ENCOURAGEMENT...CNA before nursing school??

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello there!

I am 21 and just got accepted into a nursing program :) to receive my LPN. I am a very determined person and I know I am going to get my RN afterwards. Well i have been reading a lot of these forums and a lot of people are saying that you should be a CNA before you try to tackle being a nurse (which, granted is always good, of course). So I'm kinda worried now! I mean I know nursing school is going to be extremely hard and I am getting myself ready for that. Everyone keeps telling me it is going to be very hard, and are you sure you can do it. YES! :up: I feel like I am the only one who believes in myself. I want to believe that I can do it, and I'm going to give it all I can! No, I was not a CNA..but I need encouragement that I can still do this!! Are there any other LPN's, RN's out there that didn't have any experience before entering the health field :confused:, I mean I know there is...so let me know what you think please.

Thanks,

Farah :D

P.S. I forgot to mention I have taken all my prerecs such as, micro and anatomy and so for. Maybe that will help me some ?

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It's not necessary. Some people it helps to already be a CNA the first semester b/c that's what you learn first semester. And most CNA's,techs, etc are more comfortable in clincal at first as far as your communication skills with patients. Personally, I wouldn't put school on hold just to become a CNA first.

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Thank you, but putting school on hold isn't an option for me. I'm starting May 2nd. Worked too hard just to get where i am now.

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You'll do fine. If being a CNA before nursing school had that much influence on how good of a nurse you would become, it would be required. Good luck!

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True to that, thank you!

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I am so happy that you are very determine to reach this new educational goal in your life, please listen to your heart and remeber no one knows you better than yourself, learn as much as you can, read beyond your required chapters and be the first one to try a new skill in your class. CNA's are wonderful at interacting and providing within their scope patient care, for sure you can benefit at a large scale if you become one, but if not good luck in your role as a student LPN.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Some nursing schools require a CNA. Others prefer that you NOT have your CNA - they would rather teach you to perform nursing functions their way. That way, they don't have to break any bad habits that you might have formed in your CNA practice.

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Specializes in Critical Care (ICU/CVICU).

DO IT (if it won't mess with your academics)! At least you will be more confident and more ready to hit the ground running. I was a CNA before I started nursing school and I'm glad I did it. I would still work while in school (never know when extra cash could come in handy!) and you have access to a health care facility where you can ask questions and learn even MORE than just what's taught in class. Two other benefits include having priority as far as future employment is concerned and you will run circles around people who have no medical experience when clinical time comes.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

While ANY experience is never wasted (IMHO) I also believe that nursing school is designed to make you a competent nurse. Just focus on that, unless you need a job.

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go for it. best would be a cna in the ER or float pool and in a hospital you'd like to work at as an rn later on.

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I was not a CNA before nursing school and I did just fine. I didnt have any bad habits to break. Some of my friends were CNAs beforehand and they did fine as well. As long as you do your work and are motivated it wont be a problem! good luck

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All the schools around here require you get your CNA certification before you can even apply to the nursing program. But a lot of my classmates never worked as a CNA, just took the class, and they all did fine. Most were less confident when we got to our first clinical, especially if they had never really interacted with the elderly, but they figured it out, and the classmates that were CNA's helped them out.

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