to put on a resume or application. I've put in applications at several facilities that were advertising for LPN help and have heard nothing from them whatsoever. I don't know if it's simply because I'm a newbie or because I have no hospital/LTC work under my belt.

At the time, I hadn't planned on working at all during nursing school, but now I'm anxious to get the experience and am kicking myself for not having any kind of hospital time to write down! Just something to think about! Good luck with school and have fun!! It's such a blast, and you'll make some of the best friends of your life while you're all going through it together!

Dana

Sunshine Sweetheart · Jul 22, 2005

I have been a CNA for the past 4 years and I think it does make you a better nurse. You will have a slight advantage on other students who have never been in any health care setting before nursing school. It will also make you more comfortable in dealing with your patients. In the facility where I work when the nurses find out that you are in nursing school they take extra time to show you different procedures. They do not let you do them of course, but it helps to watch them or ask questions. Also if you do decide to work as a CNA during school employers tend to be flexible with your schedule, especially when they find out you are in nursing school!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 22, 2005

I'm taking a CNA course in August as well. I think it is great. Good luck :)

jschut, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2005

Do it...you'll be amazed at what you learn that will apply to nursing school!

Good Luck!

belabelisa · Jul 22, 2005

Wow! So far, all of you are basically telling me to go for it! That's not what I expected! I thought you'd tell me that I whould eventually learn all of the stuff in nursing school anyway and that I should just take the month off. I was leaning toward taking the CNA class and thought that the replies to this post might bring me to my senses. Hmmm... maybe I'm not insane afterall.

Is there really nobody out there that wants to take the side of the little devil on my shoulder who is telling me to be lazy? :innerconf

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2005

I would love to tell you to take it easy this summer, but sorry, I can't:crying2: . Working and learning what CNA work will be invaluable to you in your nursing career. If you have the opportunity, you really should. When I was in school I noticed how well other students worked/ interacted with the patients. Much more confident and able to manage their time better. I decided to get a CNA job in my senior year. (At that time, you didn't need the class if you were in nursing school and could just take the test). Wow did I learn alot in such a short period of time. From mangaing my time and taking care of 15+ pts to the proper way of putting on a diaper:uhoh21: to theraputic comunications. I did my CNA work in a nursing home and let me tell you Wow. Now I can walk the walk and talk the talk when dealing with some of my staff.

Do it!

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jul 22, 2005

Not only will being a CNA help you to become a better nurse, but it will prepare you for nursing school. The first semester is basically nursing assistant stuff, so you will be ahead of the game and will be able to focus on the other stuff that they cover. You will also be more confident in clinicals....

hikernurse · Jul 22, 2005

Is there really nobody out there that wants to take the side of the little devil on my shoulder who is telling me to be lazy? :innerconf

All right, I'll bite :chuckle.

If you're planning to work as a CNA during school, then I would take the class; but if you're not, then you'll learn the same stuff first semester anyway--and a whole lot more :). Here, you can work in a hospital as a patient care tech after your first semester; that's pretty much the same as a CNA, but you have a few more responsibilities and you get paid a little more.

But, if you do take the class, you shouldn't have any out-of-class stuff--at least you could relax after 4:00 :).

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2005

All right, I'll bite :chuckle.
If you're planning to work as a CNA during school, then I would take the class; but if you're not, then you'll learn the same stuff first semester anyway--and a whole lot more :). Here, you can work in a hospital as a patient care tech after your first semester; that's pretty much the same as a CNA, but you have a few more responsibilities and you get paid a little more.
But, if you do take the class, you shouldn't have any out-of-class stuff--at least you could relax after 4:00 :).

I was going to say the same thing.

There's no sense in taking the CNA course unless you want to work as a CNA right away.

Otherwise, you're going to start off nursing school learning the exact same thing. Nursing students after they learn this usually qualify to work as techs or CNAs anyway if you want to work later on.

I agree it's invaluablle experience working as a CNA prior to working as a nurse. The last six months of nursing school that's what I did.

It's a personal decision, but if you're not going to work as a CNA, then don't bother and enjoy the last days of your freedom. :)

nurse_elyse · Jul 23, 2005

I think if you have the chance to take your CNA class go for it! I took my CNA in highschool and worked as a CNA for a couple of years, and believe me I learned soooo much while working that it is going to help me all the way through nursing school. Plus, IMO, when you do become a nurse you'll know that a CNA is not a janitor or a "glorified butt wiper", but they are a part of a team and their work should be appreciated. And as another person stated, some nurses,knowing that you are in ns, will take time to show you different things so that you gain knowledge for school and will benefit you. Just my opinion.

DeanG · Jul 23, 2005

I'm not sure how your program is, but ours is straight through, no summers off. It's an ADN program so its 5 semesters straight, no breaks...and you can't take one, if you miss a semester you're out of the program. If any of that is similar to your school then take the time off! We learned a lot of CNA stuff the first semester anyway and were eligible to take the CNA exams after semester 1. Also we do have fellow students who are CNAs some say it gave them assistance; some say that our NS is so particular in they way they want things done that their CNA School and experience was of little help. We also had one student who was a CNA for years and quit after a semester because she was tired of doing "CNA stuff for free." As for getting a job, well I cant say anything there, but our hospital here hires students straight out of school with no experience.