BSN recent grad -should i get a CNA???

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Hello,

I just graduated May 2011 from a BSN Program. I didn't even take my NCLEX yet. Probably not until September. My question is...should i get a CNA??? Do you guys know if I can just take their test or do I have to do a whole program for that?

I really need money, and nobody wants to hire me as a nursing assistant. They want a CERTIFIED nursing assistant.

Please help!

I'm from the bay area.....

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here in colorado you can take the cna test after nursing foundation, go ahead a take the test if you think it is going to be hard to get a job at least you will be working somewhere and people will get to know you. But I would not put off taking your nclex until september. the sooner you take it the odds are you will do better and more likelyhood of passing the test because the info is more fresh in your mind. So my advice take your nclex because you cannot work as a nurse until you have your liscense and with all the time you put in school you want to pass your boards the first time, go on pass your boards and start working as nurse, and if you need to get your cna

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Specializes in Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry.

Please, please, PLEASE!!! Do not wait so long to take your NCLEX. Each day that goes by is another tidbit of information that you'll likely forget about nursing fundamentals. You should take it in July instead and don't even think about applying to be a CNA. You've taken the clinicals and courses to be an RN, the company you work for will hold you to the standards of a soon-to-be RN.

So go study and think about the RN job you'll have in September!

Good Luck! ^_^

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
Hello,

I just graduated May 2011 from a BSN Program. I didn't even take my NCLEX yet. Probably not until September.

I really need money,

....

Why wait? Take the NCLEX ASAP and focus on getting that 1st nursing job

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I would agree with others. Focus more on the studying and write your NCLEX sooner. I had 4 months between when I graduated and when I wrote my Canadian RN exam. The last 2 months were agony. Get it over ASAP.

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Yes you can take your CNA right away, my classmates got their CNA license after just 1st semester and only had to take the written test.

I would recommend taking the NCLEX FIRST asap!! THEN go and look for both a nursing job and a CNA job at the same time and take whichever first (hopefully an RN job)

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Specializes in Triage, MedSurg, MomBaby, Peds, HH.

You will puzzle hiring managers when they review your resume and see that you took the CNA after graduating with a BSN. They will question your judgment. Get NCLEX passed first and focus on your future career.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Why don't you work as a GN (graduate nurse). Why waste money on CNA test when you can be working as a nurse. You don't have to be an RN before you work (in most states anyways). I think you should have been looking for a job long before you graduated and you could already be working in your field and getting experience. Oh and if you can take the NCLEX earlier, you should! Waiting doesn't help. It's a known fact that scores decrease the longer people wait and higher fail rates.

Anyways, look at local hospitals and see if they offer GN positions.

~Good Luck~

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

I would suggest taking your NCLEX in june or july. You really do not want to wait to take this test.

Even if you got your CNA nobody would hire you because you would be leaving as soon as you got done with orientation you would be leaving to pursue a nursing career. On top of that...most places require you to take the class, and the test. You probably wouldnt be able to test out till july anyway.

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My state requires you to be a licensed RN. There are no graduate nurse positions. Most won't interview you without a license either.

However! Everybody's thoughts on this? I've heard of new grads purposely delaying the NCLEX as long as they can in hopes of an improving outlook for nurse employment. They delay so that they appear to look like they are fresh grads when an employer verifies licensure with their state. Then the go get tech jobs. Have you heard of this?

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My state requires you to be a licensed RN. There are no graduate nurse positions. Most won't interview you without a license either.

However! Everybody's thoughts on this? I've heard of new grads purposely delaying the NCLEX as long as they can in hopes of an improving outlook for nurse employment. They delay so that they appear to look like they are fresh grads when an employer verifies licensure with their state. Then the go get tech jobs. Have you heard of this?

Taking the NCLEX-RN takes quite a bit of money. Perhaps this is why the OP isn't taking NCLEX-RN right away. Also, in most schools, you must clear your debt with the school before the "powers that be" notify the BON that the student may sit for NCLEX-RN.

I also agree that the OP should if at all possible not wait to take the NCLEX. I usually advise students to not even take a long needed vacation before NCLEX. :nurse::twocents:

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Specializes in ltc, rehab, home health.

Go take your NCLEX ASAP!!!!

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