Can i qualify as a cna/pct once I enter nursing school?

thelittledoe · Jan 4, 2013

You usually have to have completed at least one clinical rotation.

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jan 5, 2013

People keep saying this to nursing students, but I spoke with a nursing manager who said that they would not hire a student nurse on as a CNA without the actual certification. They wouldn't even give a student nurse internship without certification. While some places may hire you after the fundamentals semester I doubt that they actually exist.

After taking fundamentals I don't think that you really learn all you have to learn to work as a CNA simply from taking the first semester of nursing school.

ZenLover, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 5, 2013

Where I live all of the local hospital offer nursing assistant or care partner positions to nursing students who have completed to a certain point in their curriculum. I am in a BSN program and you need to be in your Junior year because it is presumed you have x # of clinical hours and have completed certain courses. They do list other PCT positions that are not available to students. I think it depends on the specific floor/patient population and I think they aim for only having x # of nursing students in each area because I think they do keep a little extra eye on you.

Bottom line it is up to the hospital, check with them. :)

ShockEmRN, BSN · Jan 5, 2013

Depends on your nursing program. My nursing program I think let's you get cna certified after your first semester. Check with your program to find out

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Jan 5, 2013

My school certified us if we asked (no extra charge or testing) when we complete Intro to Nursing Concepts. This class is basically a CNA course and is a prereq to the nursing program. My state requires 40 hours in class and 40 hours clinical to be certified.

CNA stuff is pretty basic and I would think nursing students would cover this in Fundementals.

While the hospitals in my area don't specifically say they require a CNA, I seen where my friends who didn't ask to be certified aren't able to get jobs as a CNA. LTC will require a CNA because of Medicare.

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jan 5, 2013

My school certified us if we asked (no extra charge or testing) when we complete Intro to Nursing Concepts. This class is basically a CNA course and is a prereq to the nursing program. My state requires 40 hours in class and 40 hours clinical to be certified.
CNA stuff is pretty basic and I would think nursing students would cover this in Fundementals.
While the hospitals in my area don't specifically say they require a CNA, I seen where my friends who didn't ask to be certified aren't able to get jobs as a CNA. LTC will require a CNA because of Medicare.

May I ask what state you're in? I assumed that most states required testing for CNA certification.

I'm sorry OP, I thought you were sort of asking if you can become a Certified Nursing Assistant without testing. It all depends on your state and your hospital.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Jan 5, 2013

Louisiana. The task of testing is delegated to approved CNA programs. Since my school is approved to certify CNA, they also offer it to their RN and LPN students.