should i become a cna before taking prereq's?

[ilovemychihuahua]

Summer school starts in june and I was thinking to take a bio 181 which is one of the prereq's for nursing school. But they do have a one month cna course in july to aug. And I get to become a cna if I pass the exam. I thought about being one so that I could work as a cna while I take prereq's and while I'm on the waiting list. Plus I get my foot In the door of health care field. What do u all suggest? Any advise will be greatly appriciated!! Happy easter everyone!!!

[la mama 310]

It helps alot! I am a little scared at the possibility of starting IV's but I think I

will be able to handle it. I used to get queezy looking at someone with a g tube.

Now I can bathe someone with a Gtube, and give bed baths, feed and do denture care. Yeah it's not lovely I know. But it really is helping me transition from the civilian world to the world of nursing. Also now I am in the habit of

checking my resident up and down before leaving and documenting things. I

feel it just gives me an extra year of experience in this field while finishing my

pre reqs.

[Music in My Heart]

Being a good team member comes from the kind of person you are - not the training.

Truer words were never spoken... or typed.

That's the humorous part about ethics training.

[MobileNurseSara]

I'm in Ontario where we don't have CNAs, but we do have Personal Support Workers (1 year college program finish with a diploma). They are unregulated and perform the basic patient/resident personal care, help with ADLs, etc. They do not take VS do any other form of nsg duties, but from what I've read on here the CNA does.

In my area after your first year of school (BSN) you can work as a PSW without having taken the course. I did and I appreciated having a job, but I don't think it's necessarily beneficial for someone to take the PSW course before becoming a RN. So, I guess I'd say no, don't waste your time.

[SierraMoon, ADN, BSN, RN]

I'm a CNA, because it's required. I'm really glad I decided to work as one, too. I'm so much more comfortable interacting with patients than I was when I started a year ago.

It's settled my nerves. Well, some of them .