CNA during school

mindofmidwifery, ADN · May 21, 2015

At the nursing home where I work, they have a list of students and are flexible with their schedule based off school. I'm sure it would be like this at many other facilities. Most of the students work part time or on call, sometimes not at all, during the school year and work full time or pick up on holidays/during the summer. Just let them know your intentions and goals when applying and during the interview process. They'll let you know whether they can work with you or not.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · May 21, 2015

Good day:

For the prerequisites, working full time should be ok. For actual nursing theory/clinicals, it is doable, but rough. One person in our cohort is working full time and doing well; how they do it, I don't know. Others are working part time; and for some, they've been told to make a choice to cut hours so they could study more or continue trying and possibly fail out.

If it were me, I'd give it a go and see how it works, cutting back as needed, if able.

Thank you.

FloatRN19 · May 21, 2015

Find a prn job so that you're able to pick up when you have the time. I had one where I only had to work a total of 12 hours every 2 weeks and that could be done in 3 4's.

mirandaaa · May 21, 2015

I'm in the same boat. I work M-F 8-4. Prior to having this job I worked full time as a CNA. Once I start nursing school in the fall I'm going to go back to working as a CNA and do PRN and pick up 2 doubles and maybe an 8 a week so I can take 4.5-5 days a week focusing on school.

Most LTC facilities are very accommodating to students in school and can be very flexible. Others...not so much, just make sure you see how their schedules work.

I personally suggest just applying for PRN jobs (multiple places) and pick up as many shifts as you can/as you want. PRN's generally make a few dollars more hourly and you can essentially make your own schedule. You won't receive benefits as PRN and your hours will never be guaranteed, but TONS of LTC facilities are understaffed so you should get a majority of the shifts you're available for.

And if nothing else, just make sure you explain to HR what your goal is. 9 times out of 10, they'll be more than happy to have you come aboard and work out your schedule when the time comes.

Good luck!

Racer1986 · May 21, 2015

Thanks everyone for your replies. This site is a great resource...

The PRN suggestion definitely gives me something else to consider, however, I'd like to be working as close to full time as possible in the months prior to actually starting school.

If I go the CNA route, coming in with no previous health care experience, is my best bet going to be a long-term care facility? Will hospitals be an option or will they want experience? Any other options I'm not thinking about that should be on my radar?

Again, thanks so much for your help!

mirandaaa · May 21, 2015

The PRN suggestion definitely gives me something else to consider, however, I'd like to be working as close to full time as possible in the months prior to actually starting school.
If I go the CNA route, coming in with no previous health care experience, is my best bet going to be a long-term care facility? Will hospitals be an option or will they want experience? Any other options I'm not thinking about that should be on my radar?

You can definitely work full-time AS a PRN, you just won't be classified as a "full-time employee". The last LTC facility I worked at had us fill out a calendar every other week and we would write down the shifts and dates were were available for and I usually was given all of the slots I was available for (40 hours a week) and they were STILL sending out mass texts/calls saying what they had open. Just be careful you don't find somewhere TOO understaffed or you may regret it.

You can always volunteer with other CNA's to pick up any shifts they don't want; you'll usually find a ton of people willing to give up a shift or two.

As for not having any experience, it was my experience that getting a job in an LTC facility was much easier than getting into a hospital with no prior experience in healthcare. But this was back before I knew I wanted to be a nurse, so they may be more willing to bring you on if they know you're going to school for nursing. And I'm sure there are others who had the opposite experience! But if you can get into a hospital, try doing that. I loved working in LTC, but it takes A LOT out of a person and I ended up burning out on it after a while.

mindofmidwifery, ADN · May 22, 2015

Most hospitals want you to have 6 mos-year experience as a CNA. There's a slim chance even being in school for nursing will give leeway for that, since those slots are so competitive. LTC facilities usually always need CNAs.

mindofmidwifery, ADN · May 22, 2015

I applied for a job at a facility for disabled children and got the job but the pay was low.... I guess it just depends what your goals, including financially, are.

FloatRN19 · May 22, 2015

Most hospitals want you to have 6 mos-year experience as a CNA. There's a slim chance even being in school for nursing will give leeway for that, since those slots are so competitive. LTC facilities usually always need CNAs.

Actually, most hospitals want to hire new Cna's who are in nursing school and hope they can use their Cna's as a feeder into their RN staff. At least that is what I have found here from observation and discussions with directors.

mindofmidwifery, ADN · May 22, 2015

Actually, most hospitals want to hire new Cna's who are in nursing school and hope they can use their Cna's as a feeder into their RN staff. At least that is what I have found here from observation and discussions with directors.

Where are you from? Lol

FloatRN19 · May 22, 2015

Where are you from? Lol

Nebraska.