Do I automatically get a CNA after first year in nursing school?

[onlyjesus22]

I took a lot of college courses but was never able to graduate due to some health reasons. Now, I am trying to get my life back together, starting over again. I'm planning to apply for the SPRING 2011 RN program at a community college. I wanted to build my resume. I don't have any job experience in the health field. I was wondering what are some good jobs I can earn experience and can help towards my nursing career.

also i was thinking of getting CNA, do I automatically become a CNA after first year of nursing school (associates degree) or do i have to take extra classes to become a CNA?

can i become CNA for free anywhere in northern jersey area? thank you

[valzRN, ASN, RN]

In New York you can't become a CNA without going through a specific CNA program, they don't count the one year of RN school anymore. CNA's in our area are also required to have phlebotomy and EKG certifications as well.

However, you can get jobs as a Student Nurse Extern or Intern after a year of nursing school but you're not officially a CNA and these jobs are usually only offered at hospitals who have specific programs for nurse externs. I would have loved to do a CNA course this summer unfortunately I don't have CNA course money (here they are like 600 bucks so no thanks).

That is so awesome that CNA's there can do all that! In Florida, you can't do any of that.

After 1 term of RN school you can challenge the boards, but you have to get the director of the program to sign off on it I believe. (Ive been CNA for 17 years, so I didn't need that.) I know that after your 3rd semester, you can challenge your LPN boards. I think that you should try to work as a CNA before you go on to be an RN... you will be more thankful for your CNA's and LPN's if you have to be in the trenches with them at one time. Personally, I think that it makes you a better nurse when you do climb the ladder like that.

Good luck with your endeavor!

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

One wonders why google is not used more often. You are in NJ right? Click on this link (found with Google) and scroll down towards the end for the alternative routes to becoming a CNA in your state. I won't spoil the surprise by telling you what it says.

Certification of Nurse Aides in Long-term Care Facilities, Long-Term Care, NJDHSS

It is amazing what I can do 1000 miles away.

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

I live in PA, and we were told that we could work as a nurses aide after our first semester in the VO tech nursing program I was in.

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

You can only work as a CNA if you pass the test! Read the previous letters and go to the PDE website. Nursing school does not qualify you to be an aide, passing the aide certification does.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Be aware though that you don't necessarily have to be certified to work as a nurse aide. You won't be a CNA, but it is very likely that you'll do all of the same things.

[valzRN, ASN, RN]

Be aware though that you don't necessarily have to be certified to work as a nurse aide. You won't be a CNA, but it is very likely that you'll do all of the same things.

The only alternative to not taking the test is working in the hospital as a tech (PCT). You can't work in long term care without being certified, and that's in any state. PCT's are trained by the hospitals and they don't do near what a CNA does. There are some things that a PCT cannot do that a CNA can. Trust me on that one. I work for a nursing staffing agency and I only go to the hospital through them. The work is WAY easier and there is not all that lifting. If you are wanting a job while you are in school, I would go through the hospital and get hired on as a nurse intern/extern and you can gain valuable experience. Especially if you are serious and you partner up with your nurses as they do their treatments. You will be a step ahead when you start your clinicals.

[SingDanceRunLife]

The only alternative to not taking the test is working in the hospital as a tech (PCT). You can't work in long term care without being certified, and that's in any state. PCT's are trained by the hospitals and they don't do near what a CNA does. There are some things that a PCT cannot do that a CNA can. Trust me on that one. I work for a nursing staffing agency and I only go to the hospital through them. The work is WAY easier and there is not all that lifting. If you are wanting a job while you are in school, I would go through the hospital and get hired on as a nurse intern/extern and you can gain valuable experience. Especially if you are serious and you partner up with your nurses as they do their treatments. You will be a step ahead when you start your clinicals.

As I said earlier in this thread, through my SON, you can become a SNA which is pretty much a CNA, but not certified. The only nurse aides in the hospital are students from my SON. There are no CNAs and there are very few LPNs.

Another hospital in the area will hire nurse aides who are students that have finished their first semester of nursing school. In the job postings under requirements it says CNA or completion of the first semester of nursing school.

The only hospital where I live hires "hospital aides" which are the main nurse aides at the hospital. Very few CNAs are hired there. The hospital aides are trained in EKG and phlebotomy and everything.

I'm talking about hospital settings and not LCT.

[valzRN, ASN, RN]

As I said earlier in this thread, through my SON, you can become a SNA which is pretty much a CNA, but not certified. The only nurse aides in the hospital are students from my SON. There are no CNAs and there are very few LPNs.

Another hospital in the area will hire nurse aides who are students that have finished their first semester of nursing school. In the job postings under requirements it says CNA or completion of the first semester of nursing school.

The only hospital where I live hires "hospital aides" which are the main nurse aides at the hospital. Very few CNAs are hired there. The hospital aides are trained in EKG and phlebotomy and everything.

I'm talking about hospital settings and not LCT.

Oh ok... that's interesting. I am learning on these boards that Florida pretty much stinks at the opportunities that we have here for CNA's, and especially techs in the hospital. They don't train them in phlebotomy and EKG's and things of that nature here. I am sure that would really help out the nurses though. What an exciting opportunity though!

[MrsJessica]

I wondered this same question frequently. A friend of mine went to Nursing school at the same school that I'm attending a few years prior and was able to work in the hospital here as a CNA, although my Nursing professor stated that we would need to sit through CNA classes.

Although in my area many hospitals will hire a "Nursing Student" as an aide without certification with proper documents of being in Nursing School. So that may be something to check into!

[d2k2ross]

student4lyf:

In NC, you can work in LTC without being certified. It's called a PCA (personal care assistant) and we have TONS of them in nursing homes. Not that I agree with it, but it does happen a lot. We also have "med techs" that can take a short CNA-type course and then they pass MEDS in LTC!!!! Now THAT is scary...

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

"I am learning on these boards that Florida pretty much stinks at the opportunities that we have here for CNA's, and especially techs in the hospital. They don't train them in phlebotomy and EKG's and things of that nature here."

Both hospitals I've worked at as a CNA/PCT/PCA in Florida have provided training in phlebotomy and EKGs.

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

student4lyf:

In NC, you can work in LTC without being certified. We also have "med techs" that can take a short CNA-type course and then they pass MEDS in LTC!!!! Now THAT is scary...

And how. I was in an assisted living facility in the past, and was overdosed on a narcotic, and was given a medication I was allergic to another. I couldn't wait to get out og there!!!!