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I'm wanting to start an online nursing school. Although I've been wondering if you have to have your CNA licence to become an RN. I keep seeing become an RN to BSN but I don't even have a CNA at the moment. I work in a residential living facility so I don't have to be licensed, though I do all the same work a licenced employee would do. I'm just curious what steps I would have to take to make it to the top. My goal is to become an NP.

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Specializes in NICU.

There are no online entry level RN nursing programs (except Excelsior, but they require you to be a LPN, Paramedic, or Military corpsman). All nursing schools must have clinicals, which cannot be done strictly online. The online RN-BSN programs are for working RNs that have an associate's degree in nursing and want to go back to school for their BSN.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You cannot become an RN from scratch online. Nursing involves learning hands on skills and working hundreds of hours in clinical settings as part of the program.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

A CNA "license" is not a pre-requisite for nursing school. Most states do not even issue licenses for CNA's. It is desirable to have the skills and experience of working as a CNA, but the two are not related.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

A CNA does not have a license, they have a certificate. An RN has a license that requires graduating from an accredited program and then completing x amount of hours of education yearly to keep up that licensure. You cannot do a strictly online RN program, you will need in person clinicals. To become an NP you need to get your associates RN, or your BSN RN; both have prerequisite classes. If you get an associates RN then you wil need to enter a bridge program to get your BSN or MSN- but I don't recommend bridging into an advanced practice degree, as NP, with no bedside experience.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I'm wanting to start an online nursing school. Although I've been wondering if you have to have your CNA licence to become an RN. I keep seeing become an RN to BSN but I don't even have a CNA at the moment. I work in a residential living facility so I don't have to be licensed, though I do all the same work a licenced employee would do. I'm just curious what steps I would have to take to make it to the top. My goal is to become an NP.

Since your end goal is to be a NP, you need to look into what schools you are interested in and cost.

There are not entry level online schools; there may be "hybrid" courses, which are online and in class in order to satisfy state requirements for required hours of education and to ensure competency, but there still a requirement to show up and demonstrate some form of competency.

Look into are schools; find out what the requirements are and choose what will work for you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
A CNA does not have a license, they have a certificate. An RN has a license that requires graduating from an accredited program and then completing x amount of hours of education yearly to keep up that licensure. You cannot do a strictly online RN program, you will need in person clinicals. To become an NP you need to get your associates RN, or your BSN RN; both have prerequisite classes. If you get an associates RN then you wil need to enter a bridge program to get your BSN or MSN- but I don't recommend bridging into an advanced practice degree, as NP, with no bedside experience.

I used to think that also, but I have been informed that in some states, a license of sorts is issued. It seems to be more a matter of the state wanting to regulate and keep track of the CNA's.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
A CNA does not have a license, they have a certificate. An RN has a license that requires graduating from an accredited program and then completing x amount of hours of education yearly to keep up that licensure.

I have a CNA license Yes, they do exist.

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Okay so I have to get my RN before I can get anything else. But do I have to get my CNA before i am qualified to get my RN. How do I go about getting my RN?

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.
Okay so I have to get my RN before I can get anything else. But do I have to get my CNA before i am qualified to get my RN. How do I go about getting my RN?

Like what was previously said, no you don't need a CNA to be an RN. To get your RN- research what degree you want, associates RN, direct RN BSN and meet the requirements to get into those programs.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.
I have a CNA license Yes, they do exist.

I apologize, I did not know this bc they do not offer them in my state. But I would be interested to see what type of training is required for said licensure. No offense in anyway, but to me a license is reserved for individuals who have gone through lengthy schooling and entered the professional medical arena. I in no way mean that negatively to a CNA bc I work with some amazing ones- however, I work with some very poor ones who I fear having a license would give a further inflated ego :no:

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Thank you.

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