almost a CNA and have some questions

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Hi, I've finished my RN pre-reqs and recently a CNA class. I'm taking my state exam in 10 days. Since I have not been accepted into any nursing programs yet, I have enrolled in an EMT class and Medical Terminology for next semester. I want to stay active in school and I love gaining medical knowledge. My question is which class do you think would be more beneficial and why? This is in case I decide that I can't take both classes at the same time. Has anyone taken these 2 classes together... if so how was it? Also, I plan to work part time as a CNA once certified, however I have been informed that I need to have my official state card first which can take up to 4 months to recieve (hopefully I get it a little faster). Thanks for your input! :icon_roll:redpinkhe

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.

Med term. would be great, but I would think that the EMT class would serve you well and teach you some med term at the same time. Plus, IF nursing school is very competetive in your area you can always take the EMT class, advance to paramedic classes, and then do excelsior online for nursing!!!

OR, if you take the EMT class, you could work as a EMT while going to nursing school. I worked as a cna while going to nursing school, but I think working as a EMT would have been VERY interesting!!!

Good luck with whatever you choose and in nursing school.

Sincerely,

Jay

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Specializes in Telemetry.
Med term. would be great, but I would think that the EMT class would serve you well and teach you some med term at the same time. Plus, IF nursing school is very competetive in your area you can always take the EMT class, advance to paramedic classes, and then do excelsior online for nursing!!!

OR, if you take the EMT class, you could work as a EMT while going to nursing school. I worked as a cna while going to nursing school, but I think working as a EMT would have been VERY interesting!!!

Good luck with whatever you choose and in nursing school.

Sincerely,

Jay

Thanks for the input! Yes, nursing school is very competetive in my area. There's about 20-50 people admitted for 500-700 applicants depending on the school. I'm applying for the 3rd time in February and don't want to wait around if I continue not to get accepted. I do plan to work as either a CNA or EMT and can't wait to be a nurse someday. What are excelsior classes? Does that mean if you are a paramedic you don't need to be accepted into RN school? Thanks again and congratulations on becoming an RN!!!

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

Either one sounds great. I wasn't required to take med term...and MANY MANY times considered taking it anyway. It was difficult having to learn terminology AND general nursing information. I felt like I spent half my study time looking up basic terms. BUT- yes...it would be good to work as an EMT as you go to school. Either way...good luck to you!!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.
Thanks for the input! Yes, nursing school is very competetive in my area. There's about 20-50 people admitted for 500-700 applicants depending on the school. I'm applying for the 3rd time in February and don't want to wait around if I continue not to get accepted. I do plan to work as either a CNA or EMT and can't wait to be a nurse someday. What are excelsior classes? Does that mean if you are a paramedic you don't need to be accepted into RN school? Thanks again and congratulations on becoming an RN!!!

Excelsior is a way to do nursing school online as oppose to going the "traditional" route. You can go to the distance learning forum here on allnurses, there are many members here doing excelsior. I think it is a GREAT option for some that are self-motivated. You will take the NCLEX to get your license just like any other person that graduates from nursing school. Good luck to you.

Regards,

Jay

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I havent taken both, I took med terminology. This year is my 3rd year of applying to school, I finished my pre-reqs last year. I dont know where you want to work as a RN, but if it interest you I woul apply to work in a ED as a CNA. I worked in a LTC for a year then got hired in the ED and the last 3 months have felt like I have been in school because of all the new things that I am learning that I would never learn in LTC and the medical terminology has helped.

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i think medical terminology would be best, at least to take first. i am a cna at a hospital and i wish i had had some medical term. in my cna class! i bought myself a book and study on my own, but still!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

OK, so I dropped the Medical Terminology class and decided to go with the EMT class. I see now that more people were leaning toward the med term, but I've already dropped it. I figured the EMT gives me med term and more hands on pt care experience. I plan to get a med term book and read on my own though too. Thanks for all the help! ;)

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When I took my cna state certification they gave us doccumentation /test results that day and told us it was sufficient to get a job because they could look our number up in the registry . Good luck.

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Specializes in Telemetry.
When I took my cna state certification they gave us doccumentation /test results that day and told us it was sufficient to get a job because they could look our number up in the registry . Good luck.

Oooh, I wish we got that. The person I had told me "you have nothing to worry about, but I can't tell you scores or results" so I'm assuming I passed. I don't have a nbr so I can't look anything up in the registry. Is there any way to find out if you passed before your documents are sent? I just can't wait to see for sure... thanks!

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Im in wi and on that registry you can search by names. I found myself on there after 3 days. Good luck. im sure you passed.

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