Dilemma...do I need my CNA license for nursing school?

[itiswell]

Hi everyone! I would really appreciate some advice and info for those who are in nursing school now.

Some quick background:

I am about to graduate from an undergrad program with a double b.a. in a non-nursing field. Starting in January, I am planning on beginning my pre-reqs for nursing school, and I plan to apply next fall (2015). I am wondering how crucial it is for me to have my CNA license to get into nursing school. Are they more likely to accept someone who is working as a CNA? I ask because I am married and I would love to be able to stay working at my current job, where I make a lot more money than a CNA, that way I can save up for nursing school. Additionally, if I do CNA the only way I can see the classes fitting into my schedule is if I literally quit my job and don't work for 6 weeks while I do the CNA class. All that being said, my preference would be to not do CNA, but I understand that if it is important and valuable to get into nursing school then I will do it.

[theviolinist]

You should look into the requirements for the nursing program you are applying to. My nursing school required us to have a CNA license in order to be accepted. It depends on the program though.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

It delends entirely on the program.....you should look into an Accelerated BSN program.

[melizerd, ASN, RN]

Definitely varies. One program I applied to required you to be certified, another didn't. It was simply a box to check and working as a Cna didn't matter. I will say that those people who worked as Cnas had a slightly easier time getting hired as RNs, though my entire class had jobs within 3-4 months of graduation.

[dorkypanda]

What everyone said about it depends on the school is true. Not all schools require applicants to be a CNA.check around to see which schools need it and which don't.

[phoenoryker]

Check into program... You have a bachelors... Don't get another bachelors, that's purely sillyness. Do an entry level MSN. And don't listen to the negative stuff about that. Nursing is behind where it should be, and that is due to variance in educational minimum. Set the bar high and sink or swim, people will adapt, or they won't, either way you have raised quality of care. Sorry if this offends anyone...just my perception

[verene, MSN]

It really depends on the program. The LPN and ADN programs I've looked at all seem to require a CNA license to even apply. The BSN and graduate entry MSN programs don't have it as a requirement at all. Though a couple have a requirement for "work/volunteer hours" in healthcare, and working as a CNA certainly makes meeting those minimums easier to achieve. It is not mandatory to work as a CNA.