CNA job + nursing school??

[AMV1014]

I will be starting nursing school in the fall; is it a good idea to try and find a CNA job while in school? Does the experience may you look more employable after you graduate nursing school? Is it possible to do both simultaneously? Any info would be appreciated!

[BrendaH84, BSN]

yes to all three questions, FOR SURE. if you wait too long they wont hire u cuz they know you must switch jobs when u become a nurse. so do it soon, at a close hospital where u WANT to work as a nurse. that IS the way to get a job after graduation.

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

Yes, I did this in my late twenties. However, I only did two eight hour CNA shifts a week. I don't know about now, but it was around twelve years ago for me when any newly graduated nurse could get a job so of course I was hired immediately after school. They had recruiters coming into the classroom when I graduated.

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

I'm currently doing this. I'm allowed to work as many or as few shifts I need while in school, and being in nursing school was actually a big plus for me getting the job! Like others said, make sure it's at a place where you want to work when you get out of school. Unless you know you want to do geriatric nursing for the rest of your career and feel confident in it (it's a very difficult place to start a nursing career, I've known many experienced nurses who could not handle the nursing home) I would try to get a job in a hospital, but it can be pretty difficult to get your first CNA job in a hospital. Yes to all three questions, congratulations on getting into nursing school, and God bless you on your journey!