Becoming a CNA

shortlilgirl02 · Jul 8, 2013

I initially decided to go to school to become a LVN but after thinking about it long and hard I decided that right now is not the best time to start school full time. I have been thinking about taking CNA course and test in the meanwhile so I can at least work in the medical field. I found a course with the test thats about $600 in my area. Wondering if I should go this route while I get things together to start a LVN program?? Any thought??

I'm not sure about lvn programs, but a lot of RN programs require cna certification prior to entry. For me, taking my cna class was to get out of a job I loathed. 7 years later, I have never been unemployed or had trouble finding a job. At least half of the time I've held down 2 jobs. As a float through hospitals in my area, I have had exposure to almost every type of setting possible - ltc, home care, spinal cord injury, rehab, er, icu, L&D, postpartum, nicu, surgical, neuro, ortho, onc, medical, tele, peds, psych. When I went to nursing school, all my prior exposure made clinicals a breeze because I was used to so many different types of patients and equipment. It was the best $350 I have ever spent and has paid for itself hundreds of times over in different ways.

mvm2 · Jul 8, 2013

Go for it. If it is a passion for you to work in the medical feild it can be a great first step. Like the previous poster said there are many areas and places that you will be able to work, and you can be exposed to many different aspects of giving care to people with many different issues.

duluth · Jul 9, 2013

definately do it. It will give you experience to help you get a job as a LVN in the future. I am going to do the CNA course and work on getting my AA degree to become a RN.