Advice for a prospective Nursing Student

donjon2015 · Dec 9, 2013

"So my question is: for me as a young girl should I just try and get a random job somewhere and go strait for the RN program and get it overwith, or should I do the CNA, then the LPN, and then RN...or even maybe to CNA to RN.

And, by getting my CNA will I really get alot of good experiance that will help me in my future nursing???"

I'd recommend experience .....many would flat out disagree with this.....but the bottom line is with all the ground you cover as a Student, and in Theory.....and with all of the terminology you cover, many of which is exotic looking when you have no experience and nursing school will be tougher....the ones with any expierence will have a slight advantage.

LPN is good...im an LPN.....but, I'd actually recommend Respiratory Therapy as a background to gain experience over CNA and LPN and then enter a Accelerated BSN or regular BSN, or do Excelsior College's online transition depending on if your state accepts it.

RT is on the same level of Care as an RN where as both is a higher level of care than an LPN or CNA....but they have different scopes of practice.....one is more specialized, the other is more generalized.

Nothing will help you more in terms of the didactic work then a background in RT.....you will become an EXPERT in the Cardiopulmonary System and will develop sound assessment skills on the two most vital body systems....the heart and lungs.....they even gain a little knowledge in the Kidneys and Abdomen and how they affect breathing.....and according to our hierarchy of needs "ABC's" Airway, Breathing, Circulation....all vital to a pt's health.....the RT's are masters of promoting this.

Anytime you can become an expert in anything....you're at a tremendous advantage let alone heart and lungs....and you will certainly know breath sounds......you'd be surprised many RN 's don't know breath sounds that well.... Especially students

Plus, you'll gain exposure to critical thinking and applied style questions in RT school (and you would in LPN school as well) that many Nursing Students struggle with mightily and you'll gain a background in ...although RT uses a more medical model approach while Nursing applies everything to a Nursing model

Also, someone said, LPN's don't work much in the hospital environment anymore? This is true...I speak as an LPN myself. The biggest advantage of RT is you'll get to travel across the entire hospital and see all sorts of floors....so you'll get an idea of maybe what kind of Nursing you want to do? Or if you even want to do Nursing at all....and you'll also have something to fall back on in case Nursing school doesn't work out which lets be honest: you may or may not make it....many do not.......or you may or may not want to stay in Nursing, and decide to help people in another way....that happens quite often

Again...not but.....type in " Nursing school attrition and see what you find"...along with "want of of nursing" and "burnout" and see what you find.....make sure you know what youre getting into.....Real Nursing is not the TV glorification of RN's you see....or MTV's Scrubbing In. There are real stresses and some problems with this profession which many don't realize. So be aware of your choice.

I got out of it for those realities of what Nurses really have to do.....I got out and am now in the Echo field....now the going for RT thing....I just think it's a great background to have if you become an RN....there's many RRT-RN's out there, and I think their experience benefits them greatly as a practicioner.....If I wanted to be an RN, that's what I would have done and my sister took that route and it helped them both in school and in working.........but for me, I didn't want to be involved in direct patient care anymore as an RN or RT....so I found that in my practical Nursing career, I liked being on the Diagnostic End more as an Echo.

But yes....any background....even LPN and CNA will help you......I honestly believe that its never a good thing to rush into something...

So make sure you do it for the right reasons, and make sure it is what you actually want...which in your case it seems it is

AnnaRuthBeckel · Dec 9, 2013

yah, I suppose it does. But do hospital and clinics really care that you have 2 extra years of school?

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 9, 2013

yah, I suppose it does. But do hospital and clinics really care that you have 2 extra years of school?

I can't remember the exact number, but I recently read a research study that reported that approximately 1/3 of all hospitals are now STRONGLY prefering candidates with BSN's -- and that number is rising, not shrinking. By the time you graduate, it will probably be higher.

My hospital will not hire a nurse with only an ADN unless that nurse has already practiced as a nurse in the same specialty ... and/or is already currently enrolled in a BSN program. Many leading healthcare and nursing organizations are striving to meet the goal of having 80% BSN by the year 2020. So the trend is clearly in that direction.

Save yourself the frustration, disappointment, and bitterness. Get the BSN from the beginning. But getting the CNA and working part time while you are a student can be a good idea -- but it is not necessary for everyone if you are going to a high quality school. You'll get valuable experience and maybe a little help with paying your tuition bills.

