Can student nurses work as a tech/CNA?

[Dental Hygienist]

I have heard some mention of this in other posts..., I realize it might vary state by state but in general can a student in a RN program work as a CNA, PCT, Aide, Tech (whatever you call them:nuke:) while in school and get paid for this? If so, do they actually get a CNA license, or is it just some sort of umbrella clause in the state's NPA? And lastly, would these students typically be at the same pay scale as other non-student CNAs? Seems like a great way to work your way thru school.

[Thankful RN,BSN]

Yes, many people work as CNA's while in nursing school. The CNA program where i live takes 8 weeks to complete.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

i graduated in 2006, and when i was in school, these were the routes we student nurses could take:

~ a hospital-offered patient care technician course, available to anyone who was a high school grad and passed physical requirements for job...this course lasted eight to twelve weeks

~ a hospital-offered student nurse extern course, available to sophomore & junior level nursing courses, which featured sixteen hours of didactic instruction and forty hours of a clinical portion with a precepting tech or extern

~ take and pass the cna test, making sure qualifications are met for such a test, which will allow said student to become a cna or patient care technician upon passing

~ complete one hospital clinical rotation, which allows for the student nurse extern or patient care technician role

~ some hospitals offer scholarship/internship programs for nursing students...these tend to be competitive and some require some sort of agreement (i.e. work for the instution upon becoming a nurse)

~ know someone (i hate to add it, but it happened!)

also, at least where i am from, a student nurse extern/patient care technican/certified nursing assistant are all the same in regards job descriptions; however, snes are usually casual employees, needing to work at least 16 hours per month & receiving no benefits, and cna is a title that tends to be reserved for nursing homes, not hospitals. home health aides are also similar, and some home health agencies hire student nurses.

the best bet? ask around at school and at local facilities.

i wish you the best!

jess

[1MOM2RN]

not sure if this is just my state, but in nh, once you've completed nursing fundamentals, you can get your lna (cna) license, without taking the class. i was already an lna when i started nursing school, but i would highly recommend doing this, not only to make money while in school, but also because the experience of working in healthcare while in school is invaluable.

[tammyb911]

I am in an RN program and after I got through my first rotation of Med/Surg clinicals I was promoted to a nurse technician ( I was working as a nurse assistant) at a hospital and I could do assessments and a few other things as long as the RN cheked behind me and signed with me. It has helped me alot to become more confident in my assessment skills.

[anggelRN]

I am currently a second year student in a BSN program. I have a job working at children's hospital working as a pt care tech. I heard about the job from my classmates. I went to the hospital so they could actually confirm what I heard. I think you should ask around from either hospitals nearby, classmates, or upperclassmen. Good Luck!:)

[stephlucasrn2008]

I went to vo-tech in high school and trained as a nurse aide in a LTC facility and achieved my certification that way. I graduated high school on a Friday and began working as an aide on a cardiac unit the following Monday. I had definitely always wanted to be a nurse! I know that in PA, after you finish "Nursing 101" you can sit for the nurse aide competency exam. I'm not sure what the case may be in other states. However, you do not have to be certified to work as a nurse tech, patient care tech, or nursing assistant (unless you want to work in LTC). I let my cert lapse 6 months ago because I am graduating here shortly and will be an RN. I say go for it. It is awesome and valuable experience. I work on an interventional cardiac and post open heart surgery unit, where I have been for 3 years now. I have crosstrained and learned how to draw blood, insert foleys, do EKG's, put in physician orders, etc. I am monitor trained, which is where I spend most of my time now. I have observed and helped in many codes and rapid responses. And, I will be working in critical care following graduation thanks to all of this. Another piece of advice, do try and find a position in which they will train you to draw blood and the other things I mentioned above!

Good luck!

[fultzymom]

I am from Ohio and work in LTC. I worked as a nursing assistant while I finished up my LPN. I did not have to go to CNA classes because of how far along I was in the nursing program.

[Reno1978, BSN, RN]

In NV you can work as a Nurse Apprentice in your senior year, which allows you to work with an RN and provide patient care with a limited scope of practice.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I worked as a CNA while I was in school to be an LPN. I was able to start after completing the first semester of LPN school.