A few questions from a prospective nursing student

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I am considering going to school to get my RN. I was speaking with a friend, whose a RN, and she suggested I get some medical experience by working as a CNA. I am currently a homemaker w/ a 22 month old. Because I'm living off of one income, I really can not afford to pay for a CNA program through the college. I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions? I live in the lower hudson valley (NY).

Also, I saw an ad in the local newspaper for free PCA/HHA training. (offered by a HC fac) I was wondering what are other people's thoughts on this? What IS the difference between a PCA and a CNA? Can they interchange jobs? (if your a pca can you function as a cna? vice versa?)

Thank you soo much for time and consideration.

Specializes in NICU.

wdwpixie, I'm so glad what I said made a difference for somebody. :) It's not something I would have thought of either had it not come up in class. ;) Enjoy your waitressing (yes, they can make awesome $ in tips, but I am too clumsy - hehe) and best of luck in school!

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
wdwpixie, I'm so glad what I said made a difference for somebody. :) It's not something I would have thought of either had it not come up in class. ;) Enjoy your waitressing (yes, they can make awesome $ in tips, but I am too clumsy - hehe) and best of luck in school!

Thanks! You, too!!

After sitting in a cubicle for 6 years, I look forward to anything that gets me up and around and moving!!

I'll just add that we have a couple of PCT's in our class, and one in particular I was talking to mentioned she thought the expectations for them in checkouts was a little higher....that they were a little tougher on them!! Not sure how true that is, but it's something else to keep in mind!! :)

Specializes in NICU.

Hmm - I hadn't thought of that with the check-off's, but I suppose that is probably true. We have one in our class who I feel kind-of bad for because everyone always says, "why do you need to practice, you know what you're doing" - talk about pressure! Poor girl.

Of course, some schools I guess do give extra points on admissions if you're already working in a healthcare area. I forgot about that because my school does not do that, but some do. I am thankful that was not the case for me because I couldn't afford to quit my job to do that. I find it so sad that CNAs are paid what they are when they are the foundation of healthcare for many individuals. I make a lot more than a CNA (probably $3 or $4 more an hour out here) and I don't do near the hard work that they do nor do I even have to have a certification to do my job. Something is wrong with this picture. :( Oops - that's another story though.

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