At what point can you go from CNA to Student Nurse?

[amanda1266]

Hi all, I plan to become a CNA (classes start March 31st). I am also working on the prereq's for an RN program. The hospital I want to work at requires candidates to be a CNA before you can become a Student Nurse which is why I am doing the CNA program.. also because it will give me alot of great experience, I'm sure.

I was wondering at what point can you go from being a CNA to being a Student Nurse. Or is it the same thing? Do you have to wait until you are actually taking the Nursing classes, or can it be while you are doing the prereq's?

I'm assuming a Student Nurse would pay more than a CNA position. Not that money matters all that much but I am in my late 20's and have my own home that I have to be able to pay for.

Thanks so much.

[Bill E. Rubin]

Being a student nurse means that you are enrolled in a nursing program and are under the tutelage of a clinical instructor. Even when I was a student nurse, when I worked at my hospital, I was just a PCA (patient care associate) and had to practice within that scope.

[NP Sam]

You have to be in a nursing program. I am also a CNA and where I work if you are a student nurse (in a program) you get more flexible hours.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

Is the position you're talking about like a Nurse Extern? Our facility will occassionally offer those, but not often, especially not lately (economy, I am sure). It's similar to being on orientation as a new grad. Where I work, you have to either be a junior in a BSN program, or in your 3rd semester of an ADN program.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

Student nurses aren't paid. The time you spend in the hospital as a student nurse is during your clinical rotations, which are a component of the nursing school curriculum. You're actually paying to be there.

[amanda1266]

Coffee Nurse.. It actually is a paid position that the hospital is hiring for.

[Junebugfairy]

both hospitals close to my home hire 'student nurses'.

basically, you have to be enrolled in nursing school, and you had to have completed a specific amount of hours. i am not sure of exactly how many, or the details, aside from that info.

[juliaann]

At my hospital, they hire nursing students as Nurse Externs or Nurse Graduates. Nurse Externs are in their last 2 semesters of their nursing program, and they work closely with staff RNs in one specific department for the duration of your nursing program. It's a paid, part-time job. It's a great way to get a feel for a specific department and a specific hospital, to see if it would be a good fit for you. Often our Nurse Externs are offered full-time employment at their graduation. They, or anyone who has just completed nursing school - or is very close to completing their program with every indication of success - but hasn't taken/passed boards yet is then hired with the title Nurse Graduate. That is basically orientation for new grad hires, with stipulations that you take and pass your boards within 6 months of your hire date.

Those are the only two positions where nursing students are employed in a nursing role by my hospital.

I seriously doubt a hospital would let someone who may or may not go to nursing school in the future (I'm sure you will, but they don't know that! I know there are numerous people who embark down the path of nursing pre-reqs and run into it not being right for them, academic hardships, financial hardships, life getting in the way, etc....a hospital isn't going to take a chance on that. My hospital won't even reimburse tuition for employees until a nursing student is in their second semester of an accredited nursing program with a 3.5 GPA) be employed in any capacity with nursing responsibilities/scope of practice.

It's definitely worth talking to HR about, though, for down the road!

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Are you applying to a diploma program? Most people do not get Student Nurse status until they start nursing school

[elkpark]

My "healthcare system" employer has Nurse Intern positions, basically glorified CNAs, but you have to have completed some specific amount of nursing school to be eligible (the ones I've met were in their senior year of a BSN program).

[maiday]

I believe you usually have to be enrolled in nursing school and usually have gone through at least fundamentals. You are basically still a CNA or like somebody else said a PCT (patient care tech), but I think you are allowed to do a little more if a nurse is willing to supervise you. Nothing more than CNA duties on your own though!

I was looking into it, but we only have one hospital that does that here and I've found I'm a little too busy to work anyway during nursing school.

[rn/writer, RN]

The hospital human resources department would be the ones to ask. Or if this job is posted online or anywhere else, take a look at the requirements. I worked as a nurse tech the summer before my last year of school. I had to have successfully completed a minimum number of nursing courses to apply. That is the norm.

These jobs are designed to help student nurses transition from a student role to employment and a more independent practice. It wouldn't make sense to hire someone who has just started school for such a job.

Good luck with your CNA training and nursing school down the road.