How many Nurses had their CNAs before Nursing School?

U.S.A. Washington

Published

  1. Did you have your CNA before going into Nursing School?

    • 17
      No
    • 29
      Yes

46 members have participated

I am asking these questions to help a friend out, to prove a point.

Did you have your CNA before going into Nursing School?

Is having a CNA required by law to go into Nursing School?

Does the University of Washington School of Nursing Require you to have a CNA for entry?

Can you transfer to the University of Washington School of Nursing with just an Associates in Pre Nursing?

Thank you and I heavily appreciate all responses. Just my girlfriend is working on getting into the ACT program at her Job Corps Center, and everyone she talks to seems to be brainwashed you need your CNA to transfer.

http://nursing.uw.edu/academic-services/degree-programs/bsn/bsn-application-requirements.html

She wont listen to me, so I would like to have some Registered Nurses chime in.

Thank you very much!

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I was never an actual state certified CNA, but I did work as a nurse's aide in

a hospital for four years prior to obtaining my RN. I'm pretty sure that my

program did NOT require previous work as a CNA, volunteer, etc, prior to

admission, however that was over eleven years ago.

Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

My ADN program required CNA certification prior to admission. Also, unless the certification was received within 18 months of the start of the program, there was a minimum number of work hours as a CNA for the prior year as well for admission to the program.

I was a CNA in a hospital for 2 years before I started nursing school. It's not a law here that you need to be a CNA, but many nursing programs require you to at least take the class.

Penn State neither requires nor makes any statement about being an aide...in PA the only CNA's are nursing home trained...the hospitals job title is Nursing Assistant...

after we completed fundamentals, most of the local hospitals hire as student nurse aides...I got my job that way...

Did you have your CNA before going into Nursing School?

Is having a CNA required by law to go into Nursing School?

Does the University of Washington School of Nursing Require you to have a CNA for entry?

Can you transfer to the University of Washington School of Nursing with just an Associates in Pre Nursing?

Yes I had been a CNA prior to going to nursing school. But I was a CNA when I was 16, stopped doing it at 25 and went to LPN school at 38 and I'm currently in my last semester of the LPN to RN program.

In Connecticut is is NOT required by law to have your CNA to get into nursing school. I know some programs require a CNA as a pre-req to starting the nursing program. But in CT I can't recall any of our programs (LPN or RN) needing to be a CNA prior to starting nursing programs. There are more students in my program who aren't CNA's than there are ones with their CNA. Actually, there are many, many students without any previous healthcare experience. Actually in CT, unless they have changed it, after one completes nursing fundementals they can apply for their CNA cert w/the State of Connecticut without having to take the State mandated program and taking the test.

Can't answer the Univ Washington questions b/c I don't know anything about it.

My nursing school required that we have our STNA prior to beginning classes and we maintain it while in school. I worked for a year as a PCA at a hospital before I became an RN and I'm so glad I did! It really helped me with learning prioritization, bedside manners, communication with medical staff, familiarization with equipment and procedures. Now as an RN I know how much is expected of the PCA and how demanding the job is, so I rarely call to the PCA if I can do something myself. So many nurses who have never worked in healthcare as PCA's or any other title, have a holier than thou attitude and see filling an ice pitcher or toileting a patient as beneath them. I strongly recommend working as an aide while in school because not only will it help your girlfriend gain confidence and aide in her learning, but it could also help her land a job as an RN after school.

Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

I obtained CNA training while in high school but never got a job as a CNA. My school didn't require it, but you got 1 extra point on your application for it (most competitive students had atleast 35 points).

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

I disagree with the many people who think "all nurses should be CNAs" first.

A CNA is a very low education program - most places allow someone to become a CNA in about 6 weeks. The nursing profession already has enough image issues, mainly due to how low our education standards are. We don't come across as professionals. Requiring someone to skip college after high school to go perform a practically minimum wage/low education job would only further diminish our standing with other professionals. Regardless of how important experience is, and it certainly is, education is the only way to gain respect.

IMHO - all nurses should be required to have a BSN, and online programs should be abolished. Maybe then people will understand what a difficult profession it is and give us credit for our knowledge and education. You wonder why some doctors/members of the public are scared of nurse practitioners, think of how they would feel if the CNA whose job was cleaning up poop and changing linens just 5 years earlier is now writing prescriptions and diagnosing their loved ones.

Education is the key. Stop pushing for lowering our respect even further, please.

Specializes in Cardiac.

I'm currently in an ASN program, and have been a CNA for 4 years this June. I think it's not necessary, but is QUITE helpful. Being a CNA before nursing school was the best decision I've ever made.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I disagree with the many people who think "all nurses should be CNAs" first.

A CNA is a very low education program - most places allow someone to become a CNA in about 6 weeks. The nursing profession already has enough image issues, mainly due to how low our education standards are. We don't come across as professionals. Requiring someone to skip college after high school to go perform a practically minimum wage/low education job would only further diminish our standing with other professionals. Regardless of how important experience is, and it certainly is, education is the only way to gain respect.

IMHO - all nurses should be required to have a BSN, and online programs should be abolished. Maybe then people will understand what a difficult profession it is and give us credit for our knowledge and education. You wonder why some doctors/members of the public are scared of nurse practitioners, think of how they would feel if the CNA whose job was cleaning up poop and changing linens just 5 years earlier is now writing prescriptions and diagnosing their loved ones.

