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 ?

I'm currently in my last semester of nursing school and I'm working per diem as a CNA. It definitely helped me. I actually started working as a CNA after I started nursing school. Clinically I am more confident and my communication with patients and their families is much better too. I remember when I first started nursing school I was clueless! When I work and I have some downtime, I actually look through the patients' charts and try to decipher the doctors' orders for practice. Sometimes I try to read the whole H&P to figure out the pt's story and create some nursing diagnosis haha. And you have the nurses at work too for reference! I mean yea they tell you for test-taking strategies never to follow what you see in the real world, but sometimes SEEING what nurses actually do will help! It's different from when you read or hear about it than actually seeing it in action.

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You definitely do not need to be a CNA to do well in nursing school. We only had one or two CNA's in my class of 60+, and all the non-CNA students did just fine. CNA is a low-skilled job with a narrow scope of practice, and you will learn everything that CNA's know within your first semester at school anyway.

However, if you'd like to get your CNA so that you can work part time while in nursing school, have a flexible schedule, and get your foot in the door at a hospital, then that is a great idea for any nursing student. (but it's not necessary)

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Specializes in Critical Care (ICU/CVICU).

^^ definately agree with thekidisback! SEEING nurses do things and SEEING patients with certain conditions and the clinical manifestations of them first hand really makes things easier.

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Don't waste your time. Nursing school will teach you everything you need to know. I got a part time job as CNA during school and it helped with organization but it was difficult to seperate my roles in each position. As long as you work hard you will succeed.

P.S. I didn't go to school for it. I was qualified after my first semester.

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I was required to complete my CNA to start nursing school, but I actually didn't work as a CNA until about 6 months prior to graduating nursing school. And I only did that so that I could have healthcare experience on my resume, outside of clinicals.

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Specializes in LTC, OB/GYN, Primary Care.

I found we did CNA work during nursing school clinicals the whole time anyways. By the end I felt comfortable with all aspects of pt care and could transfer and change ppl with ease. I had instructors thats expected us to be the aid and nurse for our residents in LTC. To be honest in a LTC setting theres not that much u can do during the 9 hr day so any pt interaction is expected. I wouldn't worry to much about it. If you can fit it in your schedule do it. If i had the choice I would not work and focus on studying though! good luck!

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Specializes in CNA.

I am a CNA and in Nursing school these are my thoughts:

It isn't necessary to be a CNA to do well in nursing school. It CAN help with some of the basic skills you will learn, and also help you understand the way things work in the real world a little better (facility politics, short staffing, FAMILY members of residents etc etc). I also think that being a CNA first gives you a more unique perspective that will help you not have that... "Wiping butts is beneath me" attitude when you get that license and start working as a nurse. That being said, I have several friends that have NO medical experience at all and they are doing quite well in nursing school. It is hard to work and do nursing school too, so think about that before making your decision. If I could get by without working, I wouldn't while in school.

Hope that helps some. Good Luck!

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Specializes in LTC.

I had absolutely no medical experience before entering LPN school, and i have done very well, if I may say so myself. I think being a CNA would be helpful by making you feel more comfortable in a health care facility. Helpful, but no essential.

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First of congrats on being accepted. Since you'll be starting soon I'd just go with it. I also plan to go straight in. It won't be easy but you can do it. Plenty of people have. Stay focused and realize you'll probably feel a bit overwhelmed and out of your comfort zone but you can do it. (now if I could only take my own advice lol)

Best of luck!

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Specializes in ICU Telemetry Med/Surg.

I have been an RN 21 years As a nursing student I had jobs as a CNA, Phlebotomist, Triage clerk in ER guess what I am trying to say is try to get a job in some health care field many times they are flexible with school hrs. My phlebotomy job was 4 hrs before school and 4 hrs after school Good Luck in what you do Caring Nurses are always needed!!!!

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Specializes in LTC.

You will be just fine. I personally happened to be a GNA first which did help somewhat with school but it can also make it harder when it comes to test etc. because you look at test questions as a GNA and not as a nurse. There are plenty of women in my nursing classes who were never a CNA but get better grades then I do. Long story short, there are pros and cons to doing it both ways but being a CNA prior to nursing school is not a necessity. I am a FIRM believer where there's a will there's a way. I'm sure you will do great!

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I think being a CNA before nursing school should be MANDATORY! You would NOT believe the number of nurses(LPN's and RN's alike) that I've seen and worked with who have NO CLUE how to put someone on a bedpan! Plus I think it also helps to develop time management skills.

If you don't HAVE to work while attending LPN school then don't as you will be all consumed with nursing school and all you'll be learning! Good luck to you!

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