should I become a cna while doing pre-reqs

Ayvah, RN · Sep 7, 2007

Yes, get your CNA and work PRN in a hospital. It will help you learn basic nursing skills, feel more comfortable with the patients, and see how nurses handle a variety of situations. Plus you get an orientation to basic protocols/procedures. Its hard work, but you get a lot in return. I worked prn as a CNA and it was a definite help for me. I got very comfortable with skills such as restraint application and tele monitor application, for example. You don't get a whole lot of (hands-on)clinical time in RN programs (though it feels like a lot while you are in it!). Being in the environment will help, most especially if you have not had previous health care exposure. If you get comfortable with basic skills ahead of time, you can then focus your student-RN clinical time on learning more complex skills.

jjjoy, LPN · Sep 7, 2007

Unless you're really struggling with your coursework, I'd recommend doing something that gets you into the health care arena. Why not get into the health care environment sooner rather than later? Becoming a CNA and working part-time is one idea. Even if you never actually take a job, the training would be good intro to the clinical environment. You could also consider volunteering. There might be more ability to check out different areas of the hospital and more scheduling flexibility. Is there a health care careers club on campus? A local future nurses society? Things to check out.

Since you don't have to work, you have a great opportunity to explore different areas of nursing before even entering school. Enjoy!

DreamyEyes · Sep 7, 2007

I would highly suggest becoming a CNA. I just finished a CNA course because I wanted to gain experience before going to nursing school, and I'm glad I did. It might even better your chances of getting into nursing school, who knows? CNA jobs can be very flexible. I plan on working as a CNA on the weekends only once I start nursing school. I also agree with jjjoy that volunteering is another great option to get your foot in the door, especially since you don't have to work right now. Good luck with whatever you decide! :)

allnurses Guide · Sep 7, 2007

There are many threads about this here on allnurses - check out the CNA forum.

My advice is my personal experience, however there are many very good nurses I know in "real life" and here on allnurses who did not do CNA training and did not work as a CNA before becoming a nurse.

I had NO experience prior to deciding, as a second career, to be a nurse. My mentor, the DON at our hospital, who also used to teach, recommended that I not do the CNA course and not work during nursing school.

In my experience, I learned CNA skills during the first semester of nursing school. And you do total patient care while in clinicals.

If you don't have to work, you will be paying extra money for learning things you will learn in the nursing program.

I appreciated being able to focus on school and I was lucky that I didn't have to work.

I also greatly appreciate my CNA's and believe in teamwork and help them out as much as I can. I never resent being asked to help a patient up to the bathroom, place a bedpan, empty a urinal, make a bed. Being a CNA first does not guarantee that you will be a team player . . . . that value is part of who you are.

Good luck in school - it will be an adventure.

steph

jjjoy, LPN · Sep 7, 2007

Stevielynn - I'd agree that one doesn't need CNA experience to be a nurse and if one is making a career transition and working full-time, taking a CNA course along with pre-reqs and then trying to pick up CNA work either part-time or quitting an established full-time job to work as a CNA doesn't make sense. However, that is not the OPs situation.

If the OP plans to work part time anyway now or during nursing school, then CNA makes a lot of sense (if not certified, our nursing class wasn't qualified to apply for CNA positions til after completing the whole first year - why not after first term? who knows! maybe it's different elsewhere). If the OP is unsure about dealing with sick people, then CNA training would be a great introduction right away instead of waiting til NS.

If the OP doesn't expect to need to work at all, then volunteering could offer some great opportunities as well, both in a facility and in the community.

The benefit of CNA versus volunteering is being able to provide hands on care. Volunteers may have less patient contact. The drawback of CNA vs volunteering is that it's a job. Once you've got it down, it's more or less the same thing. Though if one could get on a CNA float team, then you'd get to work on a variety of different units. Some facilities offer extra training for their CNAs (phlebotomy, ECG, etc) and if that's available, that's a great opportunity.

