CNA prior to RN School?

[Coco06]

I don't begin my RN program until Aug. '07 and am considering getting trained as CNA through a local Nursing Home and working there until I begin my RN program. I shadowed a CNA at the NH and was not thrilled about the work, and I'm not sure if I have the emotional strenghth to work with the elderly on a full-time basis. I would like advice if it would be good experience prior to starting RN program or will this be redundant work once I start my clinicals? I really don't want to waste this next year , but if I can get some clinical experience, maybe it would be a good experience - if I can suck it up. Any advice would be appreciated..

:chair:

[NoWaNrN, ASN, RN]

I think it is a great idea. I am a LPN going for my RN in the fall. But during my first several clinical rotations for the LPN program we did alot of basic skills bathing, dressing, cleaning them up and stuff like that, I was an aid before so it was no big deal I just did the work but for some of the ladies in my class it was really hard for them. People who were not nursing assistants before the program started had to go 1 wk before the rest of the class to learn the basic skills but didn't do any actual clinical work just practiced in the lab. When they got to the nursing home they were really shook up and stressed. I think it is also good because you can remember these pts and apply it to your text later in school.

[81ke83]

At my school, we have to finish and pass the CNA class and state licensing process. We can apply to the nursing program without it. But must have our license before we can start. If you don't have it you can defer a semester. I thought it was a very useful learning experience. It was depressing and hard work. Part of the coping process. I was very touched by the people that I took care of. I still think about them and it has been a year since I took the class. I really think the clinical experience I received will help me through nursing school. The instructor, I have for the first semester expects you know this stuff, so they don't give an explanation on how to make an occupied bed, or emptying a foley. Yes it was hard work, I would go home every week exhausted and wondered how I would ever do a 12 hour shift.

[Coco06]

Thanks so much for sharing your personal experience & advice.

I think my struggle will be feeling like I'm invading their personal space & dealing with the emotional aspects of taking care of the elderly. I suppose once working as a CNA the experience will help me deal with these issues?

Thanks again for your advice

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

i worked for LTC and it's not for me either. might i suggest that you get certified and out of respect for them training you, go ahead and work there for a few months. that's what i did and i ended up working there a year. anyway, after a fair time, go to hospital nursing. it is a different kind of nursing and you can choose your "type" of pt...meaning....ortho, peds, cardiac, renal, med-surg, psych, burn, cancer, etc (i've worked all of these). personally, i love cardiac and i also want to get down to the er at my hospital, but you see my point...the choice is yours. you are not trapped into LTC for life (well in some areas i think maybe it is harder to get a cna position than in others, so this may not be true in all cases!).

hope this helps,

jay

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

Back when I went to college to be an RN the ones who weren't CNAs prior to school struggled with the simple stuff and focused on the tasks that I was already comfortable with. I was able to focus on the "real" issues-assessments, medications, labs,etc NOT bed baths and making beds....

[RITA2007]

I agree with the above post. I was a PCT as a hospital for about 6 months while in school and I wish I would've worked longer than that before I graduated. I believe it really helped me get comfortable with the hospital atmosphere before I became an RN. I would recommend you work the in the hospital setting. There you'll be more familiar with how things work and run. Good luck to you!

[mcdonaldgirl]

in my neck of the woods, it is now required that one becomes a cna before you start clinicals/nursing school.

"mac"

[mustanggirl]

I worked as a CNA in a nursing schools, during summers and on some weekends, while going to nursing school. I found it tremendously helpful in nursing school, especially in pathophysiology since you see so many different people with different diagnosis. I took the class through the nursing home I did work at and one of my classmates was going to the same nursing program as I was, decided that nursing wasn't for them after working as a CNA, which was good to discovere before putting themselves through four years a schooling. Even if you feel geriatrics isn't for you, you can always move to other areas once you have experience. Heck I always thought I would stay in long term now but have ended up in PACU and love it. I guess everywhere I have worked has had its good and bad points.