Anyone a CNA before nursing school?

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Starting CNA classes on Monday. I'm super excited about it! I'm going for the RN program at PHCC but I still have a few prereq courses I need to take, after this semester I will just need A&P I.

Any advice? Im a little nervous about becoming a CNA because I've read it can make you not want to be a RN.

Mostly, I'm nervous about over doing it. I'm also doing Intro to Psychology and Science of Human Nutrition as online courses.

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At the school I am going to be attending the program in they require that you obtain your CNA before going into the program. I just finished my clinical hours for that and take my state exam on May 17th. I know that the experience I had at clinicals was very humbling and you gain a whole new appreciation for the jobs at hand but it didn't make me not want to pursue nursing. Good luck with everything!!

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At my school as well it is required that you have experience as a CNA, if being a CNA makes you not want to be a nurse you should reconsidering nursing but I think for most people (at least those in nursing school) it reinforces there desire to be a RN. But that is why a lot of programs do require it, nursing can be kind of idealized and CNA work weeds out those who realizes that being an RN is just as hard (and dirty) of work. It's hard to do one without the other, my first term of clinical in my BSN program was pretty much CNA work.

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I took my CNA classes in high school :) I was a CNA right out of high school. So I've been a CNA for 10 years now. I guess the only advice I can give is, it may feel awkward at first. But hang in there it can be the most amazing feeling knowing you make such a huge difference in someone's life. I just got accepted for the RN program this fall. I will do CNA per diem while in nursing school. It is a lot of work for little pay, but trust me, if you have great nurses they will be so thankful and treat you good. I also like that since I'm a CNA, once I am a nurse I will know what it feels like to be in the CNAs shoes and will be a great nurse to them too.

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I've been a CNA/PCT on and off for the last 8 years. I'm about to finally start my pre-reqs this summer for the RN program. My advice is to try to find the joy in your work. There will be plenty of hard times...mean patients/families/nurses, but the good times, to me, out weigh the bad. I've had patients tell me they waited the whole day just for me to come on shift. I've had good nurses tell me they couldn't do it without me, and love working with me. You have to take the bad with the good. Best of luck!

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Honestly, it depends on the person you are. I took a CNA class in high school, went through clinicals & everything & during clinicals it made me rethink my career choice of wanting to be a nurse. I decided not to get certified. Some people love it, some people hate it. I didn't like it at all but I'm currently taking pre-reqs to get into a BSN program.

Although I wouldn't be a CNA, I do think it will make you a better nurse because you'll have more experience than the typical RN grad, might help with the job process & will just make you a better person overall. Whatever you do I wish you the best of luck!

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I loved cna school and had the single greatest days of my life doing the externship, it felt like a dream! It's actually a huge leg up. Have fun!!

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Thank you everyone! I can't wait to start. I needed the reassurance :)

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Im doing the cna program this summer. I started it befire and thought I dropped it but...well the teacher gave me a F. I didn't enjoy it, but i do not like nursing homes at all. So depressing. I hope its better this time around!

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