Did you work as a CNA before RN?

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I'm just wondering how many people worked as an aid while in school before you graduated as an RN. The instructors in the program I am in really suggest working as an aid during the last year. However, I find it hard to juggle family and school the way it is and really can't see adding on an additional responsibility. Does working as an aid make it a lot easier to get a job once you graduate? Do you feel much more prepared to work as an RN if you work as an aid first?

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Threads merged.

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Specializes in ER/ medical telemetry.

being an aide for years, has made me more sensitive to the aides feelings.

many times as a tech, i have been asked to preform the impossible tasks, without even taking a lunch, while the licenced staff would sit around the nurses station, laughing , joking as well as socializing.

i have learned to first ask the tech, "are you busy right now,"

then my second sentence would start," if you have time could you please_______... instead of," room_____, needs you to ______,.

most of the time the aide will ask you if you need anything, or will get to it if they can.

the great thing is most aides/techs will jump in without anyone asking and will communicate what they have done.

i always remember; anything that i delegate, i am ultimately responsible for. so i try to treat my aides like gold, so they in turn help me without being asked; if feasable.

i practice what i learned in kindergarden;

the golden rule.

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Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.

I did. I did it for 7 years, minus the 16 months I had off when I had two babies a year apart. ;) I even worked as a CNA through my entire 1st and 3rd pregnancies, although that's another story there. I think my time as a CNA was good for me.

I try to give respect to the CNAs I work with now, and they respect me.

At one particular nursing home I worked at a while, which I wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy, I almost always had to change very heavy sometimes combative people all by myself. Forget asking for help... :uhoh3: I learned how to do a lot on my own like holding a 200+ lb immobile man on his side in bed with one arm and cleaning his booty with the other. **My poor back** :uhoh21:

Maybe one downside of that is that I still don't ask for help with hands-on things like that when I should.

A little butt-wipin' never hurt anybody... :monkeydance::lol2::monkeydance:

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Thanks to everyone who responded! I appreciate all your words of wisdom.

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There are two active threads on this question . . .maybe a mod could put them together?

steph

I knew it! The other thread is pretty big too. ANYway I am a Patient Care Tech with CNA license and thats the work that teaches compassion, humility, and all that stuff that helps u appreciate workin in the big leagues...

Planning to work the entire nursing school....

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Specializes in LTC, MSP, ICU.

I am an LPN but I think it should be a law that you have to be a CNA before being any kind of nurse. Just to say something from my experience, nurses who havent been aides don't seem to be as appreciative as those who have or those who are willing to pitch in. I have had nurses who would not dain to get their hands dirty even if the patient was twice your size and you were the only aide there.

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I am an LPN but I think it should be a law that you have to be a CNA before being any kind of nurse. Just to say something from my experience, nurses who havent been aides don't seem to be as appreciative as those who have or those who are willing to pitch in. I have had nurses who would not dain to get their hands dirty even if the patient was twice your size and you were the only aide there.

I was never a CNA and neither were most of the RN's I've worked with and we ALL are willing to pitch in. We change the beds while the CNA's are showering the patients. We empty bedpans. We get the pt up to the BR or BSC. We empty urinals.

You cannot make a blanket statement. It isn't fair.

I disagree that it should be a law. I completely agree that folks should do it if they choose. But it doesn't guarantee anything.

As I mentioned, the only nurse who never helped out used to be a CNA and then an LVN. But I would never say that all RN's who used to be CNA's don't help out.

steph

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Specializes in LTC, MSP, ICU.

If you notice i said in my experience i know that not all rn's are like this

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If you notice i said in my experience i know that not all rn's are like this

I did notice that. But you also said, because of your experience, it should be a law.

That is the part I disagree with.

steph

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Specializes in LTC, MSP, ICU.

I am sure some people will disagree with that. But haven't you ever seen someone come on shift that has no idea on how to treat people. Nurses that dont know what their aides even have to do. Maybe not a law, but possibly employers could train their nurses to work on the floor as aides too. Then maybe noone would feel disrespected or like they are being treated as an idiot just because they arent a nurse.

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I am sure some people will disagree with that. But haven't you ever seen someone come on shift that has no idea on how to treat people. Nurses that dont know what their aides even have to do. Maybe not a law, but possibly employers could train their nurses to work on the floor as aides too. Then maybe noone would feel disrespected or like they are being treated as an idiot just because they arent a nurse.

My own experience in nursing school is that the first patient care we did was total basic patient care - baths, toileting, making beds, etc. I remember the return demonstrations in making beds with patients in them.

I work side by side with the CNA's - how could I not respect them? It is very hard work and very important work.

We are just going to have to agree to disagree here.

steph

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Specializes in LTC,Med surg-Telemetry,alzheimers,home h.
I am an LPN but I think it should be a law that you have to be a CNA before being any kind of nurse. Just to say something from my experience, nurses who havent been aides don't seem to be as appreciative as those who have or those who are willing to pitch in. I have had nurses who would not dain to get their hands dirty even if the patient was twice your size and you were the only aide there.

I was never a CNA before my LVN/LPN, but im always pitching in.So its not all nurses, just some.

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