Education is the key. Stop pushing for lowering our respect even further, please.

Ok...IcySage...there are many CNAs whose job was cleaning up poop a d changing linens and within 10-15 years is now writing prescriptions and diagnosing their loved ones...They were CNAs, BSNs, then NPs...it happens all the time...A "lowly" CNA does not necessarily mean a negative connotation. I assume that you have never held this position...from someone who has held this "lowly" position, please know that I am knowledgable, well versed, and comfortable with blood poop, and vomit and WILL NOT BAT AN EYE...and when I become an NP, I will WITH PRIDE, clean up poop vomit etc, because I am fully aware of Maslow's needs, and will not fetch a "lowly" CNA. You are title to your opinion, but please educate yourself on WHY skill mix is important and the levels of direct care and nursing is mot necessarily a "negative" thing, especially when we are already stretched to the limit..I like the model of the healthcare team...without it, I would've never had the comfort zone that I had by doing the most intimate levels of care if it was as regimented as you would like it to be..:sarcastic:

I disagree with the many people who think "all nurses should be CNAs" first.

A CNA is a very low education program - most places allow someone to become a CNA in about 6 weeks. The nursing profession already has enough image issues, mainly due to how low our education standards are. We don't come across as professionals. Requiring someone to skip college after high school to go perform a practically minimum wage/low education job would only further diminish our standing with other professionals. Regardless of how important experience is, and it certainly is, education is the only way to gain respect.

IMHO - all nurses should be required to have a BSN, and online programs should be abolished. Maybe then people will understand what a difficult profession it is and give us credit for our knowledge and education. You wonder why some doctors/members of the public are scared of nurse practitioners, think of how they would feel if the CNA whose job was cleaning up poop and changing linens just 5 years earlier is now writing prescriptions and diagnosing their loved ones.

Education is the key. Stop pushing for lowering our respect even further, please.

No one is saying you have to skip college and be a CNA first. I know PLENTY of CNA's who worked as CNA's while in BSN programs. And they were much more comfortable around patients than nurses without any healthcare experience. I'm not saying all nurses should be CNA's beforehand, but what is wrong with being a CNA while you are in school? Some people still have to work while they are in school and being a CNA gives you healthcare experience and a foot in the door.

Most people I know don't care if the MD or NP who is writing their prescriptions was cleaning up poop 5 years ago. Seriously, why do you care so much if they were cleaning up poop 5 years ago as long as they graduated from medical school or NP school and passed boards? I don't understand what, in your eyes, is so bad about working as a CNA while one is in school? Seriously who the heck cares what your job is while you're in school as long as you are bettering yourself. And besides, most NPs are RNs for at least 3-4 years before being an NP. It's not like they go from CNA-NP

How is being a CNA while in nursing school lowering the respect of the nursing profession? CNA's don't just get "promoted" to RNs. It's not like today I'm a CNA and tomorrow I'm an RN even though I never went to nursing school. And btw, at least around here, hospitals are much more likely to hire new grads who worked as CNA's than they are someone who has no prior healthcare experience. Not saying everyone should be or needs to be a CNA before nursing school, and I don't promote quitting college for a few years to work full time as a CNA either, but your post comes off extremely insulting to many nurses that were "lowly" CNAs first.

Making it optional is fine, but many are saying "I think it should be required."

They are essentially saying it should be required for every person who wants to be a respected professional to spend time at the bottom of the ladder doing demeaning tasks. More time should be put towards education and making sure we know more about the chemistry and biology of the body, not more time learning how many different colors poop can come in. It's this mentality that it's a "rite of passage" or all nurses to endure demeaning, mind-numbing, filthy work in order to make it to the top that causes us to not be as respected once we get to the top.

Trust me, a physician will be more impressed by a Nurse Pactitioner who says he or she did cancer research during undergraduate school than one who said they were a CNA. Requiring all nurses to be a CNA during nursing school would mean they wouldn't have the time to pursue these more intelectual interests, such as working in a lab during undergraduate, and instead passing their days changing beds and learning very little that will actually help at the graduate level.

I rarely see nurses complaining about the need for more education or more standarized tests, etc. It's always "Well I think we should have a minimum of 5 years cleaning sh*t first." It's like nurses only measure success in terms of tons of sh*t they've cleaned. News flash: Education is the most important aspect of being a graduate level nurse provider (NP, CRNA, etc). We would gain more respect if:

1. Nurses were all required to have BSNs.

2. No online programs, especially for NPs.

3. The "DNP" was more clinical hours and advanced coursework, as opposed to theory classes that makes it look like a joke.

4. Entrance to NP school required: A BSN with ONE YEAR minimum experience as a BSN RN. A standized exam, like the MCAT, which measures knowledge of biology, health, etc.

5. A nurse residency type program after graduate school.

We should be complaining to get these things, about QUALITY education, and yet 90% of the posts on here are about "What's the fastest way to get an NP online with 0 experience!" It's sad, it's causing this profession to decline drastically, and if they keep opening these overnight online NP schools and don't get it together and make sure NP school put more value on academic acheivement, research, and test scores over the amount of sh*t someone has cleaned, it's only a matter of time before NP's start to make some major patient safety mistakes and malpractice, and states step in to limit their power.

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