Can you become CNA while you are in nursing school?

[onlyjesus99]

I plan to attend the evening nursing program at a community college in the spring of 2011. It is a 2 year associates degree program for RN. Can I automatically become a CNA while in nursing school without having to take separate classes?

[juliaann]

It depends on the school and the state. Call the school's nursing program advising office and ask.

Some schools let you bypass the CNA course and just sit for the state certification exam, and some don't.

[fakemusician]

a few places i've worked for would let you work as a CNA if you tell them you are in nursing school and you've taken the first semester of nursing ( i think "principles of nursing") and that's good enough for some, granted that you are still in school and knows how to do bed baths and take vitals.

[skyblue1484]

In the area that I live after one semester of nursing school you can work as a nurse extern or nurse fellow. They allow for your student schedule and you can work when you have time off between semesters. I don't know how many they are hiring in this economy but it would be worth calling your local hospitals and asking.

[fungez]

Back in my day you could work as a CNA after your first clinical - basically after the first month of school. It was called a nurse tech and it was a great gig. Basically full time benefits but PRN hours. They snapped us up, we barely had to apply, because it was considered a good way to eventually get the GNs (nurses who had graduated but hadn't yet taken boards) which were also in great demand.

Sorry, I know this is not very helpful to you, but I was just reminescing. Call the hospital's HR and see what they tell you. I know several aids who were in school and I don't think they had taken any CNA classes.

[NurseExorcist, BSN, RN]

In California, I believe you need to be a CNA to work in a nursing home, but you don't need to be a CNA to work as a nursing assistant in a hospital. Some hospitals do hire nursing students as assistants/aides.

[blondegenes]

Not only can you become a CNA at a certain point in your nursing school in the State of Kansas, you can also sit for the exam to become a CMA (pass some meds) once you pass a particular point in nursing school.

Your school or your State Board of Nursing should have that information available to you.

[VinoLover2030]

I see more schools are requiring that you are a CNA so that you know how to do the basics before you get into school

[sjhertel53]

I know that in KS you can become what they call a nurse tech if you have completed your first semester of clinicals. In my experience (through my friends who are NTs) they have more liberty in the tasks that they get to perform but that is also based on the nurses you are working with. I would check with how things are with your state because you may not have to even bother getting your CNA license.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Short answer is YES. Call a Nursing home and ask if they have a Free CNA course.