CNA vs. Student Nurse

[jngraham]

Hi I'm just wondering what the difference between a CNA and a Student Nurse is. I know you have to have had a certain number of clinical hours before becoming a Student Nurse, does anyone knows how many are required for the state of MA? I'm also wondering what the difference in the job duties I thought they were similiar but I may be way off. I am starting an RN program in the fall and was thinking of getting a CNA certification this summer to work while in school. (I'll have to quit my current job as the program is days and I work days). But my current job just told me they may consider allowing me to work part time while in school. I just dont know if I could skip getting a CNA certification and work at my current job for the first semester or two and then try to get a job as a student nurse or just quit my job and focus solely on nursing. (I currently work in business). I'm moving home to save money and be able to only work part time but I still need to have an income.

Any input is appreciated.

[juliaann]

The hospital where I work in Tulsa, OK, hires nursing students as "Nurse Externs" only in their final semester of their nursing program, but it's very competitive, you need an awesome GPA and a strong letter of recommendation from a clinical instructor. Often those externs are then offered a full-time job after graduation. They do CNA duties mostly as well as some nursing duties under the supervision of their assigned preceptor.

If you want to work in a hospital during nursing school, I would recommend getting your CNA or PCT. You're more likely to find flexible work schedules (and a job in general) than as a Student Nurse. Being a CNA might even help you land a Student Nursing job once you have enough clinical experience behind you.

[bhanson]

I think this may be vary regionally and is also facility dependent.

In my hometown all of the nursing schools required a CNA certification before admission into any nursing program. In my current location none of the nursing schools require a CNA, and most do not have any incentive for being a CNA already.

I know of one "nurse extern" that works on my unit, he's in his last semester of nursing school and rotates between CNA work and shadowing nurses.