From a Graduate RN to CNA/UAP

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Hi,

I'd like to ask some advise from you. I'm a graduate registered nurse but unfortunately I failed my first attempt in passing the NCLEX-RN :scrying: I have been working at a hospital near my house as a graduate nurse and actually this week is my last week of orientation on the floor. My dilemma is I haven't told my nursing director that I failed...I don't know how to tell them and I'm scared to get their reaction or possibly fire me...but I know I have to let them know...Some nurses at work told me that normally they will retain me but will make me work as a nurse tech/cna/uap until I pass the board as an RN. I guess my question per se' is is it worth working as a CNA or should I just quit or file a leave of absence while I study for the board? What other tasks will I learn from working as a Tech/CNA? I mean at work what I noticed is the CNA's role is mainly limited to taking vitals (using a BP machine), I/O's, hygiene care, making beds, ambulating patients and toher tasks that I've learned during my first year in nursing school. I'm not trying to belittle the CNA's job but I guess I'm just trying to see if it's all worth doing or just cncentrate more on my studying. Please help................. :uhoh21:

Specializes in Cardiac.
I was a CNA for 3 years and just passed the board this month. I strongly recommend you that just asked for leave of absence and study really really really hard because I remembered that I was so tired after I got off from work and did not have any strenght to study after.Keep in mind!! CNA has more patients load, even the tasks look simple but it will make you exhaused easily.

That's a great point, CNAs really have a heavy workload! If it were me, I'd quit and study full time. CNA/tech work is GREAT experience for nursing school, but it's not really what you need for nursing. You will to busy to really learn what you need to learn.

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At my hospital, they used to do the same thing, make GN's work as techs if they didn't pass the NCLEX on their first attempt. But now they are saying that one is still a GN, and needs to learn the nursing role. The hospital even pays for a remediation class such as Kaplan. If one doesn't pass on the second attempt, the hospital believes that these are not the nurses they want working for them, and are basically fired.

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I was a CNA for 3 years and just passed the board this month. I strongly recommend you that just asked for leave of absence and study really really really hard because I remembered that I was so tired after I got off from work and did not have any strenght to study after.Keep in mind!! CNA has more patients load, even the tasks look simple but it will make you exhaused easily.

Hi,

My director has offered me the tech position at work and put me down to part time position ( 2 nights shift per week ). She told me that it will be a great experience for me and that if I experience what a nurse aid does, they (CNA's) will respect me more once I become an RN. Do you think, my director was just BS'ing me? She also said that most RN's who's worked as an aid prior to becoming an RN makes a better RN. I start my tech job this monday 7P-7A and hopefully I will only work as one for 2 months or less ( I plan to retake the board first week of October....I KNOW I WIL PASS!!!!!)....In the back of my head, I tell myself to just quit and focus on studying but on the other side I'm scared that I may lose my place at my current unit once I get my RN license. This is so complicated!!! I just can't decide! :banghead:

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Specializes in OR.
Hi, Guys!

Thanks for all the feedback about my situation. I've finally had the courage to tell my director. I called her at work and told her that I've falied the exam. She was cool about it and offered me a nurse tech position at work. She's giving me a couple of days off to get my self and my thought together. She said it will be a good experience for me while I'm preparing for the boards. She said I will know my unit better and at the same time get to observe the RN's functioning at work and gain more knowledge about different patients and diagnosis. I still don;t feel good about it, in someway I feel belittled and I'm so embarras to show my face at work ( I guess I'm thinking that people at work may think less of me for failing the exam). I don't know how much of a pay cut off they will take form my current salary. I don't rally want to work as a CNA but I'm also afraid that once I get my license I will have trouble getting back in the hospital for reemployment. I need more advise.... :uhoh21:

Hi there, I hope you don't mind me giving you some honest advise. I was a CNA when I was a student and I hated that job. I think it is the hardest job that I ever have. I don't know about your hospital, the hospital that I used to work for I usually had to take care of 12-15 patients. The harder you work, the more work that they will give you. (I know this applies to the RN job too but RN gets paid a lot more). I basically quit my job a month before I took my NCLEX so that I didn' t have to stress about going to work. I used my entire month studying almost everyday about 3-7 hours per day. I think it is all worth it. Do you think your director can let you take 2 - 3 weeks leave of absence so that you can concentrate on studying?

I hope you can think twice before you take up the CNA job. When I was a CNA, I didn't really get time to learn because our unit was so busy.:uhoh21:

By the way, I want to add one more thing: I was only working 2 days per month back then and it was already stressful enough for me to quit.

