Does CNA training prepare you for nursing school?

maxcat · Sep 11, 2009

I have not yet attended nursing school (am hoping to get in for next fall) but I don't see how it can't help you. Many of the nurses I work with started as CNA's and they totally said it helps make you a better nurse. I've heard that the first semester of nursing school covers lots of "basic care" topics that CNA's are responsible for.

I'm learning so much as a CNA. How to work with residents/patients, how to work with difficult patients, how to kind of assess how a resident is feeling that day and what they might be able to do or not do... I see how the nurses work, what they deal with, how things flow at a health care facility-the opportunities to learn are endless. CNA work can be a bit of a grind, but there's never a dull moment either.

I can't say how it will help with school, specifically (though I assume it would make clinicals less scary-I mean, at least you know how to approach and work with a patient, kwim?). But it's a great way to make sure that nursing is something you want to do, and I hear it makes you a better nurse.

krisandnoahsmom1 · Sep 12, 2009

This is my last semester in the Nursing progam and I work as a "tech/CNA" on the medical unit and surgical unit at a hospital. Since I am more of a visual learner and I see what I am learning about it helps me retain alot of information. Not to mention the fact that I also work with alot of excellent nurses who always help me out with careplans, questions, allowing for me to watch and help with some of the procedures, and since I am a student some of the procedures I am allowed to do on my own. I would say that it would most definately help IF you work in a hospital and have the opportunity to witness what it is that you are learning about.

gkbroaro · Sep 12, 2009

Wow thank you all for your help. So another question I have is : is it only beneficial to work in a hospital as a CNA? Or will any healthcare setting help me gain good insight? (Eventually I want to work as a Pediatric NP). Thank you again, ginillel

gkbroaro · Sep 12, 2009

Also, is it hard to get a job as a brand new CNA in the hospital setting?

Thank you!

krisandnoahsmom1 · Sep 12, 2009

I would say that it would help to work in a hospital. Just because I know I would never have the opportunity to witness or start a saline lock in a nursing home. I have never worked in a nursing home but I think that most of the aide work there focuses on ADL's (someone correct me if I am mistaken). Most of your clinical skills you will see at in an actual health care setting ie. doctor's office, hospital, clinic's etc. If I want a change of scenery I would go into what is called a "float pool" and that is whene they send you to whatever unit needs your help. So I have seen everything from the ER to OB. As far as job availability to "new tech's" goes in the hospital, I think that depends on the area you are in as this is the first and only job that I have had as a CNA. Hope this helps and the very best of luck to you

maxcat · Sep 12, 2009

LTC work does focus on ADL (activities of daily living-getting dressed, etc..), but we do lots of vital signs too, and assist nurses where needed-I've assisted with dressing changes, a straight cath (just held the patient and observed), things like that. And, it's helpful to know how to work with old people-my friend who is a BSN nurse in ICU says most of her patients are elderly! I'm sure you see a bigger variety of things in a hospital, but that said, it can be harder (at least around here) to get a hospital CNA job. The nursing homes often hold the training courses at their facilities (thus paying for your course, your test, and giving you a job) and they use more CNAs than the hospital does.

I did my clinical work in a hospital, so I've seen both. The hospital-I got to witness some new things (insertion of NG tube, removal of drains, etc...), depending on who I worked with. I saw peds, maternity ward, and just general med/surg. The work revolved around vital signs, serving meals & recording intake/output of food/liquid. We toileted people, helped them to the shower, helped them get dressed & brush teeth, passed water pitchers, filled ice bags, etc... so lots of things were the same, as far as actual work.

I think either way, you're going to learn a lot.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Sep 12, 2009

It's generally a lot harder to get a job at a hospital than it is at a nursing home, and it's true that you'll see a lot more procedures at a hospital, but working at an LTC will still leave you better prepared for nursing school than working at Walmart or something. You may not get to see a ton of cool nurse stuff, but you do get quicker and more comfortable with patient care, you learn how to deal with all kinds of people, and you develop good organizational and time management skills. So when other students in your class are freaking out about wiping someone's butt or dealing with a stubborn, demented old lady, you won't be fazed. I remember seeing one epic thread in the student nursing forum about the trials and tribulations of bed baths. And bed baths are SO not a big deal! For a student who is also a CNA, that's one less thing to stress out about.

maxcat · Sep 13, 2009

So when other students in your class are freaking out about wiping someone's butt or dealing with a stubborn, demented old lady, you won't be fazed.

That. Plus, who do you think gets sick & hospitalized? Usually not your young healthy people (unless you are working in peds or OB or something). Seriously, if I were working at our hospital, I'd be seeing a lot of the LTC facility residents anyways. I think if you can work with people who are suffering from dementia, everyone else is easy.

gloria1234 · Sep 13, 2009

No CNA training does not prepare you for nursing school..............but it will help you once you become a nurse......because, A CNA knows the basic skills.....making beds....vitals,etc. and they don't teach that in school.....I can't tell you how many new nurses........don't have the basic skills, when they come out of school...You can tell which new grads had been a CNA before going to nursing school, they have the skills and time management skills,I think being a CNA first should be a must, for anyone wanting to be a RN,LPN,

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2009

It will help you with your first semester in nursing school since it's all basic care that you're doing. It also exposes you to the real world of nursing. Sure you wont be doing any procedures as a CNA that a nurse would do, but you would be able to assist and see how the nurses do things. So yes, it does help to have your CNA. Good Luck

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2009

As other poster have stated being a CNA before nursing has its benefits. It does not prepare you for nursing school. What it does do is expose you to a hospital setting. You will be able to observe and be participating in health care, you will get to see how all players, doctors, nurses, cna's, rt's, etc all come together. You will also see how others manage their time, be able to assist in different settings.

Nursing school is an entirely different ball game. Instead of just getting the vital signs or bringin food to a patient, changing a pt as a cna, you will be expected to understand and know what to do with the vital signs and any changes, what to do when changing a pt and there is anything unusual, what diets pt's are on and how that affects their care.

I was a CNA for four years while I was in nursing shcool, I stayed at the same hospital but I went to a different floor. What it prepared me for afterward was a comfort in knowing where things are located, how people interacted, and a small amount of time management although it was completely different as a nurse.

By all means I would highly recommend being a CNA it taught me a lot. Good LUck to you