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

OldDude · Apr 1, 2019

My school didn't require it and I didn't...but I was envious of those who had CNA experience. They seemed to grasp the concepts easier and sooner; class and clinicals.

umbdude, MSN, APRN · Apr 1, 2019

My school didn't require it. But most students worked as one in some form during the program and that's how most of us got jobs.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Apr 1, 2019

My school didn't require it either. But I highly recommend working as a CNA to get an idea of how you might function as a nurse, even though the roles are very different. If you can handle CNA work, you can do anything! I worked as a tech while I was in nursing school and the experience was invaluable. The nurses really took me under their wings and taught me so much; they'd have me listen to lungs and assist them with NG placement as well as many other skills. It was well worth it, and it helped tremendously when I started work as an RN at the same hospital.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2019

I started as a surgical tech then progressed to RN, so my track was through the OR but the idea is the same. I highly recommend it for a few reasons. One: handy dandy practical experience. 2: officially required or not, I think it does make a difference, both in applying and when you start, and 3: (this one is for those of us who had to creatively finance our way through school)...working as a CNA/PCT or whatever the facility titles the position can qualify you for tuition reimbursement. Nothing takes some of the stress off of school like having someone else pay for it.

EMB1548 · Apr 1, 2019

Hi!

Senior here:

My school did not require us to be CNAs at all. After our first semester of nursing school was done (an 8-week clinical and skills lab with fundamentals and holistic). We were considered hireable to nurse assistant positions which many times our clinical floors snatched us up, lol. In my case, my preceptor actually talked to a manager she knew after I told her that I applied to a list of jobs and she just so happened to know her.

I also worked in admissions at my school, and for our 4-year BSN program, it had been decided that aide skills and fundamentals would, of course, be the focus of the first semester. Before I started nursing school, I had actually gone to a 2-year institution during the summer to get my CNA because I wanted to get ahead before I started. At this community college, you could not start your nursing classes until you had passed the KNAT (CNA licensing exam for KY). I would suggest talking to an advisor at a school you're interested in.

I would totally suggest it, wherever you go you'll end up doing these skills anyway and you'll have the confidence and experience compared to your fellow classmates. I wouldn't say you need to absolutely work as an aide because some people just can't. I've worked at my job for two years, and in the process they allowed me to train as a clerical and now I am an extern. I liked learning the clerical role because now I know a lot of the more challenging technical consults and work lists along with PI checks and prevention protocols. An extern is essentially a CNA who can perform certain skills under the delegation of an RN like taking out catheters and IVs and other skills. If you're not sure if you want to be a nurse, be an aide first, because if you can't be an aide because you don't like it, then you sure wouldn't like being a nurse.

You should look into holistic nursing! A lot of them are certified in massage and get certified in acupuncture. They also work in the hospital setting for pain relief! It's very cool!

BSNbound21, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2019

On 3/31/2019 at 4:08 AM, Marie_30 said:
Do you have to work as a CNA? Some people say no and some say it could make a difference between you being accepted into the Nursing program or not. Like you May be selected over someone who has no previous medical background. I did go to Massage Therapy school but I don’t think that would be considered as having a Medical background.

I would say no. If your school asks for work experience or healthcare experience, and you have none, it's not necessarily a deal breaker if your test scores and GPA are good. My school only looks at test scores and GPA, which some people complain about but others (like me, with no healthcare experience yet) prefer. Look at the specific requirements for the programs that you are interested in- and for the ones asking for healthcare experience, it might not hurt to e-mail them and ask how heavily they weigh that. Best to you.

allnurses Guide · Apr 2, 2019

Like everyone has been saying, it depends.

This subject has come up many times here on AN and I've answered it before but thought I'd weigh in again. Lots of good comments so far.

My mentor, a wonderful nurse who was also our DON at the local hospital where I would work, advised me not to go the CNA route. She had been a nurse for over 20 years, trained in the "old school" days. She told me not to bother becoming a CNA and working as a CNA because for the 1st 6 weeks what we learn is basic patient care, like what CNA's do. And when we start clinical time, we start our with basic care as well. And work our way up to IV's, med passes, and other nursing duties.

I went back to school in my late 30's to become a nurse. I was a stay-at-home mom and didn't want to add anything else to my life that would take my focus away from my kids, who are/were #1 in my life.

I did work as a MA for a local doctor who took me under his wings and let me do so many "nurse" things, let me help with small surgeries, I gave shots, drew blood, and started my 1st IV there as well.

I graduated at 40.

I'm glad I followed my mentor's advice.

buttercup9, ASN, BSN, MSN · Apr 2, 2019

I did not need it to get into school (12 years ago).

After 1 semester we were allowed to work as a CNA. The hospital was affiliated with the school and gave some tuition reimbursement.

While I didn't HAVE to be a CNA, I am so glad that I did. It was invaluable for me.

As the RN you are supervising and delegating to the CNA/Tech/PCT. I think that it is important to know exactly what you are asking them to do. Having done the work yourself, you have a better understanding of how long a task takes and how it should be done. You also understand how difficult of a job it is.

In my experience I learned which RN's were good and bad. I also learned which RN's were team players and who was not. I not only learned what to do (by observation)and how to treat people as an RN (by interaction).

For example- I was cleaning an elderly bedbound patient one day who had c. diff. It ranged from between their toes to up in their hair. I was doing this by myself. An RN came to the door and said "Can you take room X's temp?" I replied that I would do it when I was done cleaning this person.

She stool there for the next 10 minutes watching me. She did not help or even try to find someone to help. When I was removing my gown she said irritably "Are you gonna take that temp now?

Literally 10 minutes. She could have done it herself. Multiple times.

I vowed to never treat my CNA's or any other ancillary staff like that.

Now, I'd like to think that I didn't need to experience those type of things in order to not behave like that. I just really gave me appreciation for the RN's who delegated reasonably and who didn't think that they were above such things.

DeeAngel · Apr 2, 2019

The experience will benefit you in multiple ways and give you a leg up in clinicals. I have worked with aides who changed their minds about nursing school after seeing what was involved. Give yourself this experience, you have nothing to lose and much to gain from it.

allnurses Guide · Apr 2, 2019

I'd just like to add after reading the last two posts that I think what makes a nurse a good nurse is more than taking a CNA class or working as a CNA.

The example used above is something I can remember happening with one nurse who started as a CNA, then became an LVN, and then an RN. She was very lazy and really hard on the CNA's. It was her personality, not her history of working as a CNA/LVN.

Many of the men and women I worked with and work with now are for the most part really wonderful and hard working co-workers. Being a CNA prior has nothing to do with it, in my experience.

That doesn't mean being a CNA first is a bad idea. I just am glad I didn't do it.

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 3, 2019

I didn't need it. I was a PCA in the NICU eventually, but never a CNA.

NooNieNursie · Apr 3, 2019

On 3/31/2019 at 4:08 AM, Marie_30 said:
Do you have to work as a CNA? Some people say no and some say it could make a difference between you being accepted into the Nursing program or not. Like you May be selected over someone who has no previous medical background. I did go to Massage Therapy school but I don’t think that would be considered as having a Medical background.

It might help slightly but by no way is it essential. I would seriously question a program that *required* CNA work. In your early nursing courses you are trained to be a CNA, so it's not like some fundamental background you need before nsg school. That's what you're doing first day on the floor - giving bed baths, assisting pt care needs.

The vast majority of RNs never worked as a CNA. For my ADN training i worked PT at a local store taking my prerequisite classes, then when RN clinicals started i was a full time student (at time early 20s living at home).