Does being a CNA help with future RN jobs?

chacha82, ADN, BSN · May 8, 2016

It can! I worked as a cna for several years before becoming a nurse. Cna work is not easy. You get familiar with the patient population and that is great. Right now I have to work with a cna who has decided she knows everything. She likes to boss us around. Don't be like that.

Labmom1118 · May 8, 2016

If the nurses on the floor know that you're in school, I bet they will think of you when something interesting comes up. "Hey, bsnorbust, we're doing (insert procedure) in room whatever. Want to come observe?" Or "Listen to this patient's heart (or lungs) and tell me what you think." I work in a level 1 nursery attached to the OB unit in a small hospital (we have 1 nursery nurse and 2 OB nurses on shift) and we do this all the time between us, whether for a second opinion or just because something is different. We'll all listen to a heart murmur or tell each other to look at or feel this. It's how you grow.

lcal07 · May 8, 2016

Working as a CNA 1st can definitely benefit you. I worked as one before I became a nurse and the nurses would let me in on things they would do and let me do a few things. It also helped me get comfortable with dealing with patients and their families. When I graduated I was offered a job at the facility I worked at and they're helping with me returning to school to further my education.

cocoa_puff · May 8, 2016

Personally yes. Where I live, it's very difficult to get a job as a new grad without healthcare experience. Those without experience were able to get jobs through networking and speaking to managers prior to graduation. So really, it's all about who you know.

bsnorbust · May 9, 2016

This is all great input. I think it will help my confidence and get used to being so personal with patients. I never thought I would have to get comfortable with working so closely with patients, I guess I thought the hardest part would be getting into nursing school. I just signed up today for the 5- week course. It seems like most of the jobs are in nursing homes, like our clinicals, as opposed to hospitals. I will focus on getting into a hospital to make the most of it.

I def will not be THAT know it all CNA lol

KarenMS · May 10, 2016

My classmates who work as CNAs with adults are at a huge advantage in clinicals, in my opinion. They already have the comfort level with patients, so they can devote all their energies to learning. I had to spend a lot of time getting over anxiety and getting comfortable, when I wish I could have just been learning during that time.

summerly · May 11, 2016

I worked as a CNA for 4 years while in nursing in the hospital and department I wanted to work in as a nurse. I got to know all the staff and the in's and out's out the hospital and unit. The nurses were amazing and taught me so much, as they knew I was in school, as were many other CNA's who became RN's and continued to work on the unit. It's a great way to get your foot in the door on a unit you want to work in. My unit was pediatrics - I worked there for 10 years total CNA & RN combined. I definitely felt like I had a lot more knowledge than the other RN hires that started with me because I knew where everything was, the charting system, I knew all the staff, etc. It will definitely benefit you.

dec2007 · May 11, 2016

Where I work, being a CNA can either guarantee you a nursing position, or ensure you will never get one at that institution. Let me explain. We have some CNAs who have so impressed us with their work ethic and professionalism that they were hired for an RN position long before they graduated nursing school. We have others who did the minimum possible work, we're not self-starters, and frequently retreated to texting or email when they could have been feeding or walking patients. These CNAs will never work at our hospital as nurses.

bsnprg · May 11, 2016

I agree with all the other comments. Most colleges and universities already have being a CNA as a prerequisite , but I guess it is kinda nice to work as a CNA based in your own curiosity and interest.

There are definitely pros and cons to everything.

I gtafuated to yrs ago and* personally never had any experience in a medical facility, but had volunteered many hours in a hospital, shadowed a nurse in a nursing home, provided pt care w/ aids, fed terminally ill patients, spent one on one time with nursing home residents (which I think was one of* the most valuable time as a student), had a little journal and jotted down my thoughts about patients and how they are feeling about their disease process* and many more...

But I still feel like I was at a great disadvantage for not having CNA experience. When you work that 8hr or 12 hr CNA shift you probably provide care for up to 8-12 patients that includes: bathing, dressing, feeding, providing activities.... I think you get really comfortable with patients and patient care when you are a CNA .

Nursing school was more difficult for me compared to another student with really* rich experience in medical setting. For example, we would have a three hour lecture about several neurological problems and my classmate who had already worked with patients with the same conditions had a point of reference. Also at nursing school it is expected that students have some basic knowledge about meds and their side effects. Working in nursing home,* you will actually see patients taking certain meds for life and have manifested all kinds of med. SE. ( a picture can speak a thousand words) ... Me on the other hand would basically spend hours trying to memorize all this for tests and exams .

I don't want to sound super excited about seeing patients with all kinds of diagnosis; I think the more experience you have the better clinician you will be.

I never had patient experience, so I didn't feel burnt out at school or after graduation.* Everything that we were thought at school, I would literally take it and accept it (sometimes reality is not as ideal as concepts thought in the academia), but the better student you are the better your self esteem will be.

One thing that is very important in nursing school is providing the best patient care possible ; however, try to manage your CNA schedule in a way that you wouldn't overwork yourself and maintain that interest in pt care. Sorry for writtibg such a long post , get CNA experience not for the money that you will be compensated or to get into the bsn program,* but to actually truly learn about patients . I think one of the most important concepts in nursing is to be empathetic. Nursing school is really difficult, people's life can throw curve ball at them, but if you really love nursing you'll be a great nurse and will love your job:)