CNA for the summer - good or bad?

FutureFLRN2014 · Jan 9, 2013

It would be hard to find a job (if one even exists) that would hire only do the summer months. I would suggest that if that is the only thing you want to do then focus on school and maybe take summer courses if you want something to do. Another option is to find somewhere that will hire you per diem which usually requires only 2-4 shifts a month with flexibility in scheduling and sometimes they even allow you to pick up more shifts if your availability opens up. This could give you some insight and time in the medical field and some extra money. :) Ultimately the decision is up to you and you know what is best for you.

lillymom · Jan 9, 2013

Well that mostly depends on you. I work as a CNA while going to nursing school and there are many things that I have seen and helped the nurse with that many of my classmates have had no experience with. It does help me some because if I can visualize it I learn more. I live in a rural area and our clinical sites are limited so we don't really get to experience too much in clinical. Imagine nine students with only four patients.... :facepalm: .

I think that $600 for a CNA class is pretty expensive unless it includes the certification exam and book, then it may still be a little expensive. It's about $300 for everything in my area. There are some students who work in the summer and they change their schedule to prn when they start going back to school to earn a little extra money without a continuous obligation but they still get the experience This experience doesn't really help with getting a nursing job but many employers will hire their CNA's as nurses when they graduate if they like their job performance.

I also feel that nurses who have been CNA's before are generally a lot more understanding and appreciative of their CNA's in general, but not in all circumstances. Good Luck!

bigsick_littlesick · Jan 9, 2013

I think lillymom hit the nail on the head. I think it would be worth it to get your CNA cert and try to get a job as a hospital CNA in a per diem or on-call position. Per diem/on-call works out SOOOOO much better because your schedule can be super flexible to bend to the many schedule demands and changes that you will encounter during nursing school.

I, too, worked as a CNA while going through nursing school (still technically a CNA since I'm not scheduled to take NCLEX until 1/22) so yes, it is doable. Like lillymom has pointed out, I think being a CNA gave me a significant leg up in nursing school. While some of my classmates were terrified to go into patients' rooms, I waltzed right in knowing that I needed to get assessments done so I could chart them and get a good baseline picture of my patients. I have learned to bathe a pt or change a brief and chux so much more efficiently.

And again, as lillymom mentioned, in general, I would venture out to say that most facilities hire their CNAs as nurses first before other, non-internal new graduates; at least, that's how they do it for the most part at the hospital I work at.

But you can't just rely on your position as a CNA and think you've got a nursing job in the bag, nope, that's not how it works. You absolutely need to bust your hind end and show those nurses and managers that you will be a great nurse once you finish school. Do you CNA work 110% while you are there. Get your vitals quick to your nurses, set up pt meals before they even ask you, do ADLs and linen changes, give your baths, report changes in conditions ASAP, ALWAYS ALWAYS help your nurses if they need help boosting a pt up in bed or to clean up that Cdiff pt who has stooled for the 10th time during the shift and do it with a smile, not an attitude.

I just got done with a crazy shift on our tele floor and I love the nurses there, we work so well as a team. I love all the support we give each other and that's how it should be.

It'll be hard work but it is so personally rewarding and you will see yourself grow if you have your mind in the right place going into it all. I say go for it, yes you will get clinical experience during school but I wish we had more time at clinicals. At my program, it was 3/4 time, not a full time program so we had clinicals only two days a week and you have to remember the long semester breaks. Hope this helps and good luck to you!

DeBerham · Jan 9, 2013

$600 for the degree sounds about right I think (just comparing it to my certs/classes). The CNA will probably make you more competitive when it comes time for you to actually enter a program... for a couple of different reasons:

1) They will see that you have real world medical experience

2) If you start now, well before you get ready to apply to school, you can start building relationships with nurses. Some programs require letters of recomendation, and your coworkers are a much better source than your Aunt (unless she is on the admissions board) or mother or whatever.

You will also have a leg up on your fellow students when you do actually start doing hands on work. You could definitely tell who had been around patients and who had not when we were on the floor for the first time. You will have an idea about what normal vital signs are, and even though you might not understand WHY it's a big deal (yet, you'll learn!) you will know that something is wrong and needs to be reported. I, personally, am a huge fan of people who work as CNA's before they enter programs (even though I never did). I think they tend to be harder workers, they don't avoid difficult or "gross" situations, and they understand what it's like to be in that position and tend not to abuse their staff.

Finally, you'll know whether or not you really want to do this before you commit to nursing school... and ultimately that might be enough of a financial incentive for your parents.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jan 9, 2013

I think it is a great idea, and try to get a per diem position. If you are going to college near home, you could do one weekend a month the whole year through. It will help you a great deal for your clinicals, it can help you land a job once you graduate because you have that experience, And another thing to try for the summer months is home health--sometimes they just need someone for a limited amount of time.

You can make better money as well. If it is a matter of min wage and a few bucks more than that an hour, I would go for the few bucks more and hour. You could make a deal with your parents that you give them $100 a week for the 6 weeks, in essence "paying them back" and then they can use that for your books.

Good luck and I would start looking now for an evening class that you could take so that by summer you would be up and ready to go. I know senior year is tough and busy, however, if something is starting in April, it would give you time to start your scholarship applications now, your parents can do the fasfa, etc. Also, I am a big fan of local state colleges. Commuter students pay less tuition, your pre-equs are your pre-equs, and your student loan debt would be at minimum. Best of luck in everything, and let us know what you decide and how it goes!!

ShockEmRN, BSN · Jan 10, 2013

I'm currently working as a CNA right now while I'm in nursing school and I couldn't see it any other way. I know if I didn't have this job I would be totally lost most of the time with topics/equipment/procedures that our classes go over. I get to work side by side with the nurses and get to see what their career is truly like. $600 is a lot but it is totally worth the immense amount of knowledge you'll gain before entering a nursing program.

Kdrenee · Jan 10, 2013

I agree, do it! I am a CNA as well and its awesome! I am so excited to begin nursing school in May, and i am not the least bit nervous (yet lol) because I feel like I will have a leg up on some things. As others have said, get a PRN (as needed) job. Its easiest to go to school around!

Ohh and $600 is about average I think.

:)

Mewsin · Jan 10, 2013

I'm a CCA and I'll be starting school right away. I'll be still working some weekends and all school holidays, including summer. I'll probably make enough in the summer to pay for my next semesters tuition.

In the summer we are in desperate need of casual CCAs because so many are on vacation and the long time casuals are already booked to cover the vacations. We need casuals who can be called in, and will come in when called.

Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN · Jan 14, 2013

Wow $600? That is not bad at all the CNA courses in my area are $1000- $1500 sheesh.

I think having your cna will be worth it, you could gain a lot of experience for nursing school and you can have something to fall back on just in case (IMO) BUT, no one will hire you just for the summer you could go pool, volunteer at a hospital OR do workstudy, ask your financial aid advisor about workstudy I did mines at a hospital for 2 yrs and loved it

aman.kaur · Jan 14, 2013

I did CNA right after high school, I knew where i wanted to be...an RN, coming from a family where i was the first one going to college...i got the feel for hospitals and all that as CNA, i did the CNA course, only worked as CNA for a month.. went straight for my RN, graudated last year now working as an ADON... There is a lot that you learn as CNA that helps in nursing school.. it helped me a bunch.. Good luck with your nursing carrer