Go for CNA or Volunteer?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

Specializes in Psychiatry.

Hey all. I have a dilemma. Here's the short and sweet version:

Should I:

A) Rearrange my spring semester schedule, pay $1k, take the CNA course and then look for work as an aide (which at the moment, does not look promising around here).

OR

B) Volunteer as an ED patient rep at the local hospital?

I'm really only looking for about 8hrs a week and making $ is not all that important to me (one 8hr shift/wk won't net squat anyways).

If all goes as planned, I'll be starting nursing school fall 2012. I'm leaning more toward the volunteering because I'll at least have "a foot in the door" (more like my toe) in a hospital and I won't have to pay for classes. The CNA class is tempting, I would eventually find a job I'm sure and I know it will give me more hands on experience than just being a rep.

Your thoughts?

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$1000 is WAY too much to pay for a CNA class. I took a 2 day class for $275 and passed my test the first try.

You could always look around for nursing homes and stuff, some offer training for free in exchange for working for them. Some hospitals around my area use to do it, but I think most of them stopped. Could you get your license and then volunteer till u find a job? Even if you dont find one, at least you'll will have the license for the future until you get your RN.

I got my CNA a month ago and still haven't found a job. I start nursing school in 3.5 months so Im thinking I shouldnt even bother now

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I have contacted all the nursing homes that used to offer on-the-job CNA training and they all said the same thing - I have to go through the community college. The community college class is around 16 weeks long meeting twice a week for a total of 6-8 hours (more with clinicals). One perk is I'll receive 12 credits for taking it.

There is nowhere around here where you can take the CNA class for less than $800. And then I wonder if I plan on entering NS in Fall of 2012, within that first yr I can work as a CNA w/o paying the $1K, so maybe volunteering is the way to go?

I'm just concerned that being a CNA would look better on future job applications than an ED volunteer. We all know the job market is tight and I'm sure it's not going to look good for this gal who hasn't had a "real job" for 8 years.

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I'm taking a CNA course right now. Paying over 1K for it too..ugh. It's a private school and it fits my schedule so I went with it (2 month course, weekend only).

After reading on here for awhile and seeing how having your CNA is a requirement at some schools, I decided to just get my CNA. I also am hoping to enter a BSN program in fall 2012 and am hoping to find a part time hospital CNA job while in school or at least taking my pre reqs to get me some experience. Of course this is wishful thinking as I'm seeing even the CNA hospital jobs want you to have acute care experience. So now I'm wondering if I need to volunteer to get my acute hospital experience???!!! Jeez....it's gotta be so difficult...but this girl does not give up...

Good luck with your decision....and your future education and nursing career:):up:

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Swampcat - where you living? The CNA classes are expensive in my area too (DC). I looked into the cost vs the job market and the pay and I just dont think I could survive off that while I take my prereqs. I decided to volunteer at the hospital to get the exposure. Luckily, the hospital has alot of volunteers who are interested in nursing so they let you volunteer at the nursing stations. I will be in L&D and I am super excited. Everyone has told me that even as a volunteer it will help to get to know people in the hospital and make connections so that when I am a new grad, someone may go to bat for me. Its tough though, good luck!

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I was once wondering the same exact thing...CNA or Volunteer?? I start my nursing program in Aug. '11 I went ahead and decided to volunteer..the local hopsitals here allow you to volunteer at the nursing stations assisting them with anything they need done. I mailed in applications to two local hospitals last monday and I have already heard back from one saying they are processing my application and once my reference and background check come back they will contact me for an interview. I'm excited!!! Some ppl discourage volunteering because you are not "getting paid" but I look at is as I am in a way....because I am networking with several ppl and getting familiar with the hospital setting before I start my program in Aug. I wish you the best :-)

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I say volunteer. Volunteering got me a job that I love at a hospital that I hope to become an RN at. Volunteering has allowed me to have unlimited interactions with patients. I'm not on a time limit. I don't have a patient load to handle. I can give them my undivided attention and it really allows me to build up my people skills. Volunteering has allowed me to make all kinds of connections with tons of different people as well. It looks great on a resume also.

Volunteering (at least for me) allows me to rotate all throughout the hospital if I want to experience almost every department.

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I would say volunteer...but I took a 1500.00 CNA class... and I'm now making &16/hr as a CNA. There's a lot of overtime where I work. The nurses literly beg you to stay...so my overtime hours are $24/hr. I make about 3,000.00/month as a CNA because I'm gonig to school, I can't take more overtime.

That's my reason for being a CNA and not a volunteer.

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Thirdwatch - how many hours a week do you work? You make that much without the overtime? You probably dont get benefits correct? How do you like being a CNA?

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How do you manage working OT as a CNA and school? Are you in nursing school or in the pre-req's phase?

I am also weighing the pros and cons of CNA vs Volunteer. I am concerned that CNA work will not be steady enough to keep up with my cost of living while in NS.

-NJ

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Thirdwatch - how many hours a week do you work? You make that much without the overtime? You probably dont get benefits correct? How do you like being a CNA?

I wish I made that much without overtime. I make that much with an extra shift. I get medical, dental and retirement benefits. I don't really like being a CNA, but I'm learning a lot on how the hospital is run, and what's expected from nurses.

It's a good learning experience, but it's a durty job at times.

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How do you manage working OT as a CNA and school? Are you in nursing school or in the pre-req's phase?

I am also weighing the pros and cons of CNA vs Volunteer. I am concerned that CNA work will not be steady enough to keep up with my cost of living while in NS.

-NJ

I'm not in nursing school yet. I just finished taking Microbiology-my last prereq. Here's why I can't help you make a choice between volunteering and CNA. I got CNA job while volunteering. I took the CNA course and in the afternoons I would volunteer. One day, the DON ask me to bring my CNA cert---I din't know why.

She ask me if I wanted a nurse attendant position...and that the CNA cert was required.

I'm lucky to have a steady CNA job, but heard of people not working enough because of low census.

I would recomend you check the classified ads. If you don't see a great need for CNAs, just volunteer and skip the CNA course.

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