CNA Durinf Nursing School Worth It?

[GKursteiner1097]

Hello everyone! This site has been so helpful but I have a couple questions. I am 20 years old, married, and have an 8 moth old premie. My degree plan has always been for nursing. I will be doing an ADN program and it is based on a point system. I will have taken everything required for the ADN and the BSN program at the sister school since all credits transfer there and I can take them cheaper at my current school. I have no doubt I'll be accepted after this semester for the Fall 2019 program as I've waited to submit until I also had the BSN requirements. (Yay!) When we apply there is a 1 semester in between and I was thinking of doing my CNA certifications at that time. Is it worth it? I'm currently a stay at home mom. I would do the CNA gig to pay for the day care I needed during nursing school. It would also give me experience and some hospital here offer tuition reimbursement for employees and free child care while we are at work. Just not sure what to do with my daughter while I'm in class/clinicals and this seemed to be an option. Opinions? Advice? Was it worth it for you if you did it during nursing school??

[Lemon Bars]

I suppose it might depend on how much you could earn in your area as a CNA. In general, though, CNA pay is pretty low and it may not even cover child care expenses. I believe that after the first semester of a nursing program, you may be able to obtain a CNA certificate through a challenge process without taking a CNA course. Also, some facilities will hire nurse aides who are not certified, so you might try that to save yourself the trouble and expense of taking a CNA course (one year long course in my area). I worked as an uncertified nurse aide for four months and I hated it. All I did was take vital signs, toilet and bathe patients continuously without much help from anyone else. Without another person to lift the limbs or the rolls of fat, it's quite difficult and time-consuming to give a bed bath to an obese patient who can't move. Working as a nurse aide can provide some valuable experience if you are new to patient care, but it's hard work and doesn't pay much generally. I doubt getting the CNA certificate is worth the trouble and expense, honestly.

[Swellz]

What do the facilities in your area require to work as an aide or tech? When I was in nursing school, I was hired on as a nurse extern at my hospital. The only difference between my role and that of the techs/CNAs was that I could do certain things with a nurse like place a foley, trache care, etc. All that was required experience-wise was a semester of clinical. If you're going to have to pay for the CNA certification and the wages are lower than is useful for you and something like an externship will be an option once you begin school, I'm not sure this is worth it for you. But that's a lot of if's. Even if you have to pay for a CNA course, that tuition reimbursement and networking you get as an employee may make up for lower wages.

In terms of experience, I really valued working as an extern. When I came back for my second year of nursing school, I worked with patients all summer and it was painfully obvious which of my fellow students hadn't. Techs/CNAs have a hard job, but you learn a lot about interacting with people and time management. You also learn to appreciate your techs/CNAs. Just my opinion.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

It would give you valuable experience.

I see the same pros and cons as the other posters.

Have you made a decision.

Best wishes. You certainly sound energetic. Just treasure the time you have with your little baby.