First Year Nursing Student - CNA over the summer?

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This is my first year in a BSN program and by the time summer starts I should have my CNA. Anyway, I was wondering if it is important to use this right away for the experience? I would rather not do CNA work as I've heard it is really bad but, I would make more money at it then a minimum wage job and I'm sure the experience would be good. So bascially my question is how important is CNA experience before graduating from nursing school? Would one summer be enough or should I try for both summers?

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I started working as a hospital CNA during the summer after my first year in nursing school, and it really gave me a leg up on my clinicals the next fall, as well as practical experience in acute care. It also was nowhere near as hard physically as working in a nursing home, and I was allowed to do more skills (taking out IVs and Foleys, doing accu-checks etc.). It's definitely worth your time, and where I worked the pay was much better than in the NH's.

Good luck!

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do it! do it! do it!

you'll be a better nurse for it, and it'll make your early clinical experiences easier! (trust me...)

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