CNA class along with first semester Nursing Classes?

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Hey everyone!

I'm starting nursing school this fall! Yay!

Ok, so I'd really like to get into a hospital as a pca. I have a friend who works at the local one and she said even though I'm beginning nursing school this fall, it would still be beneficial to get my cna certification due to how hr looks at the applications. She gave my name to the floor manager but HR looks at applications that have a CNA license number..

I thought about just waiting till I get through my fundamentals and taking the test but my classes are set up weird. I'm taking foundations of professional nursing and health and assessments nursing classes. So I won't any clinicals done the first semester.

Do you think it'll be too much on my plate to take these two courses along with anthropology and cna class? The class is from 10/1-10/18 monday,tuesday,wednesday,thursday at 4-9:30 pm. Is this too much with just starting nursing school?

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It would be the safest time to take it IMO. The CNA classes would be useful on the floor because that's what the first clinical really comes down to anyway, doing CNA duties + whatever super basic nursing your instructors have in mind.

If ever get the feeling that you are might fail because it's too tough, drop the CNA and retake during the summer or something if you don't get an externship.

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Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

After the first semester of nursing school you'll be eligible to sit for the STNA/CNA exam. It's pointless to take the CNA class.

FYI CNA's/STNA's are NOT licensed. They are certified and then their names are placed on a state registry.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Do you actually have to take the class if you're a nursing student? In Texas we're qualified to take the exam after our first semester of school. I suppose it would be a little quicker to take the class (I did it in 6 weeks) but I'm not sure it would be worth the headache.

I don't think it was at all difficult, but it still takes time away that you could be doing NS stuff with. And clinicals might conflict with class.

Anyway, I'd try to exempt out of it. The written test is insanely easy and you'll learn the skills in a few days in NS.

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

Hospitals in my area will hire you to work as a PCA even without the CNA certification provided you've completed your first Med-Surg clinical rotation. So you may be able to save yourself the cost of the class, the uniform, and the testing if you can wait until your second semester's Med-Surg class -- just check with the hospitals in your area to see what their hiring practices are. (One local hospital that I know of even has a different job classification... a 'care assistant' is a CNA and a 'nurse technician' is a student nurse who has completed Med-Surg I clinicals.)

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant.
Hospitals in my area will hire you to work as a PCA even without the CNA certification provided you've completed your first Med-Surg clinical rotation. So you may be able to save yourself the cost of the class, the uniform, and the testing if you can wait until your second semester's Med-Surg class -- just check with the hospitals in your area to see what their hiring practices are. (One local hospital that I know of even has a different job classification... a 'care assistant' is a CNA and a 'nurse technician' is a student nurse who has completed Med-Surg I clinicals.)

That is the way it is here at some hospitals ...

(Northwest Ohio)

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Like others say ask your professor what the popular practices are because it varies state by state. I know after your first semester your allowed to sit on the exam. Ask around your area forum.

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