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If you take your board in early october, please please don't take the CNA position. IT IS NOT WORTH IT. :uhoh3: like I mentioned before,I was a CNA for 3 years and 7 months worked as a CNA in my current RN jobs. I am facing all these role cofusing dilemma. The CNAs are not willing to help me out and always said "why don't you do it yourself? I don't have time",the LVN sometimes delagates tasks to me.Some other RNs will call me to change the patients. The RNs and LVNs seems much better now because I am really consistent to remind them what my position is in the unit, however, I still encounter lots of problems from the CNAs.

My other classmate who is totally new in my unit, she fitted in much more easier than me.Anyway stopped talking about myself. Honestly, I do believe your director will let you take a leave of absence, if you insist that you need 100% concentration on the board exam. My director just wanted once a week, but I insisted on the leave of absence for 3 months and told her " you want a CNA or an RN to work for you?" she approved...then I passed on the first attempt. Maybe 2 days a week seems very little, it may take alot out of you as a new CNA/NURSE TECH. REMEMBER you will have anywhere from 8-12

patients. so if you can afford not to work, Don' t work. :uhoh21: :o

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You know, its always a good thing to listen to other people's perspectives. After reading what nursebear and molichick wrote about working as a CNA and studying for the NCLEX I now concur with their opinions and withdraw my suggestion that you take the position. If you can afford not to work then don't.

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I really appreciate you all for all the feedbacks. Actaully, I've already told myself that I'm going to give it a try next week, but if after next week I feel it's not worth it and I'm just down right more stressed out and could'nt concentrate more with my studying then I WILL QUIT! The only reason why I feel like sticking to it is because my director sort of talked me into doing it and I feel that if I quit they will not let me back in after I pass the board or they may think I'm not reliable. I know my main goal is to become an RN and I will not stop until I get to my goal. Money is not that of an issue, I guess my family and I will just need to tighten our belt more for the next 2-3 months. I feel the same way like you guys. I will be working Monday and Tuesday next week and I will keep you posted. Thanks!

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Specializes in OR.
I really appreciate you all for all the feedbacks. Actaully, I've already told myself that I'm going to give it a try next week, but if after next week I feel it's not worth it and I'm just down right more stressed out and could'nt concentrate more with my studying then I WILL QUIT! The only reason why I feel like sticking to it is because my director sort of talked me into doing it and I feel that if I quit they will not let me back in after I pass the board or they may think I'm not reliable. I know my main goal is to become an RN and I will not stop until I get to my goal. Money is not that of an issue, I guess my family and I will just need to tighten our belt more for the next 2-3 months. I feel the same way like you guys. I will be working Monday and Tuesday next week and I will keep you posted. Thanks!

Mye614, I will support you (mentally) and pray for you no matter what choices you have made. I guess worse comes to worse you will just have to quit. Even if you quit, I am very sure with your credential, you will be able to find another nursing job in another nice hospital. It will even give you more advantages over other new grads because you have some "real" nursing experience. Working as a CNA night shift is easier than an evening or day shift. You can probably take some of your time reading your NCLEX book and memorizing some lab values. A good tip for you is : make some note cards with lab values, special diseases, drugs, commutable disease, what kind of isolation.. and put them in your big scrub pockets. When it is 3 in the morning and you have nothing to do, try to concentrate and read those note cards over and over again. I used note cards to write down all the drugs side effects, actions and all lab value and what not and it really really helped me with my NCLEX. Hang in there and let me know if you need any help with anything! Good luck.:)

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Sorry about your situation, first of all.

I think working 2 days a week probably won't be that bad. I agree with your nursing director that you will see different scenerios that will help you to understand more of the nursing role. Maybe something you see will be a scenerio on the NCLEX...you never know.

It will show the director you are dedicated to the field, even if it means at a lower pay for a while.

Don't be embarrassed. You don't know how long it took all of your coworkers to pass. Ya never know, your director could have taken 3 times. Everyone knows how difficult the NCLEX is, and everyone knows that many people do not pass it the first time. It doesn't make you a good nurse vs. bad nurse.

Let us know how the first two days go, and I agree with your decision. Only you can tell if it will be a good thing, or if you should quit, and use those two days as extra study days.

Just make sure you give a two week notice. You don't want to leave on a bad note.

Good luck with your studying, and good luck on the NCLEX! :)

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i have a question regarding working as a cna at washington while studying for the nclex. i am a graduate of a 4 year BSN degree in the philippines.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
i have a question regarding working as a cna at washington while studying for the nclex. i am a graduate of a 4 year BSN degree in the philippines.

This is an extremely old thread and your questions would probably be better in either the CNA or state forum but main question would be do you have legal visa allowing you to work in the US?

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i am an american citizen just graduated from a nursing school in the philippines, and i would like to work as a cna while reviewing for the nclex at washington DC. thank you!

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