Will this affect my future career as an RN?

[Alexxoxox]

So I am in my last semester of Nursing School. I currently work as a CNA at a hospital about 40 minutes away. I have been thinking about quitting, due to this being my last semester, and that the drive is really getting tiring. I have been a CNA for 3 years. I have been offered a job at a factory (5 minutes away from where I live). Do you think quitting my CNA job and working at a factory for the last 4 months of nursing school will affect my future as an RN? Will a hospital decide not to hire me because I did not work as a CNA through all of school?

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I never worked as a CNA during school and still got hired at a hospital.

Granted, working as a CNA does give you the advantages of 1. experience in healthcare, and 2. being an internal candidate for jobs. But the former, while helpful, is not an absolute to get hired.

And the latter...well, that depends on the job market and the hiring habits of the facilities. When I graduated, my classmates who worked as CNAs/LVNs during school had jobs waiting after graduation. Fast forward several years, and I see frequently see CNAs at my current hospital looking downcast because they didn't get picked up for the new grad residency...because there's too many CNA/new grad RNs and not enough residency spots. And not all the available residency spots went to internal hires either. So while working as a CNA could help, don't bank on it to guarantee you a job.

If you need the break of not working as a CNA, then don't work as a CNA. IMO, it won't make or break your nursing career.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

[alex1214]

Employers won't see it as a big deal that you quit the CNA job, as long you left on good terms. Also, the quality of work is probably pretty important too. If you're a new grad special nursing residency programs are an amazing way to get your foot in the door.

[Froggybelly]

I don't think it's going to matter at all that you quit your CNA job, unless you really want to work for the same employer as a nurse. If the interviewer asks, simply tell the truth- the commute was terrible and you wanted more time to dedicate to school. I never worked a day in healthcare and it took one application to get a solid job once I was a licensed RN. If anything, being seen as a job-hopper is probably more problematic than quitting a CNA job. The people hiring you understand that nursing school is stressful and CNA positions can be grueling.