Do you think that nursing students need to work as a CNA or nurse aid while in school?

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 5, 2018

Personally, I found the CNA made a perfect student job.

The hours were flexible, the pay above minimum wage, and it was enough to pay my community college tuition so I could graduate without student loans to pay back. I could work extra during holidays and work around my school schedule.

It did not help me find a job. The community hospital I worked for didn't hire new grads. When I mentioned working as a nurse after graduation, the manager said that the hospital didn't have the need or resources to hire new grads.

So I found a new grad nursing job in a different hospital and did just fine.

ClaraRedheart, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2018

I did because I had a serious case of whitecoat syndrome and nearly fainted several times in clinicals. It helped me to get over my fear of doctors and helped with my needle phobia. I also got comfortable working with IV poles, lines, NG tubes, etc.. as well as turning and bathing a patient. It also helped me to understand what my CNA's are going through with their workload so that I don't overload them with unnecessary tasks (ask them to get a patient a cup of water right as I'm leaving the room). It depends on how you feel. If you're confident during clinical, working as a PCT may not be neccessary. Though being a new nurse was VERY overwhelming, it would have been much worse had I not worked as a CNA during nursing school, I think. Do what works for you though :)

Ddestiny, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2018

Another benefit to working as a CNA prior to graduation is that it can help you get paid more as a nurse. The hospitals I've applied to didn't consider it "nursing experience" but it was "related experience" so it increased the hourly wage they offered for each year of CNA experience. We're not talking huge numbers or anything but making a little extra money plus having a wider background of experiences from which to draw knowledge and confidence are definitely some nice benefits.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 5, 2018

Need? No ... but it can be helpful in some cases. A lot depends on your local job market and the type of job you are looking for as an RN. It also depends on whether or not your school offers an in-depth practicum in your senior year. My hospital values those practicums and is more likely to be influenced by them in hiring than whether or not the new grad worked in a CNA job that had little relevance to the specialty they were seeking the RN job in.

As for GPA, it depends on the specifics -- and once again -- job market, particular hiring manager, etc. A person with a really low GPA from a school that is not well-respected is unlikely to get a job in my hospital. But one with a high GPA from a well-respected school is going to be seriously considered (no guarantee of a job, but given serious consideration). So, at either extreme, it can make a difference. So for the average student with an average GPA from an average school, a tenth of point or two won't make a difference.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 5, 2018

WHILE in school, no. Not a great idea. One should have their CNA before even applying. The school I graduated from required it before acceptance.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Jul 5, 2018

While it may not be necessary, it is usually very helpful on many fronts. First is the exposure to direct patient care. You will definitely graduate from nursing school being more comfortable with patients and their bodies if you have a background as a CNA. As another poster said it might also be a requirement of your nursing program to go through CNA training, many if not most programs incorporate the training into the nursing program but not all of them do. Just my general and completely non-scientific observation but I have seen that most nurses that start as CNA's are more comfortable at the beginning of their nursing career than those nurses that have never worked in patient care before.

While you can learn valuable people skills in any job, it will be helpful to be exposed to the skills that are unique to a health care setting. After all, you can learn how to deal with various personalities in any job, but it's not very likely that the customer in line in Starbucks will want to discuss their bowel movements with you.. at least I sure hope not!

You will also learn valuable time management skills as you will just about always need to juggle several things at once. Being a CNA is a good foundation for learning to prioritize while still keeping all the other balls in the air. You will be exposed to the necessity of documentation since CNA's have their own required documentation, this also plays into time management skills figuring out how to carve enough time out of a busy shift to chart and then probably chart some more.

Working as a CNA also usually offers enough job flexibility to continue working through nursing school. Most settings that employ CNA's are 24/7 facilities like hospitals and nursing homes so finding hours that work around a school schedule is easier than it would be for most jobs. Plus for some employers working as a CNA is that golden "foot in the door" opportunity. If you are a productive employee as a CNA it may improve you odds of gaining employment as a nurse.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jul 6, 2018

I'm guessing it's a two-way street. Your attitude shines through and your coworkers want to pave the way for you. I'm glad you've found a supportive environment, but I think you should give yourself credit for earning that support.

Aww, thank you

Neo Soldier, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2018

It's nice to have CNA or some medical experience; you can make money, and work with patients. However, I don't think that will get you the job because being an RN and being a CNA are not entirely the same and your ability to be a good CNA may not mean you'll make the best RN.

ComeTogether, LPN · Jul 6, 2018

I think the experience is invaluable. I can't tell you how many nurses I've come across who truly don't know how to give basic pt. care. Sure, they could figure it out in a pinch, but its really helpful to everyone if nurses know how to properly pull someone up in bed, how to change them, turn them, transfer them, etc.

NuGuyNurse2b · Jul 8, 2018

I think the experience is invaluable. I can't tell you how many nurses I've come across who truly don't know how to give basic pt. care. Sure, they could figure it out in a pinch, but its really helpful to everyone if nurses know how to properly pull someone up in bed, how to change them, turn them, transfer them, etc.

That seems unlikely. For RNs we learn basic patient care in clinical, you don't need to be a CNA for that.

direw0lf, BSN · Jul 8, 2018

I think it should be required actually..for at least a per diem or brief period. I learned so much as a PCA. My job is what got me hired. They didn't care what my GPA was (3.9 but noone asked when I was interviewed for my nurse residency). The manager liked how I got along with everyone. I can't even say I was nearly as good as the best pca's I worked with either but the staff and patients liked my personality a lot. So my thoughts are that it would only help you, if you are able to work as one. Watching the first "rapid response" then doing my part in subsequent ones..you can't learn that in a classroom.

Oh also some hospitals will pay for further education such as BSN or grad school after you've worked there for some time. If you've already started as a PCA, you don't need to wait!

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2018

Do you think it is necessary for nursing students to work as a CNA to gain experience before they graduate? And, (After graduating as an RN and applying to jobs-->) do hospitals look for experience on resumes or mostly at what your grades are? Would they hire someone with a 3.8 GPA over someone with experience as a CNA and a lower GPA? Thoughts?

Is it necessary? No. But it is helpful.

I do not think that GPA would get a prospective candidate the job over experience. Especially if the CNA applying for an RN position worked on the floor or in the hospital as a CNA. The floor already knows them/their work ethic. They really don't care about GPA. Most of the new grads I worked with in the hospital (myself included) got their new grad jobs because of connections- either they had worked as a CNA on the floor or did their senior practicum on the floor.