Do you have to work as a CNA before going to nursing school?

This depends on where you live. I moved to go to a nursing school in a smaller area because where I lived the requirements were ridiculous. They wanted you to see you volunteer 20 hours a week...I couldn't do that because I had two children and was working 40 hours a week. The flippant admissions person said, "Some mothers work two jobs and get the volunteer work in", I said, "Then that is a mother that is ignoring her children."

I cut my expenses way back, my kids were in school, so when I did get accepted it allowed me to work part-time and still pay my bills, supplementing a little with student loans.

So this is highly regional. I can tell you this, MOST nursing students do not do CNA work first.

I guess it depends on the school. Prior experience had no effect on who got accepted to nursing school at my nursing school.

I did work as a CNA to get a better idea about what nursing involved. The money I made as a CNA paid for nursing school, and the shifts were flexible enough working per diem to pick up weekends, extra days during breaks to maximize my earnings.

It depends on your school. Some that I looked at required that you'd been a CNA first.

and/or

It depends on the cost:benefit to you. For some, it makes sense to take a quick, relatively-inexpensive course in order to gain work experience in the healthcare field prior to becoming a nurse. It also benefits you when you get to clinical, because you have some idea of what to expect with up-close interactions with patients (toileting, bathing, transfers, etc) and other members of the healthcare team.

and/or

It depends on whether you're trying to get an "inside edge" into the facility you plan on working in after graduation. Some people have better chances of getting hired as a nurse if they're an internal applicant. (One caveat: working as a nurse on the same floor that you were a CNA might be difficult).

No, its not needed (at least in my area).

It's not needed in the schools in my area. I do recommend it, though. It can benefit you in your clinicals.

It is nice to know alittle about what you are getting into but I don't think it is necessary.

I'm sure it can help your chances at getting a job (and maybe school, though I'm not sure about that), but not necessary. I never did it. It can be backbreaking work for not enough pay.

5 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

I'm sure it can help your chances at getting a job (and maybe school, though I'm not sure about that), but not necessary. I never did it. It can be backbreaking work for not enough pay.

All the more reason to get a taste of it, before you're an RN supervising the CNAs...

Not necessary but good. A lot of hospitals like hiring CNAs who are in nursing school.

The school I teach at requires a CNA certification prior to admission. Only certification, not CNA experience. However in our admissions process there is a slight boost to someone who has 1000+ hours in a nursing related profession, and admissions is very competitive.

It seems to be a bigger deal for initial licensure programs that are ADN programs vs BSN programs.

In my experience CNA experience helps you as a nursing student, a) know what you are getting into, b) know some basic knowledge on how to take care of patients and basic diagnoses.

My school didn't require it or even consider it.