Both volunteering or CNA work could also lead to potential future job connections.

allnurses Guide · Sep 7, 2007

I absolutely agree that being a CNA has helped some nurses.

I just wanted to give the OP options - not make her feel like she had to be a CNA to be a good nurse . . .some of these threads end up that way.

The op's post, "Iam blessed right now,I don't need to work while I go to school, should I get my cna anyway? Iam working on my pre-reqs for the RN program. should I just concentrate on getting the best grades possible? I know some RNs did not become a cna first, did you regret that you did'nt when you started your RN program?"

She doesn't need to work.

Concentrating on school is the advice I got and have given her.

I did not regret my choice.

Everyone has to do what is right for their own circumstances . . . . I just thought she should hear from others.

steph

siggie13 · Sep 7, 2007

By all means, YES. First, being a CNA lets you really see if being a nurse and working in the medical field is for you: second, I was a manager and I always looked, when I was hiring new nurses, whether they had any medical experience. All things being equal, I usually hired the new grad who had CNA experience because I knew that they were comfortable with the whole patient "thing".

I actually did have a friend, who worked as a CNA before attending nursing school and ended up changing her mind about a medical career.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

allnurses Guide · Sep 8, 2007

By all means, YES. First, being a CNA lets you really see if being a nurse and working in the medical field is for you: second, I was a manager and I always looked, when I was hiring new nurses, whether they had any medical experience. All things being equal, I usually hired the new grad who had CNA experience because I knew that they were comfortable with the whole patient "thing".
I actually did have a friend, who worked as a CNA before attending nursing school and ended up changing her mind about a medical career.
Good luck in whatever you choose.

That is funny . . . my mentor was also the DON who hired me and she didn't look at CNA experience.

It all depends . . . . .

steph

AZO49008 · Sep 8, 2007

I am a mid-life career changer. I'm starting nursing school at 43 after a career in marketing and public relations. I was always fairly certain that it was the right move, but just to be sure I went through a CMA (certified medical assistant) program directly after completing my nursing pre-reqs and beginning the 2.5 year wait to actually get into the program. I wanted to make sure the medical field was going to be a good fit before I went through 2 years of school only to find out it wasn't.

In retrospect I think it was a good move. It confirmed that I love the medical field (although I know working as a CMA in a medical parctice is vastly different than working as an RN on a busy hospital floor!), and I've learned a lot of good, basic clinical skills that will serve me well as a nurse.

I am also lucky in that I won't need to work when going through nursing school, but I have just recently transferred from my position at a large family practice setting to a clinical position at a large hospital. Now that I am in the hospital setting, I will be able to transition to a PRN position when I'm in nursing school that will allow me to work minimal hours without impacting my studies. I've worked all my life since I was 16 and the thought of NOT working for 2 years sort of freaks me out. Plus, I think just being in the hospital setting can only be a plus in terms of perparing for a nursing career.

I say if you can swing the academics and working part-time or PRN, then definitely consider it. And, as mentioned in a previous reply, if you decide NOT to, I doubt that decision will mean you'll be less prepared to be a good nurse.

beutflhrt · Sep 15, 2007

There are many threads about this here on allnurses - check out the CNA forum.

Where is this CNA forum you speak of?

And where is the career advice for CNA's?

Trying to find my way around.

If I do not get into one of the nursing programs, being a CNA/LNA is a valuable skill to have experience in if I change my mind and go for the PA program. Thankfully, they see CNA experience equally important to get into their program.

Next question, how long after BSN can you start a career as a Nurse Practitioner? Can one do surgery or is it for private practice only? That seems to be another route should I do get into one of these nursing programs in NH.

Thanks!

Antsprncess · Sep 16, 2007

oh yes!!! Definatley get your CNA!! Work part time or per diem as not to interfere with school but you learn a LOT as a CNA...it will actually help a little in school....once you get to the nursing stuff.. try and get into a hospital

btw if a job sees youve had a few years of cna experiance they are more likely to hire you than someone whos never had any experiance at all!! good luck