Is it worth it to become a CNA on my road to becoming a nurse?

kpossible · Nov 7, 2012

Seconding t2091! I was extremely awkward in communicating with patients but the other nursing students who were CNAs had a lot of experience with asking things calmly and smoothly with good bedside manners. It might also help with the not really interacting closely with patients until your junior year of clinicals (or whenever they start).

havehope · Nov 7, 2012

I am currently doing prerequisites for an ADN program and eventually going on to get a Bachelor's. I am so thankful I became a CNA, and I'm not in the nursing program yet. I don't work that often and CNA's in my area are often underpaid. However, I only have a car payment to worry about. I'm doing it mainly for the experience. I would consider it if you have the time and money. Best of luck to you.

werty86 · Nov 7, 2012

yes, you definitely should! (especially, if you're like me, who has no background in taking care of people whatsoever.) while waiting to hear whether i get into nursing school, i took a nursing assistant course. i loved it! it was easy and short. i went in without knowing anything and came out more knowledgeable about taking care of people. right after i completed the course, and despite not having any work-related experiences, i landed three interviews for nursing assistant positions with three major teaching hospitals within weeks of each other. it's no doubt that the nursing assistant course on my resume increased my chances of getting these interviews. also, during my interviews, i was able to answer the many behavioral-based questions with the experiences i received during my clinical at the nursing home.

the particular hospital that i accepted a position at very much encourage and support their student employees. the pay is not the best but, i was told that when i get into the nursing program, i would get promoted to a nurse tech and get tuition assistance. once i finish nursing school and pass my nclex, i would become a nurse. i know i still got a long to go but i'm very excited to have all these opportunities ahead of me. good luck to you!

(i live in michigan if it matters any.)

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Nov 8, 2012

Being a CNA has helped me tremendously during clincals, but the actual work (you'll make the most money working in a nursing home) is exhausting depending on what setting you choose to work in. You're not going to make gads of money, but you'll make more than you would working at McDonald's.

Larry3373 · Nov 9, 2012

Is it worth it to become a Cna on my road too becoming a nurse. I am still not done with my prerequisite and am looking to gain experience. I am thinking about getting Cna training and trying to find a job. But I have a question do Cna's even make decent money(I live in Sacramento)? Will Cna experience help me with nursing as a student and finding a job? I just am unsure.

It will definitely help you to learn time management and other skills (bathing patients, performing accu checks, vital signs, using hospital equipment, transporting patients, etc, etc) which will be invaluable during nursing school. When I graduated nursing school I had no experience whatsoever in healthcare. I feel this made it more difficult to find a job. Hospitals will usually hire new nurses from their own employees first, so if you have been working there as a cna or nurse tech the whole time, you are much more likely to get a job soon after graduating nursing school. Also, you can develop relationships with the nurse managers that are in charge of hiring, so that if you don't want to work in med-surg, perhaps you can get a job in the ER, l&d or somewhere else you would rather work. Finally, many hospitals will help their employees with tuition assistance. For all these reasons I would strongly consider becoming a cna first.

willknit · Nov 9, 2012

a current CNA license is required for my program in WA. Even if you never end up working as a CNA, just having that class under your belt is great experience and intro to nursing. The people in my program who are working as CNAs are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of us in terms of familiarity with the material we are learning and confidence in patient care. CNAs are in high demand in this area so employers are willing to be flexible with schedules and make concessions for students. It doesn't pay very well, but the people I know who are doing it love it.

nguyency77, CNA · Nov 11, 2012

I'm a nursing student, and I was a CNA for a little over a year before I got injured. I think it's a good learning experience. CNA work and RN work differ on pretty much every level. Being a CNA helps you grow a thick skin. You get used to the workplace drama, the administrative politics, and most importantly--time management:).

klynn81 · Nov 19, 2012

yes yes and yes! I'm working towards going back to school to become a nurse and as someone who has been working in a hospital as a CNA/HCA for over a year now I know that my experience will be beneficial. It definitely gives you the opportunity to work beside nurses and get a glimpse of what their day is like, and it will also give you the experience of working with patients, getting comfortable with bedside care, how to manage and prioritize your time and duties, and gain some perspective on what a vital role a CNA/HCA is along side nurses.

As far as pay, I work at a hospital and starting pay is just over $17/hr. not including any shift/weekend premiums. To me I'd say that's 'decent'.

leonard_huh, BSN, MSN, RN, APN · Nov 19, 2012

I always thought CNA for me would be pointless after I took the class, but when I ended up getting a job inside the hospital it helped me out a lot during nursing school, somtimes to much where I felt too ahead of the class with to much experience that material wasnt as interesting to me since I seen and done that already. If you have your CNA I recommend working in a hospital to get the most variety since they float you to different floors sometimes and you learn a lot about the patient and talking to family, and in the end they all appreciate it even if you just take the time to listen to them. Overall in the future always "listen to the patient, because the patient will provide you with the right answers"

eliz.edwards0630 · Nov 19, 2012

Is it worth it to become a Cna on my road too becoming a nurse. I am still not done with my prerequisite and am looking to gain experience. I am thinking about getting Cna training and trying to find a job. But I have a question do Cna's even make decent money(I live in Sacramento)? Will Cna experience help me with nursing as a student and finding a job? I just am unsure.

I have been a CNA Going on 13 years now so I have worked with numerous nurses who were CNAs prior and nurses who were not, I think it is invaluable to your experience. After working as a CNA you understand that the patient care better, I am graduating on December 14, and in my interviews my CNA experience has always been brought up as a positive toward getting hired. I think you gain a lot of experience and you can better understand what it takes to be a nurse after working as a CNA. I would say go for it I am in Illinois and the colleges here required you to get your CNA although you do not have to work as a CNA before you are accepted into the nursing program. I think that it is an experience that you will be glad you took advantage of when you are working as a nurse

ScottishGoddess04 · Nov 20, 2012

I don't know about where you live but I live in Arkansas and no, they don't make good money here (about $8.00/hr), and yes it is a different job altogether, but here it is required to get into the nursing program....at least for the RN's anyway.

Annabella1974 · Nov 20, 2012

In my own personal experience it is definitely worth being a CNA first. I am also going to school for nursing and have been a CNA for quite awhile. Not only does it count as points toward the nursing program but it is great experience. In the facility where I used to work, cna's did a lot of the same things as the nurses and also directly assisted nurses too. You learn so much and I really do think it helps prepare you to become a nurse. Not to mention, additional education is never a waste of time. Good luck! :)