CNA prior to BSN?

[leenak]

I've seen it mentioned here a couple times where people indicated their schools required you to be a CNA before going into a nursing program. None of the nursing programs I've looked at mention anything like that. I started looking though into CNA programs. A local community college has a CNA program for $900 and its nights/weekends.

I start my pre-reqs in a couple months and now I'm thinking I should do the CNA program as well. The only thing is that I wouldn't be able to work full/part time as a CNA as I have a job now and I need the money to save for nursing school. I think though that I could work a few hours/week to get practice. Do places hire CNAs for 4 hours/week? or similar? Would it still be useful to get the CNA even if I didn't think I could work as a CNA prior to nursing school?

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

I go to one of those schools that requires a CNA before applying. It wasn't practical for me to work as a CNA but I thought the class was helpful mostly for feeling comfortable around patients and getting lots of practice taking vital signs on people of all different sizes and ages. Some hospitals and nursing homes will hire you for once a week work but will expect a full shift. Whether you work in that job or not, I think the class/clinicals is great exposure for someone without a healthcare background.

[Saysfaa]

You might look into prn. I think you would need to do a full shift at a time but not every week. It might be hard to do such a schedule just starting out but maybe you could work more often for a few weeks to learn the job.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

If you have an opportunity to work as a CNA while you go to school, do it. You will learn a lot and it will help you in school more than you know. It gets you comfortable with the hospital environment and gets you comfortable talking to and caring for patients. Plus you will see things that you will never see in clinicals or in the classroom. I worked as a CNA during my senior year of nursing school. It was wonderful and I had a job waiting for me after graduation. Even if you can get a job as a unit secretary, it will help you. Because the one thing that you don't learn in nursing school is how a hospital actually works.

[staphylococci, NP]

Having prior CNA experience will definitely come in handy when you start your first clinicals. You'll feel more comfortable with your environment and be more confident with basic nursing skills. It's a win-win situation. If at all possible, try searching for PRN positions at local facilities.