Becoming a CNA before getting a BSN?

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Hello! I am a highschool junior and my highschool offers a free technical program to becoming a CNA my senior year. I plan on becoming a registered nurse going to a four year college to obtain my bsn. Is it a good idea to become a CNA first and use my certification to work the summers between my college years? Any insight is greatly appreciated! Thanks :D

I think it is also something that will help you (when you finish nursing school) to build a good rapport with CNA's where you work as a nurse because you will understand just how hard those CNA's work for their money. Especially in places that are understaffed.

I am in my first semester as a nursing student and I just started working as a CNA at a long-term care facility and I wish I would have started a CNA job before I started school. The nursing assistant class is a mandatory pre req for nursing school but in the time between my class and actually getting started in the RN program I forgot things and really seemed to fumble around during the first few clinicals. Now, I am a lot more confident working with the residents on clinical after getting some real experience with the job.

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Specializes in CNA2: Acute Care, Orthopedics.

That is defiantly a great idea! I'm doing that right now actually, though my high school. I'm also planning on becoming and RN,I've already been accepted to WSU! :) Its a lot of studying but its really great to get that experience. We're starting our clinical portion this friday and I'm really excited! I defiantly think that you would benefit from it greatly. Plus its fun to wear scrubs :p

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