Certification prior to nursing school? Helps or No?

Fireman767 · Jun 8, 2013

i was/am an EMT of 6 years prior to nursing school. really laid the ground work, but you need to be sure it doesnt define your skills, since nursing and EMT are different (EMT follows the medical model, Nursing follows the nursing model)

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2013

I was honestly thinking about going towards either a CNA or an LTE. Just for the setting type experience. Not too mention, both of those here are only one semester courses.

Sparrow91 · Jun 8, 2013

I have been a CNA for over 5 years and I have to say that my experience was very beneficial. It helps to give you the fundamentals of nursing care and patient experience. I know a few people who started clinicals were nervous because many had never worked with patients before, so with my prior experience I really was not nervous when meeting and talking with patients. I was able to focus more instead on the patients needs. But like fireman767 said do not let it define your skills or make you cocky. Many CNAs pick up bad habits and come across as know-it-alls in skills labs. Just because you learned it once does not mean you don't have more to learn! Good luck! :)

Belle2013 · Jun 8, 2013

I was a CNA for about a year before nursing school. I got a job as a hospital "nurse tech." The experience was priceless. Like the above poster said you learn how to approach patients and you are not scared like your other classmates. You also learn the "simple" things that you will still do as a RN like bathing, bed making, booty wiping, ambulation, etc. you pick up all the little tips and tricks while you are a CNA and you don't get those in nursing school. If you have time I'd say go for it. I worked PRN 8 shifts a month and went down to 4 a month while in school. It definitely helps build your résumé in addition to the experience you will get. I'd definitely advise building your résumé now for jobs as a RN. The more volunteer experience you have the better! So if you don't go the CNA route find out info about volunteering in a hospital. You can do things like story time on pedi units, answering phones on an adult unit, directing patients/families in the hospital, etc. good luck!

michigannurse1 · Jun 8, 2013

Just wondering if any of you had any certifications prior to nursing school? EMT, LTE, CNA, etc.
I'm dabbling in the idea of getting one, since I have another few semesters left of pre reqs(hoping to apply fall 2014), so I'm just curious if it's helped.

I am finishing my prereqs soon too. I have also thought about doing itbut only during the time I might have to wait to start into the program. I don't want to get side tracked.

michigannurse1 · Jun 8, 2013

what is an LTE?

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 8, 2013

Should you get some kind of certificate prior to starting NS? Absolutely! The question is, what kind? I've been an EMT & Paramedic for 7 years (actively) and kept up with my Paramedic License for 12 years total so far. I can honestly say that I have no issue meeting someone and talking with them about what's going on. Now then, aside from certain specific tasks and having made a few thousand patient contacts over the years, being a Paramedic hasn't helped much with NS. They are just two different fields, and trained along different models. What helped me more is that I have a background in Sports Medicine. Yes, that's also medical model, but the information about some of the pathophys and normal A&P really greatly helped.

If I had known 15 years ago that I was going into Nursing, I would have done CNA instead of EMT because those skills are more relevant in Nursing, and would have gone to NS right away. Had that happened, I'd have been an RN for a dozen years instead of now entering my final year of NS. I don't regret it though. I learned a LOT from being a Paramedic and when I'm done with NS, I'm still keeping that license active. It's just that some of the stuff I learned as a Paramedic isn't as useful to me right now. In fact, I downplay that fact right now. It does show, however, that I've had quite a bit of experience with patients, that I can not hide.

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2013

Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate all the input.

For the person that asked what LTE is - here it's a licensed technician, IE phlebotomist. :)

My only question is would it be too much to handle getting a's in my sciences and cna? I already was accepted in the spring for a CNA course, just need to transfer it over to fall. I had to drop it because the semester started a week after we found out my 5 month old son had cancer. Now he's 10 months, and is on his second to last chemotherapy treatment.

Sorry for being so long winded! I just want to get my bases covered. :)

Belle2013 · Jun 8, 2013

I thought the CNA course was really easy. I took a 3 week M-F course and it went by super fast. The material is easy especially if you've had A and P.

djaltic · Jun 8, 2013

I had to have a CNA license as a pre-req to the ADN program that I applied to (still waiting to hear if I got accepted). I have been working as a CNA for just over a year now and I believe it has been extremely helpful as patient contact, I was nervous about that part because I am slightly shy. I took that class in the same semester as A&P and I did well in both.

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2013

Well here's what my fall semester would look like:

Anatomy and physiology 1 with lab

Political science

Med terminology

CNA

Total of 14 credits. I need an A in my ap, and a b in political science. Med terminology is a 1 credit so in not too worried about it. CNA is 6 credits and is my biggest worry lol