CNA While Getting ADN?

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Right now I've started taking classes at a local CC, so I may get into their Nursing Program. I was wondering if it would look better on paper for me to become a CNA A.S.A.P. while taking classes. 1) Because I need a job, and 2) I figure past employment as a CNA looks better than fast food worker, to my future employers.

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Yes, both of those. Also, you will probably by being a CNA if this is your calling. Also, you will LEARN alot. Best wishes to you.

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Specializes in NICU.

After our first term in nursing school we were qualified as CNA's. After that, I worked as a CNA until I graduated. I found it really helped with my education, the basics became routine instead of another stress. Also it will increase your comfort level if you work in a hospital.

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Specializes in Renal medsurg.

Those of us who didn't have our CNA were able to test for one with the state. Although, I have had mine for awhile while doing prereqs. I find that the experience I have gotten from real world situations has made my clinicals go just that much smoother. It is easier for me to connect to the patients, I love the fact that I get to spend one on one time rather than," Here you have X # of patients and 12 hrs, have fun."

In other words it depends on you and your needs. Me, myself, I could never go back to waitressing, to many sick people. :p

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I am still researching if nursing would be a good fit for me. I am volunteering in the psychiatric dept. of a local hospital, playing games with patients. I have also been considering getting an MSW in social work. I am in the process of setting up a nurse shadowing experience. Do you guys who have gotten your CNA feel like it is necessary to know if nursing is for you; or do you think that shadowing is enough? My guess is that it's hard to know if a job is right for you until you really do it. Thanks for your replies.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg.

Shadowing should be enough, but if you have the time and the money, a CNA course is worth its weight in gold. :D

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Right now I've started taking classes at a local CC, so I may get into their Nursing Program. I was wondering if it would look better on paper for me to become a CNA A.S.A.P. while taking classes. 1) Because I need a job, and 2) I figure past employment as a CNA looks better than fast food worker, to my future employers.

I'm doing that right now myself - I figure that 1) you've got to do something for a living to pay the bills anyway, it might as well be something you are planning on getting into 2) when you finally get into nursing school clinicals, a lot of this basic stuff will be second-nature to you. You will be in familiar surroundings when you are working in the hospital.... It will do far more for you than just make you look better on paper,

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I live in North Texas and have heard by a couple of Nurse recruiters that many hospitals are not hiring CNA's as much as they used to; instead, due to the economy, hospitals are cutting back on CNA positions and other bed side care support and just using RN's.

Has anyone heard this?

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After our first term in nursing school we were qualified as CNA's. After that, I worked as a CNA until I graduated. I found it really helped with my education, the basics became routine instead of another stress. Also it will increase your comfort level if you work in a hospital.

I have a question about this. I am just starting nursing school- working toward an ADN. We got a handout about extern positions for nursing students at the local hospitals but you have to be a CNA to get them. So will I automatically be qualified after my first semester? Or will I have to take a certification test? Or will I have to do more than that?

I'd like to start working in a hospital asap. Especially considering the trouble new nursing grads are having finding jobs.

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kikio352-

At my school you are allowed to take the CNA test after the first semester of nursing school. So even though the students are qualified to be a CNA, they still need certification to be one.

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At my school, you have 2 routes to entry into the nursing classes. Take the nurse aide class (after which you can test for the state license) or try and test out of the basic patient skills, if you have a CNA from somewhere else. I did the CNA class 2 years ago and have been in LTC for the last year and a half.

As far as I know, you take the class but must also pass the state boards in order to be licensed. I don't know if hospitals with nursing programs let you work without the actual license if you are in their program.

We were just talking about this today in my clinical group. I am the only one with any floor experience and one girl is a pharm tech. I can't tell you how invaluable my CNA time has already proven! Going into someone's room and talking or doing things is no big deal for me, as I do that all the time. Some of the others had a hard time with that today, being in a new environment and having to be 'on'. Already having the basics seems to be making the new nursing specific skills easier for me, by not being nervous about patient interaction at the same time as doing new skills.

So my suggestion to you, is DO this if you can! It's well worth it just for the experience and exposure to a health care situation. I need every ounce of concentration on doing new skills, having some confidence at people dealings makes is SO much better.

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I don't know if there is an edit feature on here but wanted to add to my last post. I am good at going into rooms *now*. When I started, I sucked hard as an aide. But time and just having to do it, bad or not, gave me some confidence. Now it's no big deal. I think I'd be having a harder time now, if I didn't have that experience.

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