AnnaRuthBeckel · Dec 9, 2013

"So my question is: for me as a young girl should I just try and get a random job somewhere and go strait for the RN program and get it overwith, or should I do the CNA, then the LPN, and then RN...or even maybe to CNA to RN.
And, by getting my CNA will I really get alot of good experiance that will help me in my future nursing???"
I'd recommend experience .....many would flat out disagree with this.....but the bottom line is with all the ground you cover as a Student, and in Theory.....and with all of the terminology you cover, many of which is exotic looking when you have no experience and nursing school will be tougher....the ones with any expierence will have a slight advantage.
LPN is good...im an LPN.....but, I'd actually recommend Respiratory Therapy as a background to gain experience over CNA and LPN and then enter a Accelerated BSN or regular BSN, or do Excelsior College's online transition depending on if your state accepts it.
RT is on the same level of Care as an RN where as both is a higher level of care than an LPN or CNA....but they have different scopes of practice.....one is more specialized, the other is more generalized.
Nothing will help you more in terms of the didactic work then a background in RT.....you will become an EXPERT in the Cardiopulmonary System and will develop sound assessment skills on the two most vital body systems....the heart and lungs.....they even gain a little knowledge in the Kidneys and Abdomen and how they affect breathing.....and according to our hierarchy of needs "ABC's" Airway, Breathing, Circulation....all vital to a pt's health.....the RT's are masters of promoting this.
Anytime you can become an expert in anything....you're at a tremendous advantage let alone heart and lungs....and you will certainly know breath sounds......you'd be surprised many RN 's don't know breath sounds that well.... Especially students
Plus, you'll gain exposure to critical thinking and applied style questions in RT school (and you would in LPN school as well) that many Nursing Students struggle with mightily and you'll gain a background in ...although RT uses a more medical model approach while Nursing applies everything to a Nursing model
Also, someone said, LPN's don't work much in the hospital environment anymore? This is true...I speak as an LPN myself. The biggest advantage of RT is you'll get to travel across the entire hospital and see all sorts of floors....so you'll get an idea of maybe what kind of Nursing you want to do? Or if you even want to do Nursing at all....and you'll also have something to fall back on in case Nursing school doesn't work out which lets be honest: you may or may not make it....many do not.......or you may or may not want to stay in Nursing, and decide to help people in another way....that happens quite often
Again...not but.....type in " Nursing school attrition and see what you find"...along with "want of of nursing" and "burnout" and see what you find.....make sure you know what youre getting into.....Real Nursing is not the TV glorification of RN's you see....or MTV's Scrubbing In. There are real stresses and some problems with this profession which many don't realize. So be aware of your choice.
I got out of it for those realities of what Nurses really have to do.....I got out and am now in the Echo field....now the going for RT thing....I just think it's a great background to have if you become an RN....there's many RRT-RN's out there, and I think their experience benefits them greatly as a practicioner.....If I wanted to be an RN, that's what I would have done and my sister took that route and it helped them both in school and in working.........but for me, I didn't want to be involved in direct patient care anymore as an RN or RT....so I found that in my practical Nursing career, I liked being on the Diagnostic End more as an Echo.
But yes....any background....even LPN and CNA will help you......I honestly believe that its never a good thing to rush into something...
So make sure you do it for the right reasons, and make sure it is what you actually want...which in your case it seems it is

_________________________________________________________________

I definetly want to do Nursing. I would love to work in the Labour/Birth feild or somewhere with children involved.

Getting experiance makes sense and seems like the logical choice.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2013

Yes, that was my original plan, I think that is what I want to do... It will be hard but good for me I think.
I had another question tho... My community college that I am taking prerequisites at only has an Associate degree for Nursing. Is that bad? I am liking the idea of only 2 yeas of school rather then 4, but will I get hired having only my associate degree do you think???

An associate's degree in English is two years. An associate's degree in nursing is three and a half years, because the hard science prerequisites will take you one and a half years to finish. So you might as well go directly to a bachelor's degree in nursing, four years, because you're going to have to have it anyway (almost everywhere says "BSN preferred" or "required") and you might as well get it done with. Do not listen to those people who tell you that you can get the associate's degree and then go to school for your BSN while you are working as an RN. The first several years of being a new grad are stressful and busy, chances are good you will be working shifts that are incompatible with school, and that path will take you longer anyway. Also see above: "BSN required/strongly preferred."

