Should a pre-nursing student get a CNA certificate/how hard is it to find a CNA job?

My CNA class was $600, and I found a job before I was finished. BUT, it depends on your area how hard or easy it is to find a job. I do recommend becoming a CNA though, it is valuable experience. As far as helping with admittance to nursing school, it depends on the program.

I say go for it. You can find a job, add something to your resume and get some experience under your belt.

Yea go for it

I'm not sure where you live, but you might be able to find courses that aren't as expensive. I did a class through the Red Cross, which was about 2 months (I think), but there are weekend courses available. I think you would have luck finding a job in a nursing home or in home health and with some experience you could apply to work as one in the hospital. You could even apply straight to a hospital and see what availability they offered. It is hard work, so be prepared. This is not to deter you, but for you to be prepared.

You'll pick up a lot of information and if you're lucky to work with nurses that enjoy teaching, you can even gain some insight towards your future career.

I think CNA experience would be very valuable - it let's you see what nurses do on a day-to-day basis while learning basic nursing skills. Also, look into your state - my state (PA) requires long-term care facilities to reimburse CNAs the cost of their training if they are hired within 12 months of getting certified (so you get certified for free).

I think that the experience would be invaluable, but from all the nursing schools I have spoken with, it does not increase your chances of getting in. They say that being a CNA first will make nursing school easier though.

I say go for it. Over here in San Diego it is a pre req and I imagine they did that for a reason. I know someone who used it to volunteer at a hospital which will give him points.

I am going to get my CNA so it will hopefully be easier getting a RN job. If I work for a hospital as a CNA I figure I would have more of an advantage then others who are going to be applying to that hospital without a job history with them. All this will be part time or PRN while in nursing school of course. That is my plan anyway. Go for it!