Does CNA experience help new RN employment?

[melc0305]

I know CNA certification does not count toward your RN classes, but I was wondering if it would help getting a job?

My situation is that I'm just starting out and all the pre-reqs I need for nursing are closed. I was thinking of doing the CNA course now, then trying to find part-time CNA work while I do the pre-reqs and nursing school starting next semester.

Would it be a good way to get some experience and look any better to a future employer than a newly graduated RN without that experience? Just wondering if I should invest the time and money on it.

Thanks!

[caliotter3]

It can not hurt, but don't depend upon it to get that first RN job. For an RN job, the employer wants to see RN experience. But they will be impressed that you are a working CNA rather than an employee of Mickey D's or Sears.

[thenameismac]

This is a question for the OP and caliotter3...the employer should like if you became a RN at the same place you were a CNA (like you moved up the later type deal), right? I'm sure this is common sense but it's just a thought.

[semester1kid]

Any healthcare experience is always helpful...Working around pts and recognizing situations is a large part either job. Thus, proving that you already can handle various situations in a healthcare environment is most definitely a plus, regardless of the role you play..

I'm an ADN student as well and I'm going for my CNA license as well because I go to school with many students who already work in healthcare in various capacities (including CNA) and I can readily see the difference between those who have and have not worked in healthcare - I'm in the 'have not' catagory (I currently work in a finance dept in the home office of a large retail company)...

The benefits of becoming a CNA while going through nursing school can be multidimensional - including having that healthcare experience on your resume', finding a job as a CNA in a hospital/facility where you can already have a 'foot in the door' for when you graduate, perhaps even having the said hospital/facility pay for part or all of your education - the latter won't help me out since I've already paid for all but a couple of semesters of nursing theory. But it's something to consider

[caliotter3]

This is a question for the OP and caliotter3...the employer should like if you became a RN at the same place you were a CNA (like you moved up the later type deal), right? I'm sure this is common sense but it's just a thought.

This can go both ways. For the new nurse it can be the wrong move. The other CNAs, who were once your peers, are now your subordinates. They can make life hard or impossible for you and can insure that you are let go. The employer may, and sometimes, does, fire the new nurse who can not supervise the CNAs who were her/his "friends", but now don't want to do the work because s/he now supervises them. It makes no sense that the employer would not support the newly promoted nurse, but some do not. And some employers will refuse to move the new nurse into a licensed position, forcing that person to remain at the CNA level or find a new job.

[newway]

I think so or at least that is what I hope. I am a CNA, and entering nursing school, who just got a new job in float pool as a C.N.A. at a local hospital. At the very least I won’t be like a deer in headlights when I do my clinicals. I should have an idea by then as to which beeps to worry about and which ones not.

I think the biggest advantage will be networking. I hear it over and over it is not what you know but who you know. So if you are in good with a few of the managers it can’t hurt.

[2ndyearstudent, CNA]

This can go both ways. For the new nurse it can be the wrong move. The other CNAs, who were once your peers, are now your subordinates. They can make life hard or impossible for you and can insure that you are let go. The employer may, and sometimes, does, fire the new nurse who can not supervise the CNAs who were her/his "friends", but now don't want to do the work because s/he now supervises them. It makes no sense that the employer would not support the newly promoted nurse, but some do not. And some employers will refuse to move the new nurse into a licensed position, forcing that person to remain at the CNA level or find a new job.

The crappier the facility you work at the truer this gets. My solution was to get experience at a horrid facility then get a hospital job as soon as I could.

I know of one exception at my old nursing home. This CNA from Kenya I worked with started nursing school a year ahead of me. He is hands down the best CNA I ever saw. He started as an RN right after passing the boards at the same LTC we worked at and by his 3rd shift he was picking up doubles on the TCU. Really amazing person and the CNAs have no choice but to respect him.

[MyaCL]

I'm a tech in an ED and I can tell you, we have several techs that went back to nursing school and are now nurses in the dept. The way they treat the other techs is with compassion and respect because they've been in our shoes, so you can't help but reciprocate. My hospital is really good about keeping you on board if you started with them as a CNA on the floor or a Tech in the ED, especially if you were a good student and have a reputation for being a team player and hard worker.

[otiliabujor]

I appreciate all your comments. I am half way through with my prerequisites for the ADN program and I am already worried about getting a job as an RN :) . I am not very young either (35) and just relocated to the US. All my work experience is abroad and not in the healthcare field (travel/ hospitality and marketing/advertising). I have decided to get my CNA certification and start working to gain some experience in the field while I am completing my ADN. Does anyone know if working as a CNA helps with the admission in the ADN programs?

[funtimes]

Where I work it helps. We have several RNs who were former aides, including a couple who were aides on the same unit before becoming RNs and getting hired as an RN. I also notice most of the supervisors were aides at one time, that may or may not be coincidence.