You are young. Do it right all at once the first time.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 9, 2013

An associate's degree in English is two years. An associate's degree in nursing is three and a half years, because the hard science prerequisites will take you one and a half years to finish. So you might as well go directly to a bachelor's degree in nursing, four years, because you're going to have to have it anyway (almost everywhere says "BSN preferred" or "required") and you might as well get it done with. Do not listen to those people who tell you that you can get the associate's degree and then go to school for your BSN while you are working as an RN. The first several years of being a new grad are stressful and busy, chances are good you will be working shifts that are incompatible with school, and that path will take you longer anyway. Also see above: "BSN required/strongly preferred."
You are young. Do it right all at once the first time.

I completely agree with this! Get the BSN while you're young and have the chance to do it.

SoniaReb · Dec 9, 2013

From what you have said, it appears as if you are enrolled in one of the Dual Enrollment program in Florida. You are 17, so you are a senior (final year) in High School. What prerequisites have you done so far? I would look first at completing all the prerequisites for the Florida ADN program through the Dual Enrollment program. I friend of mine daughter is a Junior in High School (doing dual enrollment) and she will have completed all the prerequisites for a BSN program by the time she completes her senior year and will be applying to a 4-year BSN program. She will only have to complete 2-years. I would recommend you complete as much of the Associate Degree prerequisites in case you want to transition into an Associate Degree program at a local community college or spend a year at the same community college after high school graduation and complete all the requirements to enter a 4-year degree program or go to a 4-year University and finish your prerequisites and then enter the BSN program. The former is a lot cheaper.

Either way, you have a jump start on the competition, since your High School is paying for part of the cost of your Nursing Education and you will be able to complete the program in about 2 (ADN) or 3 years (BSN). If I were in your position I would focus primarily on getting your BSN and for get about becoming a CNA/LPN.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2013

yah, I suppose it does. But do hospital and clinics really care that you have 2 extra years of school?

Honey...my daughter is in your position right now. Many facilities across the country as hiring BSN nursing over ADN nurses. You indicate you are from Florida and I know the market is tight there as well.

You are young....my advice go for the BSN. Yes there are some "fluff" courses as required electives but the BSN will give you the edge for a job after graduation.

My advice and it is what I have advised my daughter to do. Get the BSN. If you get the ADN plan on going for a BSN bridge program immediately upon graduation.

nlynrob · Dec 9, 2013

If you're only 17 and already know you want this career, go for a BSN. You'll end up there eventually and at your age there's no point in taking the long route. It's hard to go back to school once you're done or drop out, take it from me, took me three years of convincing myself quitting my crap paying job for no pay full time school would eventually be worth it. Plus now there's a lot of new grad RN residency programs you can apply to when you're done that really help you transition from student to RN and can get you into specialty floors right after graduation, but only if you're a BSN graduate with no prior experience working as an LPN or nurse with an ADN.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Dec 10, 2013

Yeah, go straight for your BSN if you have the time and opportunity, which it seems you do.

Get a part time job as a CNA/tech in a hospital while in school. You will likely have a job lined up upon graduation while your classmates who didn't do so scramble and struggle.

Don't listen to those who tell you "you can't work" while in nursing school. That's a load of horse-pucky. Yes you can, especially part time.

bebbercorn · Dec 10, 2013

Go for the BSN, if you can! Hospitals are not hiring as much and the BSN will make you more marketable. As will experience as a CNA if you can work and do school at the same time.

***member01*** · Dec 10, 2013

By getting your BSN it will potentially open up a lot more career opportunities. This is not guarateed, but a BSN is generally required for admistrative roles. If you can get a job with your ADN, then this might be a good route to go. You can always finish your RN to BSN later on.

As far as getting your CNA or LPN, I would agree with others and say get as much experience as you possibly can. Experience can translate to a job, but more importantly it will give you a more accurate and clear picture of what healthcare is really like. Nothing can trump your personal experience. Get the best education you can and the most experience you can. Learn and have fun doing it! It's awesome that you are already thinking these things through. Glad to welcome you aboard as a new nurse in a few years