CNA before RN?

Given that you are very young and hopefully full of energy, I think earning your CNA license and working as such may not be a bad idea. I also think most CNA programs are not that expensive and, in some cases, are free if you meet certain eligibility criteria. Lastly, having a CNA license and work experience will look nice and to your advantage on your resume when you apply to a nursing program. The only disadvantage with working as a CNA is it is a lot of physical work. But like I said before, you are young and hopefully full of energy!

If you can grab the CNA on the cheap do it. It can help you pay cash for nursing school. It may even help you in nursing school by by desensitizing you to the clinical setting and giving you insight into what nurses do.

But depending on the cost, the money paid toward the CNA would be better spent on nursing tuition.

All of this depends on what makes sense for you and your circumstances.

Earning and CNA certification and working as a CNA during school could be a potentially smart move for you. I wouldn't spend huge bucks on getting the certification or use financial aid dollars on it if you don't have to - save that money for nursing school. (My local community college drove me nuts, they offered a 15 credit full-quarter long CNA training program that met the criteria for students to use their financial aid dollars to the tune of almost $2,000 for the quarter! I found a much shorter and cheaper course through a local private vocational school).

Working as a CNA is a great way to get some experience in the clinical environment and learn basic nursing skills. It also lets you see more of the health care system, provides networking opportunities, and gives a little larger glimpse into what nurses actually do.

I don't think working as a CNA is required to be a nurse, but personally I do value the experience I have gained from being one.

I worked per diem as a CNA throughout nursing school. The knowledge and experience I gained is invaluable. I was able to put the information I was learning to use and understand what is going on with the patients. Now, even though I'm nervous starting my career, im confident in myself. You will not regret it!

If you can't get into nursing school the first semester (many programs have a waiting list, or you have to do a year of pre-reqs before starting the actual nursing classes), go ahead and get the CNA and work part-time/PRN while going to school -- that experience will be helpful when applying for nursing jobs after graduation, plus many facilities will have tuition reimbursement to help with tuition for nursing school.

But most hospitals will hire you as a PCA/PCT (patient care assistant/technician) after you've completed your first semester of nursing school, even without the CNA certification. Nursing fundamentals, your first nursing course, will teach you everything that the CNA course will (and more), so the CNA part isn't necessary if you've successfully completed the course in nursing school already. (Just check with HR in the hospitals in your area, to make sure that this applies in your region as well.) And once you're hired as a PCA/PCT, you're essentially a CNA and eligible for tuition reimbursement and gaining healthcare experience that will help down the road.

So if you can get into Nursing Fundamentals right away, save yourself the time and money of the CNA course, because you won't need it. But if it's going to be a year or two before you can get into Fundamentals, take the CNA course and start working part-time right away.