CNA...to be or not to be...?

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Specializes in Telemetry, PCU, Private Duty, Hospice.

Hello,

I am 32 years old and in my 2nd semester of a 2-year ADN program. I do not have any previous experience in healthcare. I am doing well in my theory and clinical portion, and I know I am going to love being a nurse! I am a bit on the shy side, so I am working hard at overcoming my shyness to build a rapport with my patients. I intend to become a home care/hospice nurse eventually. I am trying to get some advice from current RN's/LPN's, about whether or not I should become a CNA for a year before I graduate next May. I have heard from some nurses that CNA experience has helped them in their career as a nurse, but I have also heard that it doesn't matter one way or the other.

Please tell me about your experience. If you were a CNA before becoming a nurse, do you think the experience helped you become a better nurse? If you were not a CNA before becoming a nurse, do you think you missed out on the experience? What are the pro's and con's?

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

LSF (future nurse) :)

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

Have you looked into nurse externships where you are? They can usually be offered after the 1st yr of an ADN program, over the summer between yrs. Also, student nurse tech positions. Those might be more beneficial..you get to do a little more than a CNA/PCA in a hospital and it doesnt require anymore schooling like a true CNA class would.

After 1st semstester, which was true basics in patient care (bed baths, oral care etc), the CNAs really had no more of an advantage over the rest of the class. Its pretty even keel..though already working somewhere may help you with a foot in the door.

Good Luck.

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Specializes in Cardiac step down unit.

From someone who was in a similar situation, I can only tell you my experience. Work as a CNA. It helped me TONS in school, dealing with patients, understanding medical issues, and learning to work the floors. I have been a stressed nursing student because I chose to work, also with a family, house, etc. going on.

I think it helped me more than anything. If I could go back and do it again, you bet I would be a tech during school. Any and all patient experience helps build your confidence and self esteem.

Kelly

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I've been a CNA for two and a half years... and I just became a RN (took NCLEX-RN March 19th)... I think that nurses who've worked as aides are better team players. They also know how to delegate better because they understand each position...

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being a cna helps (good exp) and i think it will help even more (in getting a rn job) in this economy, however, it is not necessary.

who are you gonna hire, a newbie rn with no cna exp or a newbie rn with some cna exp.

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Specializes in Telemetry, PCU, Private Duty, Hospice.

Thank you all for your advice! :D

I will definitely look into applying for a technical partner position.

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Specializes in Sub-Acute/Psychiatric/Detox.

1. Your allready actively in the clinical setting.

From my experience I wasn't a CNA. I had trouble dealing with patient contact (this wore off after the 2nd day at clinical). CNAs are very important on the nursing team.

The only thing being a CNA will make you more confident at is dealing with moving patients and ADLs. Depending on what setting your in right now, dependent patients will disappear once you leave the nursing home and go into a hospital clinical. It is very patient specific of course. Some patients in the hospital are just as independent as you and I. Other patients need total care.

I am in my Med-Surg semester. I still feel leary about moving patients and dealing with AM care. I can wash people very quickly now. However, only 3 of my patients out of the 10 or so patients I have had so far. Needed help with ADLs.

The role of the CNA changes from setting to setting and is very patient specific.

What I am saying is that at this point in nursing school. The CNA skills won't matter as much you will intergrate them as needed into your assessments.

I still feel leary about repositioning patients since I've had very few total care patients. So I go and get help as needed because that is what the experienced CNAs at the hospital and nursing homes do. Of course as stated above this is very patient specific.

Wash the patient like you would wash yourself at home.

If possible encourage the patient to wash themselves (of course very patient specific). Example your not going to wash a 40 y/o man in the hospital for one day overnight for a minor surgery.

I still feel my CNA skills are lacking. Then again I am focused more on assessments at this point and assisting the CNAs as needed. I take charge of the situation and do the respectable jobs of the CNA as needed with my patients. Since in nursing school your pretty much a CNA with some nursing skills.

You will be fine. Give it some time. Relax. It will all come together.

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Very true... I've been working on a Med-Surg floor for 9 mos. as a CNA and since I passed boards Friday, I am not getting promoted :)

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