To all RNs, prior to getting hired as an RN, did you need experience?

[Ceebayy1]

I'm kind of having a midlife crisis because I don't know whether I should work as a CNA or not because the job is pretty stressful BUT it'll be good for me when I try to get a job as an RN after I obtain my degree and license; so I'm asking this to all RN's, did you guys get hired immediately as long as you had your license and degree or did you need prior working experience?

[mejsp]

I worked as a nursing assistant while in LVN school because I needed the money. I later was hired by the hospital that housed our nursing program. I worked as an LVN while pursing my RN and continued to work in the same department after graduation. Prior work experience improved my chances of employment because I knew the people interviewing me. It made NCLEX easier because I'd taken care of patients.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

Ok, it was 1970-72, diploma hospital.....

I spent last 9 weeks in charge nurse experience, I choose CCU.....

I graduated 11a on a Saturday, and was charge nurse that evening (3-11p) in same CCU

[SanJose_FNP]

Working as a CNA on the floor might get you the foot in the door for your first RN job. In some areas where there are surplus of RNs, new grads nurses have a really hard time finding jobs in an acute care setting. As a result, connections via a CNA job is actually a good thing if working won't affect your performance in school. Just my two cents.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I worked as a nurse's aide for a summer during nursing school. I had a new grad job secured on my #1 unit prior to graduation but I'd also done 2 clinicals on that unit so it was my connections that got me in. I had no desire to work as an RN in the hospital or on the floor that I had worked as an aide on. I only worked there because it was close to where I grew up/lived for the summer during college. As soon as I graduated, I got the hell out of Dodge.

[verene, MSN]

My CNA experience was relevant to the job positions I applied for so it did help me get hired. However I had classmates with out prior CNA or other healthcare experience who got hired just as quickly as I did.

[direw0lf, BSN]

Working as a PCA during nursing school was one of the best choices I made to help me be a nurse. I'm for it.

As for the stress part, you want to do your research I guess, look at hospitals in your area and see which ones are teaching hospitals or you know find out about ones that are good to nurses, you can look at ratings online although I don't know if that's always accurate, but magnet status is one way maybe, is there a union, what benefits, education reimbursement, shared governance. Being an aid is stressful no matter where you work maybe, but it helps to be in the right place.