Do you want to be jobless after nursing school? I didn't think so...

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Apr 24, 2014

My CNA experience did help me find a job after graduating from LVN school. While I didn't get hired at my place of employment, it was helpful that my resume stated I have experience working with a myriad of difficult patients (dementia, psych diagnosis, agitation, etc) plus it showed Im a team player who can pitch in and help aides if needed.

ambz13 · Apr 24, 2014

AmyRN that's terrible! I'm assuming you were told that they were 20-somethings? Sorry to hear and hope you get into your specialty in the future.

I understand 20-somethings get a bad rep with high turnover and inexperience, but I don't think it's fair to think of all of them as immature and flippant. I am 22 and have been working in healthcare directly with pts for about 5 years and worked before that in high school. When I have my RN I'll have 7 years in healthcare prior. I have learned a TON and realize there is still so much to learn.

If anything, I think being young starting out is very tough because the general attitude (as seen in this thread) is negative towards us. I can not tell you how many times people have bullied me/ not taken me serious until I open my mouth and show them what I know and put them in their place. There is a lot of proving yourself that older people getting into it don't really have to go through as much. Be thankful you weren't taken seriously in retail jobs in your 20's and not a job that is life or death!

I have to add, though; I find it funny when older people come around after I've been at a job for a while and the first month they start acting like they've been there forever and treat people senior to them disrespectfully in front of pts because they are younger and "look" like they know less.

No one should say someone can't do a job because of age, period.

Not everyone has the same life path and that's OKAY :)

runsalot · Apr 24, 2014

There are lots of considerations that go in to play when hiring new nurses. On my floor the two that were hired out of more than 5 for the residency positions were the youngest and the oldest. Did our ages have something to do with the choice? I am going to hope that it had to do with the fact that we were the best qualified.

Being a cna/pct is great. But it's like a year long interview for your floor. Work hard. Show the nurses and management that you want to be there and that you fit in.

summerbluesky · Jun 7, 2014

I have a guaranteed job with my hospital when I graduate. A lot of hospitals will make you sign a contract to work there in exchange for tuition assistance. But this also means that I have a job. Our unit likes to hire new nurses from within the hospital. They already know the people and management knows the character of the employee.

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jun 8, 2014

Or you could just start working as a PCT/CNA right now. There are some hospitals that will give a year of RN experience for every 2 years of CNA experience and you could start off your hourly pay higher than that of other new grads. If you work on good terms with your manager at the hospital they are more likely to hire you over somebody they don't know with no experience! My CNA experience has helped me rock difficult interviews and ultimately gave me the job I have now! Go for it now before you actually get into a nursing program and good luck to you!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 8, 2014

Or you could just start working as a PCT/CNA right now. There are some hospitals that will give a year of RN experience for every 2 years of CNA experience ....

Seriously? I can't imagine a facility deeming 2 years of CNA work as equivalent to 1 year of RN work. Not even the same ballpark of responsibility.

I'd never knock the value of a good CNA (couldn't function without them, much of the time I worked the floor!) but this breakdown doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe I'm not understanding you correctly?

nandosport · Jun 9, 2014

I'm graduating my pct course, taken while wait listed for Bsn, and our program is basically nursing fundamentals, with EKG,phlebotomy which was the phlebotomy tech course, and we did Foleys, enemas, NG tubes, wound care including surgical tech basics, etc. as a pct I was doing more in my clinicals than the rn students. I feel I'm ready for nursing now more so with the pct training.

I'm slightly jealous. There are no PCT courses in my neck of the woods. The only way to become a PCT in my state is to have a hospital hire and train you, so I'm stuck in a CNA course.

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jun 9, 2014

Seriously? I can't imagine a facility deeming 2 years of CNA work as equivalent to 1 year of RN work. Not even the same ballpark of responsibility.
I'd never knock the value of a good CNA (couldn't function without them, much of the time I worked the floor!) but this breakdown doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe I'm not understanding you correctly?

Your CNA experience only changes your starting pay rate. It doesn't give you actual RN experience, you're still considered a new grad, but you get paid like you have some experience.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 9, 2014

Your CNA experience only changes your starting pay rate. It doesn't give you actual RN experience, you're still considered a new grad, but you get paid like you have some experience.

Oh, I see. It's just experience in healthcare in general that will give you the extra $$ boost, which DOES make sense. I think that's a bit unusual, though...most of the time, when I hear of new grads who have been working as techs but now are being moved into RN positions, they are at the same start rate as every other new grad. Thinking is, it's more $$ than they were making as a tech (obviously) but as a new grad they don't bring anything more to the table than any other new grad.

Glad it works in someone's favor :)

AmyRN303, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2014

Oh, I see. It's just experience in healthcare in general that will give you the extra $$ boost, which DOES make sense. I think that's a bit unusual, though...most of the time, when I hear of new grads who have been working as techs but now are being moved into RN positions, they are at the same start rate as every other new grad. Thinking is, it's more $$ than they were making as a tech (obviously) but as a new grad they don't bring anything more to the table than any other new grad.
Glad it works in someone's favor :)

New grads in hospitals where I live make the same rate regardless of prior CNA/PCT experience. Perhaps in other areas of nursing there is a pay increase based on experience as a CNA, but experience as such didn't count for me, nor did it boost my pay rate as a new grad. It's great if that is offered, but that is not my experience.

runnerdoug87 · Jun 21, 2014

At the hospital I worked at once you were a G.N. you had to leave your position as a PCA. Was a bit of an odd rule because the reasoning behind it was due to two different union's. However, seen a few PCAs go from tech to nurse. Also STA, nursing assistant, to Nurse. It did help them with networking in to the hospital and getting a float/per diem position. Also helped them fill acute care experience. Strangest one was a PCA to Psychiatrist...but he did it.

river_song · Jun 21, 2014

Manny,

I worked as a Nurse Assistant in the float pool while in school and I loved it. I was able to not only network all over the hospital, but I was able to experience providing care for many different types of patients. It also gave me some quality time management skills.

Another thing to remember is your senior practicum. That will be another opportunity for you to network. That was ultimately how I got my job after graduation.

Good luck to you!