Working as a CNA while being in Nursing School

Zookeeper3 · Jan 4, 2010

Well there are many unknowns here. Lets start with do you HAVE to work to make a salary or you want experience?

If you are living without having to work to pay bills, take a job as a nurse assistant that lets you work only saturdays or sundays, not both. This is assuming you will be in full time nursing school, not taking pre rec's.

As a CNA, depending upon your state you turn, wash and do incontinent care, take vital signs. Some states with advanced training allow you to do accuchecks, blood draws, drop foleys, NG tubs, give feeds and do dressings. So this does provide you with hands on skills as well as teach you how to relate to people and "see" when there is a change as well as watch what the nurse does to assess it and treat it, assuming your duties allow.

The other gauntlet is the question of what state you are in. Unfortunately there are several north eastern states as well as California and some others that are not hiring new grads. CNA experience may be a plus here. If not and your mid country or southern, we're all still short so it won't matter with hiring, but you'll be far more comfortable practicing.

final, the caveat; if you have any intentions in your entire career to pursue a BSN or greater and really you'll probably want the BSN even though you may doubt it now, getting excellent grades is a must! So you must factor in your long range goals as well, many people loose sight of this and it is very important!!!! It's very hard to say 20 years from now what your plans may be, even 5 or 10. So While a "c" grade may transfer.... a degree with high distinction will get you a further foot in to any advanced program.

This is coming from a high school drop out, who went back as a mom of 3 babies with a GED into a 2 year nursing program who practiced at the bedside for 14 years before going back for a BSN (which isn't done yet). So I've been there, seen all and done that. Choose wisely.

hearts895, RN BSN · Jan 7, 2010

Thank you so much for your thoughts! I don't absolutely have to work, due my student loans, scholarships, and my family's support, however I would like to have extra spending money and I would like to add money to my savings. Mainly, I would like to have experience as a CNA on my resume because I am aware that the job market for a new grad nurse is difficult. I would eventually like to work in my home state, Washington state (I'm going to school in MI), but the job market is competitive over there, so I think being a CNA would look good. However, it is part of my long term goal to eventually get my MSN (I'm getting my BSN now) and become a Nurse Practitioner. I know my grades in Nursing School need to be really good so... I'm unsure if being a CNA could affect my grades. I suppose I'll just have to think about it some more, but thank you for your thoughts. :)

Meshell92183 · Jan 8, 2010

I work one 12 hour shift a week and it's perfect for nursing school...I'm gaining seniority in the hospital which will help when we graduate and there is a flood of new nurses applying for every open position! I live in Washington too and have heard that it can take months to find a job after graduation. Along with that I'm gaining valuable skills working with patients...I think that if your able to get a CNA job in a hospital there's no reason to turn down the opportunity, what will be difficult is finding a position that will work around you classes, thankfully my managers are super understand and supportive of their staff going to school. Much luck to you in nursing school, its crazy exhausting but tons of fun!

Michelle~

MoLee228 · Jan 8, 2010

I'm in an accelerated BSN program and we were warned at the beginning of the program not to work at all or else risk our chances of completing the program. They assured us that there would be absolutely no spare time for work and we would burn ourselves out if we tried to.

Well, I did not work the first 2 semesters, and I will admit I was still very busy. However, I really wanted to stop depleting my savings and also get some experience and a foot in the door somewhere. Hospitals in my area have special nursing assistant positions for nursing students who have completed their med-surg clinicals, and I applied for one of those and got it.

I am now going into my 4th and final semester, and I can tell you that getting that job is one of the absolute best decisions I have made. The experience I have gained is truly invaluable...I know I'm only doing vitals, sugars, I's & O's, ECGs, etc. but I have learned to manage 15 demanding patients at once. It has made me overall more comfortable with patients, RNs, and MDs, as well as the ways of the hospital (transporting patients, admits, discharges, scheduling, just odd things like that). The other great thing is that I have had the advantage of working with some great nurses who know I want to learn and are always trying to share their knowledge with me. I've gotten to float to many different floors and units and see what I like and don't like, and I've gotten some really valuable experiences like being involved in codes and doing post-mortem care. These are not things you will necessarily get to experience in clinicals.

Not to mention, I make decent money working 16-20 hours per week and I get health care out if it to boot. And, despite all the warnings from my school, I have still managed to maintain a 4.0 (by the skin of my teeth). I'm not going to lie, it's a lot to manage, but my confidence about my skills when I graduate are 100% higher than before I had the job. And heck, if I can manage keeping my grades up in an accelerated program AND a part-time job, I feel like I can do just about anything lol!

So long story short, I say DO IT! You won't regret it! :up:

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2010

I worked 12 hr shifts, 3 nights a week at a hospital for the entire program. It gave me a leg up, and I FIRMLY believe every RN should work as a CNA for at least one semester. Not only does it give you an idea of where you want to work, it also cements you as part of the floor. When I was done with school, my manager was a big driving force in me deciding to stay on my home unit.

I love the people I work with, I like our patients, and I really like having a job. Big plus in my opinion.