CNA first then RN?

CloverPark, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2015

I also was a mother of 2 when I started nursing school (AD at a community college). In NJ where I live (I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere), once you pass your first semester of nursing school, you are qualified to become a nurse's aide, even though you aren't certified. That's how I got my first job as an aide at a small hospital. I worked per diem, so my hours were very flexible, and over the summer, I was able to work 40 hours a week, which helped bring in some more money for the family. After 6 months, I applied to a large teaching hospital, and got a job as a tech in the float pool. Both jobs helped me gain great experience, and some nurses, when they found out I was in nursing school, would let me assist them with things like wound care, let me watch certain treatments as they explained what they were doing, one actually let me suction a trach patient, and many gave me great tips and advice, which was very helpful. Besides that, working as an aide/tech makes you more comfortable with the healthcare environment and working with sick people. You'll see and learn a lot of things that new nurses who did not work as a CNA (or aide/tech) first have not been exposed to. And if you work hard and make a good impression where you're working, you may be able to get a nursing job there. So there are many benefits in becoming a CNA first.

If there are waiting lists for nursing schools, and are unsure as to when you will be able to start school, it may be wise to just get your CNA first if the cost isn't an issue (I'm not sure how much CNA classes are). I wouldn't go the LPN/LVN route first, if your goal is RN, because I know the classes are full time and the cost is much higher. Save that money for your RN schooling. If you end up having to wait longer than you planned, if you are already working as a CNA somewhere, like someone else mentioned, that place may be able to offer tuition reimbursement for your RN schooling.

Good luck!

givingback · Jul 27, 2015

I have been a CNA for about 6 months now, and I would highly recommend being a CNA before RN or any nursing position. I see a lot of nurses who were never a CNA, who do not appreciate the work a CNA does. A CNA is one of a nurses best assets (if they are a good CNA and a good team together). I believe that being a CNA before going into nursing school helps you cone your time management skills, critical thinking, and medical terminology. It also helps develop some of the core skills you need working in a medical environment with patients.

I work at a hospital on night shift as a CNA, and I am completing my pre-reqs for nursing school and hopefully starting my BSN in January (fingers crossed if I get in). All of the situations I am in, and techniques/skills I have used as a CNA in the hospital will definitely help me be a stronger well rounded nurse.

P.S. I am not only saying that a nurse is a good nurse if they are a CNA first in thier career, I am just saying it helps to learn some skills.

LorenW28 · Jul 27, 2015

Cream and Sugar, I thought the same thing, but that is what the professor of a very well respected and one of the largest nursing schools in the nation told us in our orientation when she came to speak to us about the 12 month BSN bridge program.

valpak · Aug 3, 2015

This is very similar to what I am doing. I am in Associates program. Finished 3 semesters of nursing school, got CNA job on med/surge floor over the summer. It is float pool so I can work a lot over summer and cut down to 1 day a week when 4th semester starts. I am treating my job as an extended interview of sorts. My supervisor is able to see my work ethic and rapport with clients and staff. I am hoping that these things will give me an advantage when it is interview time in January. I am learning a lot about the previously mentioned skills such as transferring patients, handling patients, changing occupied bed (which we learn in school, but don't really do in clinical) multitasking, how to deal with difficult patients, computer systems etc. Also really small things like how to open the dumb tray table and how to operate the bed. Little things that my fellow nursing school students who are CNAs just take for granted that we all know how to do. I know that sounds silly, but I always felt dumb in clinical when I couldn't even figure out how to turn off the call bell in a patients room!! Just being in the hospital environment has boosted my confidence so so much. As another poster stated I am not making a lot of money, but the experience and connections I am making are worth their weight in gold.

LorenW28 · Aug 3, 2015

Valpak, that's exactly what happened with a friend of mine. She was working as a Patient Care Tech at a large hospital here in Dalla, TX while in her ADN program. She had an offer from the hospital before she even finished her degree. So I can confirm that it is definitely an extended job interview opportunity.

emilyy11 · Aug 6, 2015

I worked as a CNA for 4 years before becoming a nurse. I felt it helped me to understand the health care field better, as I was able to closely observe the nurses and what they did. It also helped when we had to do transfers and other tasks CNAs are capable of doing while at clinicals. I also think that being a CNA first helps nurses understand that being a CNA is tough. I know I was more apt to help out because I knew of their struggles.

daisylouhoo · Aug 8, 2015

I took a CNA course the summer prior to starting nursing school. It only took a couple of weeks. The benefit was being comfortable with giving direct patient care. So when I started clinical I was able to put my focus on assessments/treatments/meds while other students were nervous about giving a bed bath for the first time. Plus you get some experience interacting with and helping others. I hope this helps.