cna or phlebotomy????

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I have a question...I am taking my preq's to get into nursing school and wanted to try and get a lil hospital experience under my belt...Should I take the phlebotomy tech class??? or the cna class??? the are both rather short to complete...I have heard that you can test for cna after your 1st semester of nursing school...which would help me more???on should I get phlebotomy tech certification...then cna after my 1st semester?? thanks in advance!!!:lol2:

A lot of schools ask for CNA as a pre-req, have you checked with your local schools?

Failing that Block 1 often, but not always, does, (as you stated), cover the CNA test pre-req.

But phlebotomy is a skill that will be very useful esp. while the other students are practicing on oranges.

So a lot depends on what college you will be applying to and what their pre-reqs and block 1 covers.

Finally, what class you want to do and can get into.

Good luck!

thanks!!! frodo dog!!!

Specializes in ER, LTC, IHS.

Coming into a nursing school with NO experience ( I was a bartender) I would highly recommend taking the CNA course and get that experience. Phleb is nice yes, but the CNA will do more for you in the long run. TRUST ME

I would be very careful what you spend on a CNA or phlebot course. Some hospitals in rural (and in a few big cities) offer these classes for free (especially to people who are working on pre-requs for nursing school). Often these classes are not advertised. You have to do the dirty work and sometimes even HR doesn't know that the department is willing to train the "right person" for the job so you will need to find out the hiring managers names for the CNA positions and for phlebot positions you are interested in. Also, if you took the phlebot course you might be able to work more flexible hours. I have hired students to come in for the morning draw before classes and then go home/ to school. Then, after their first semester of nursing school they were converted to Emergency room techs that could draw blood and work as nurse's assistants. Good luck!

thanks u2!!!such great advice...:D

Just today I came across a hospital PCT job that required CNA certificate for applying, with phlebot cert by time of hire. Pay at bottom end of LVN pay. Many LVNs are being paid less. If you are short on cash at this time, logical sequence is to get the CNA cert first as it offers you the most versatility in jobs and usefulness to get into nursing school. Once you have that accomplished and can afford the phleb course, take it. Then, if you still have time and resources you can look around for an EKG cert course but don't be so hasty with this one as most hospitals will provide this. Good luck.

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