Benefits of becoming a CNA before Nursing School??

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Would you advise someone to become a CNA before starting Nursing School? Is it really worth the money and time?

Thanks

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU.

Only you can decide what's worth your money and time.

For me, yes it was/is. In addition to having a great learning experience and a hands-on healthcare job that pays the bills okay, I've been all but promised a nursing job at my place of employment once I finish nursing school. The nurse managers and staff nurses at this hospital love me because they've seen my dilligent work, my professionalism in patient care, and my desire to learn. To me, that's invaluable. Your mileage may vary.

1 Votes
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.

Coming from a non-CNA former nursing student (now nurse) I say there are ABSOLUTELY benefits of becoming a CNA before starting nursing school. I can't tell you how clueless I was starting out - so were the rest of us who weren't CNAs. But the CNAs among us knew so much, were so comfortable in the hospital setting, and had to have very little instruction on basics. The rest of us were struggling. We got through okay, but it would have helped tremendously to have the basics down. Also, upon getting your first job after graduation - it will help so much to have your feet wet, assuming you will do some CNA work in the interim. I wished then that I had gotten my CNA and I still do. DO IT. I don't think you'll regret it.

1 Votes
Specializes in Acute care, LTC, Med/surg.

Yes. I agree with Juliaann-You gain good experience (everyone needs a nurse who knows how to use a bedpan!), it makes a good impression on future employers and it pays the bills.

Specializes in Neuroscience/Cardiac.

DO IT :)

Hi everyone. I am hopefully getting admitted to a nursing program in September. I asked a friend of mine who is an RN if she thought I should become a CNA while in Nursing school and she said she didnt think it was a good idea because CNAs have to do ALOT more disgusting things ALOT more of the time than a regular RN does and she said that if I were to do that it might put a bad taste in my mouth altogether about nursing. I dont know convinced I am of this. Does anyone agree/disagree?

Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

Why wouldn't it benefit you to be a CNA? :confused: Maybe I'm biased because i was a CNA while in nursing school, but it really did give me a leg up. I got to hang out with nurses(duh) and see what they do. I learned how the unit ran when I took a turn as the stand-in unit clerk. I worked night shift in the CNA float pool so I got to be everywhere in the hospital. Of course, as a CNA I did all the enemas, turning, cleaning up, snaring lab samples(other than blood), bed changing, etc., so i became very proficient in those things and was pretty comfortable touching people and performing intimate procedures. Also, the nurses knew I was in school, so when they were doing something really cool they'd let me float down to that unit so I could see and take part in procedures. By the time I graduated I was very comfortable managing patient care and running my show. I was one of only 2 students who worked as CNAs prior to graduation and we graduated #1 & #2 in our class.

Just sayin'...

Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.
Hi everyone. I am hopefully getting admitted to a nursing program in September. I asked a friend of mine who is an RN if she thought I should become a CNA while in Nursing school and she said she didnt think it was a good idea because CNAs have to do ALOT more disgusting things ALOT more of the time than a regular RN does and she said that if I were to do that it might put a bad taste in my mouth altogether about nursing. I dont know convinced I am of this. Does anyone agree/disagree?

:rolleyes: I can't even say what I'm thinking. As an RN you have to know how to do all the "disgusting things" that a CNA does--because someday, sometime YOU are going to be the one doing them. How could you lead your team if you don't even know what they do??

1 Votes

becoming a cna isn't worth much if you're just gonna become one and sit on your thumb (not get a job doing it), kinda what too many new nurses do.

wow, i'm a nurse now, working is too hard, i think i'll just stay at home, ha.

Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

There are definite benefits....but, honestly, I didn't do it and managed fine.

If I could do it over, if there was an opportunity I would've done it. You get to see things you wouldn't normally see, even as a student.

Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
Hi everyone. I am hopefully getting admitted to a nursing program in September. I asked a friend of mine who is an RN if she thought I should become a CNA while in Nursing school and she said she didnt think it was a good idea because CNAs have to do ALOT more disgusting things ALOT more of the time than a regular RN does and she said that if I were to do that it might put a bad taste in my mouth altogether about nursing. I dont know convinced I am of this. Does anyone agree/disagree?

Frankly, I don't agree with your friend. It's important for an RN to be willing to get his/her hands dirty and deal with the "disgusting" things like feces and vomit and other bodily fluids in order to adequately assess the patient's condition. There have been a lot of threads about this and, honestly, I don't know what people are thinking when they go to nursing school and think they won't have to deal with "poop". Nurses deal with bodily functions and if someone doesn't want to do that, he/she should think twice about nursing as a career. Sorry, but feces happen. If you're the nurse, grow up and deal with it. Them. You know what I mean.

Kuklara511, I hope you don't think I am venting my spleen onto you. That is not my intention as you asked a very good, legitimate question. However, I have a real problem with any nurse, regardless of his/her education or licensure (RN or LPN/LVN) who doesn't want to deal with "disgusting things" and delegates the dirty jobs to the CNAs.

BTW, to the OP: some nursing schools require students to be CNAs before they start the programs, so this may be an additional incentive for you to complete CNA training. Good luck to you in your career!

You guys are definately right. I'm not up to that point yet (I wish I was) but after hearing what you guys had to say it really does make sense to become a CNA first. Thanks ... and poodle....next time be my guest and say what you're thinking =)

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