Does becoming a CNA help you if you want to become an RN?

Mr Sacdiff · Jan 22, 2014

I wouldn't do it in a nursing home either. I deal with mostly geriatric patients in the hospital, but the patient acuity is a bit different for the most part. Same tasks, but I learn so much more. Luckily I scored a very great paying CNA gig too. Not as much as I made in construction, but it's helping to support the family as I switch careers.

LVN_Soon2Be · Jan 22, 2014

I was a CNA and now in a LVN/LPN program.. and it has helped me so much! It's helped me learn to prioritize, and the nurses also showed me a lot of cool stuff, as well. And so far most of the skills we have been signed off on by our instructors have been basic CNA stuff. It will make you a better nurse!

Becca014 · Jan 22, 2014

Wow thank you for your insight. I'm still taking my pre reqs before I apply for the nursing program but I'm a little shy and was thinking that I should take the CNA course so that I can dip my feet a little bit. I don't want to be that overwhelmed once I'm in the nursing program. After reading about your experience, I'm going to take the CNA course this june. Sadly the course is going to cost $1400 from june 2- july 10 at 10am-2pm Mon-thurs. I don't want to spend that money but I really want some experience before I get into the nursing program at my school.

ownthesky25 · Jan 22, 2014

In January 2013 I started my 3rd semester of nursing school. Prior to clinical I had zero patient experience. Going into the 3rd semester was extremely stressful, and every time I was in clinical it took everything I had not to cry. (I am not someone who cries easily.) A large part of this stress was due my complete uncertainly in interacting with patients.

Although we learn how to transfer patients and everything else; I had very little opportunity to actually use those skills. So due to a combination of things I had to withdraw because my clinical instructor felt I couldn't perform properly. Which was true to some extent; I knew what I had to do and how to do but I was so nervous I would forget. If I had had more experience interacting with patients, I would not have had to withdraw.

mmccallum · Jan 22, 2014

I know personally from being a Certified Medical Assistant that it is easier to go into the Nursing Program from that because it gives you a better overview of what to expect. You work hand in hand with several nurses and providers on a daily basis. I worked in a doctors office for several years and noticed that I was doing almost the same job as a nurse but was getting paid a lot less for the fact that they had a lot more schooling than I did. It gave me the motivation to go back to school and become a nurse. I don't want to be one of those nurses I see that just sits behind a desk and answers phone call from patients with concerns of there health or medication questions. I am more of a hands on person and like the personal contact with the patient so that they can know and understand that I am there to help and support them. I see that now a days people see nurses as the ones who don't do all the work and that they have people under them that take care of the dirty work. I have seen it in several places but I want to help steer away from that. Money is not everything and we need to look at it in that way. We are here to help and make people better in all ways.

Becca014 · Jan 23, 2014

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm still doing my pre reqs but I decided that after this semester, I'm going to take the CNA course over the summer. I don't want that to happen to me, especially since I'm shy and have no experience whatsoever. And sorry to hear that, I hope everything works out in the end for you

Becca014 · Jan 23, 2014

Sorry I'm still not used to the whole commenting on blogs thing. I meant to reply the comments I left, for specific people.

evack5318 · Jan 23, 2014

It helps when you get into Nursing school, that way you won't get that shock and awe feeling when you start doing basic nursing skills. It's definitely a plus if you're a CNA before you become a Nurse. Once you're a Nurse, though, I think it doesn't really matter. It'd be admirable, for sure; and you'll get some respect from any CNAs you work with, because you've been in their shoes.

One of the Nurses who I've worked with was a CNA, and she really helped me out as when I first started as a CNA, she even helped me with the CNA work, even though she was an R.N. I've also met Nurses who weren't CNAs and wouldn't help for squat with basic care. I just think the general consensus is that Nurses who were prior aides have more empathy than Nurses who weren't. That's about it.

PVCCHoo · Jan 28, 2014

I have only taken my nursing pre-req's and am awaiting a decision from my local community college's ADN program. I have no healthcare experience outside of managing a courier service that did a great deal of work for the large health system in town.

My plan is to get in to nursing school and after my first year of school, try to get a job as a patient care assistant at the hospital here in town. They will hire nursing students in a CNA type role after one semester of school. My hope is that the experience I get in that position will help with landing an RN job as a new grad as well.

I am not worried about the dirty work. Before I started looking in to this career, I didn't even realize there were CNA's and assumed nurses still did all that kind of stuff themselves anyways. My main concern is the pay cut I will take while I work work as as a PCA for a year.

Graduation2016 · Jan 28, 2014

After the first semester of nursing school you may even get a nurse tech position and it pays a little bit higher than a CNA or pct. plus think of all the experience you will get under your belt. Good luck!

Jcgirl · Feb 3, 2014

For me personally being a STNA has helped me in my adventures into becoming a RN. I've picked up quickly in a few of my classes simply because I've been exposed to a few things. Not to mention being an aide pushing me into wanting to be a RN more. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being aide, but more than a few years of being aide is enough for me.