Does CNA job helps in Nursing School?

[Rn 1979]

Hello I am starting my ADN program soon and I currently working full time as assistant store manger, I am planning to quit my job soon and work full time as CNA because both jobs paying the same, I am a little bit hesitating about it becuase I really don't know if CNA job helps me in my future career as a nurse or not.

[Amaradee]

I have heard numerous times that the best RN's were once CNA's. I believe it will help you further grasp the information you learn in NS while getting you hands on experience.

Its exactly why I will sit for my CNA exam after my first semester in my program. Im going for my BSN.

How do you plan to juggle a CNA job with nursing school workload? Is it possible to only work as a CNA in the summer?

[DaniellaHumphreys]

Of course you should get your CNA!! I got my CNA at 17 years old. Started off at an assisted living for a year and a half, got a job at a hospital in Orthopedics. I've always wanted to get into pediatrics but the Children's hospital was so hard to get a job in so I knew the easy way to get experience as a CNA with peds at my hospital was to try to get a CNA job in postpartum which was the only department at my hospital that had CNAs do hands on care with neonates/babies. Because I was a CNA at the hospital already it was so easy to transition to an other floor because hospitals rather hire from within then take the time and money to train someone from outside the hospital. It may be different in other states but the hospitals in WA state usually give their nurse residencies to the CNA's at the hospital FIRST that have just graduated a nursing program. 2 CNA's at the postpartum department both got jobs here after they completed their RN and they didn't even have BSN yet which is important to the hospitals here in WA, so yes it is beneficial to be a CNA, plus if you only have assisted living/nursing home experience as a CNA, it is still good enough to put on your resume for when you do apply to nurse residencies.

[mag426, ADN, BSN]

How do you plan to juggle a CNA job with nursing school workload? Is it possible to only work as a CNA in the summer?

@amaradee It's completely doable, I'm a PCA in a hospital and I work 32 hours, night shift and I just finished my first semester of nursing school in April. I'm not saying its easy at time but if you manage your time effectively you should have no problem working and attending school. Some people can't work part-time as they have other responsibilities to take care of outside of nursing school.

@fayassin You will do fine and yes it will help you a lot in nursing school. I feel like I went into my first clinical confident due to my experience as a CNA.

[StacyAtheNurse, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

I graduated 2 months ago, and in my state's economy, where new grads cannot find a job, I was offered 4 jobs on the spot without a license and the one thing ALL the nurse managers said? You were a CNA in a hospital? Great so you know how we work.

Can't say the same for a CNA working in a LTC or home care though. I don't know if it will be as helpful. Also being a CNA in a hospital almost guarantees you a job in that hospital.