Does being a CNA equal 1 year experiance for lpn?

[missbee10]

Im going to school for LPN and a classmate of mine stated to me that since she is a CNA that means she already has experianced. But, I have always been told that CNA and LPN are really two different things. She was saying since she already works at a nursing home that when she gets finish with school she can go straight to working at a hospital. So am I right or wrong? Thanks in advance for replying.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

thats the first time i have heard that... a cna is a assistant a LPN is considered a professional... CNA's are not considered in the professional catagory.. you can't compare the 2...

[saintplatypus]

I am in Indiana and here being a CNA prior to becoming an LPN is beneficial, however being a CNA for 1 year does not equal 1 year of experience as an LPN. The experience may be worth a brownie point or two, but your grade point average and any honors you may have earned will be what lands you the job.

Almost every nurse that had been a CNA agrees that it proves helpful. When you have walked in the CNAs shoes you are aware of what their job entails. you know how hard they work, and you have more respect for them. And your history as a CNA will be obvious to the CNAs you supervise, as you will be more apt to answer call lights and assist them than if you had never been a CNA. So when you have this knowledge and experience, and you are supervising, you will know whether or not your CNA is performing her duties, and if she is doing the correctly and in a timely manner.

Good Luck

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

In the nursing home setting it's harder for a nurse to assist the CNA's than it is in the hospitals. But I do have to agree that in both settings there are both LVN/LPN and RNs who wont lift a finger to help a CNA even if they're not busy. I hate those types of nurses and that's a nurse I definately don't want to be.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

thats the first time i have heard that... a cna is a assistant a LPN is considered a professional... CNA's are not considered in the professional catagory.. you can't compare the 2...

I don't know if the LPN can be considered as a professional...maybe a vocation, but, I remember hearing that only BSNs and above are considered to be professionals.

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

I heard the samething from one of my instructors. Anybody that has a Bachelors and above are considered professionals. Anything below is a paraprofessional. That's what I was told, but in my opinion, I think that any LVN/LPN/RN is a professional. I don't know what I would call a CNA though because CNA's are a vital part of the team and without your CNA then you're screwed for basic care. Think about Maslow.

[essential]

I am a new grad and never worked as a CNA before. The LTC I work now pay you more if you were CNA before. LPN and CNA were two different things but if you are new grad, CNA experience makes a difference.

[CandyGyrl1985]

Our community college requires you take the CNA course as a pre-req. Kaplan college just counts it as medical experience towards admissions.

If she has worked a long time as a CNA and then got her LPN then she might get hired into the hospital - it just depends on their policy.

Usually the first clinical of LPN is pretty similar to CNA semester. You learn bedside care- showers, turning, dressing, feeding, etc. But that would be where the CNA knowledge would end.

[smileyy27]

Here in Little Rock, ar some of the places do consider your cna experiences and will start u off a little higher pay. One place i checked into it was like 35 cents extra an hour for a year exp. Another hospital my classmates works, i think she said he had 3yrs exp. and she was started out at 16.50 in oppose to the normal 15hr. So i guess it just depends on where u work.