CNA over the summer? EMT?

Ashes172, BSN, RN · May 16, 2014

Personally I would go for the EMT over the CNA. I have my CNA and wish I would have done EMT instead. To me it is more useful and will give you a better heads up. Also depends in what you want to do with it while you go through school. EMT can get you in as a tech in the ED, CNA is less skills but more employment opportunities (depending on your area). Look more into what each one does before you pick

funtimes · May 16, 2014

My guess is you wont learn a whole lot(if anything) in CNA school you don't cover in Nursing school, you'll just get more practice with it and be better at it. Probably the best thing you learn as a CNA from what I've heard from nurses who were one is dealing with difficult patients and family, and multitasking.

EMT school will teach you things you will have little to no exposure to in Nursing school and will never actually do as a Nurse. Whether that's a good or bad thing depends on the person. Just keep in mind EMT school isn't some fun little side class, it requires a fair amount of time and effort so beware of what you're getting into if you do that. Its also usually more expensive than CNA school.

I guess one other advantage to EMT school is it will give you exposure to the ER environment in case you wanted to get into Emergency Nursing. It may or may not be a positive experience though. The Nurses and techs aren't always going to be particularly friendly or helpful and see EMT students as just getting in the way. Also keep in mind EMT school will have a totally different kind of student than nursing school or CNA school. You might have a lot of cocky annoying aspiring firefighters in your class, ex military types, and people who otherwise have zero interest in healthcare who just thought being an EMT sounded cool, so it can be kind of a frat house environment.

crispycritter · May 16, 2014

Between the two I enjoyed EMT more than CNA, I did CNA for about 5 years and EMT for 2 years,before going to combat medic for 6 years, then LPN for 2. CNA will expose you to more of the types of patients and setting you will deal with as a nurse, EMT will expose you to more emergency situations and be more exciting to say the least depending on where you work. ED Tech is hard to get as a new EMT, but well worth it if you can get your foot in the door somewhere.

They will both expose you to medical situations, that will prepare you to be a better nurse/healthcare provider instead of going into nurse cold with no experience. If you work ambulance as a new EMT(which is where the majority of new EMT's work), you will be driving and not too much else, unless you are lucky enough to get an EMS ride. Will probably be doing interfacility transport which is BORING. CNA you will be doing a lot more patient contact, the best nurses in my experience are former CNA's.

No matter which you choose, either will give you a leg up in your career. Good luck in the future.

vic42975 · May 16, 2014

Thank you for all the responses and input. It really helps :]

There is definitely a price range difference (EMT: 1,500-2,600, CNA: 900-1,200).

If my clinicals can prepare me for CNA certification, then I can save about 1,000.

crispycritter · May 17, 2014

I believe that you can take the CNA test after 1-2 block of nursing school. That is how it was in my school. Ask your advisor before you spend any monies. Good luck

Ramcharger310, ASN, CNA, RN, EMT-B · May 17, 2014

Why not get both?

Do EMT over the summer, then challenge the cna test after 1st semester nursing school.

Edit

Just re-read the OP. You can challenge the cna exam and do not have to pay for a class.

Sparrow91 · May 20, 2014

Are there any phlebotomy courses? That would be a very useful skill, the pay is better than a CNA, plus you will have learned and nailed down a difficult skill used in nursing. Plus it will give skills working with people, experience in working at a hospital, plus you have the opportunity to learn a lot about lab values, tests, and results. Just a thought.

funtimes · May 21, 2014

I agree phlebotomy would be more beneficial than either EMT or CNA, as it can be a difficult skill to master. Just keep in mind most phlebotomy classes just teach drawing blood, which is significantly easier than starting IVs, which requires you to thread a catheter into sometimes winding, fragile, rolling, hardened valve filled veins, and there's a lot greater potential for complications, which is why some hospitals don't even have floor nurses starting IVs any more, much less techs.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · May 21, 2014

It depends on your state. My state will allow a nursing student who completed their first semester of nursing school take the CNA written and skills test. However, EMT isn't that exciting. In some states they have started giving EMTs the ability to assist with self-medication like give them nitro or albuterol if the patient has it prescribed. EMT-I is a bit more in depth but I don't remember what they can do as most of the time I was having to take the call or it was a routine call. I think they have the basics like glucagon, glucose, narcan, albuterol, solumedrol, and I think one or two other drugs along with a basic EKG class.

Being on a fire department is what landed me my first ER job. Some fire departments, if they take volunteers, may pay for your EMT.

Private EMS and even the fire department can be more catty than nurses. There is a lot of back stabbing and it is 1000 times worse in private EMS.