Is it necessary to be a CNA b4 nursing school?

Freedom42 · Feb 25, 2008

My adviser urged me not to become a CNA before nursing school; instead, I shadowed nurses in the ER. It was an excellent experience with exposure to many different kinds of cases. That said, now that I'm on the floor for clinical, I do wish I had a better idea of how an entire shift should unfold -- and a semester as a CNA would have given me that as well as some clinical skills. Six of one...

allnurses Guide · Feb 25, 2008

Why do so many people get stuck on cleaning up people? Its just part of the job, CNA or nurse, we all do it but hardly 24/7. Its an excellent time to assess, and care for people.

Being a CNA is a good jumping off point, a start for time management and really basic chores. Being able to do them quickly and well, leaves you more time to concentrate on nursing judgement and skills when you are doing clinicals in nursing school. If you really hate being a CNA, you won't enjoy nursing either, IMO.

Just don't fall for those ads on TV "you can have a wonderful career in a health profession!" and spend a fortune. You'll spend enough in nursing school!

Ms Kylee · Feb 25, 2008

It's helped me a lot both in class and in clinical. The butt wiping I don't mind. Someone has to do it, may as well be me. But it's also a great way to spend time and bond with your patients.

luvmy3kids · Feb 25, 2008

A lot of schools require you to have (at least) your CNA certification prior to even applying to Nursing School.

I have heard that a lot of CNA's feel much more comfortable with patient care during clinicals because they have had some experience. I think that is something to think about, as students can be nervous enough just going through school and clinicals.

Also, CNA's aren't the only ones who are "doing a lot of butt wiping"... that's something else to think about too.

Good luck to you.

Jen

jjjoy, LPN · Feb 25, 2008

Necessary? Well...

if the nursing school(s) you want to apply to require CNA experience/certification, then definitely yes.

If the nursing school(s) you want to apply to don't require that, then it isn't *necessary*... but it still could be advisable and I'd encourage it if you can. You work with patients, nurses and other personnel and you get familiar with the health care environment, such as a hospital floor. There is *so much* to learn in nursing school and once you graduate and start working, that the more you are familiar with ahead of time, the better prepared you will be.

Some say that working as a CNA may burn someone out on nursing if the workload is very heavy and/or you seem to end up in an endless loop of toileting and turning patients and never enough time to feel like more than an anonymous pair of overworked hands. If that's the case though, give your notice to quit, find a better place and note that you DON'T want to work at that facility after you graduate.

So bottom line, you don't usually HAVE to be a CNA before nursing school, but I highly recommend it if you can do it.

StarlightRN · Feb 25, 2008

The nursing school I went to required you to have your CNA before starting the nusing program. I think it really helps you to become familiar with the health care environment before you start nursing school. You might wipe a lot of butts as a CNA, but you'll do it as a RN too, there's no getting away from that. It's part of the job whether your a CNA, LPN, LVN or RN. I know as a CNA I had more time to bond with the patients than I do working as a nurse and miss that at times. I would advise working as a CNA before or at least during nursing school if possible. It will give you a bigger picture of how everything works. I personally can tell if the nurses I work with has worked as a CNA or not. I feel if you work as a CNA you will make a better nurse. But that's just my opinion.

Good Luck with whatever you choose.

SDS_RN, RN · Feb 25, 2008

I was a CNA for 4 yrs before going to NS and I loved it, butt wiping is not the only task you are going to be doing. It is a lot of hard work and running but it gives a feel for what it will be like as a nurse. Some nocs when you work you may not have a CNA, at least where I work if census is low we don't, and you'll be doing the butt wiping yourself anyways. I think that being a CNA gives you a solid base for being a nurse and those skills you will use over and over. It also will give you an appreciation for what the CNA's do when you are a nurse delegating them on what tasks to do. I personally think that all nurses should be aides before becoming an RN but that's just my opinion.

CNAinNeb · Feb 25, 2008

I think it is a good choice to work as a CNA. You get a better understanding of what nurses do, and will gain a good bedside manner. It also looks good on applications, and pays better than fast food. I would go for it, some schools require at least the certificate.

Yes, there is a lot of "butt wiping", but you are helping with their diginity and are sometimes the only family they have. I enjoy it. You just build up a tolerance for the icky stuff.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2008

I dont think I am alone when I say that I take offense to the "butt wiping" statement. I get upset when people think that is CNAs main job. Ok that being off my chest now..I feel better.

I was a CNA 4 years before I became a nurse. I started as a CNA in June and started school in September, before I put myself and my family through nursing school I wanted to make sure I did in fact want to be a nurse, and being a CNA is an excellent way to find out.

My CNA skills are worth so much now that I am an RN. My time management is better, the familiarity I have with illness and diseases all things I saw as a CNA . Even simple things like knowing proper positioning of patients.

Another great reason...I saw things some nurses did that i didnt agree with, and I vowed I would not be like that.

Being a CNA also helped me in clinical. One of my dear friends in nursing school had no medical background at all, so our 1st day on the floor in our fundamentals clinical at the nursing home.....OMG she about passed out... the thought of bathing someone had her so frazzled. For me, nothing. So I could focus more on the school part vs the oh my how many towels do I need, how do I take his shirt off, how do I get him out of the wheelchair.

Now that I am a nurse I really really appreciate and value a good CNA, I truly believe they are under paid and over worked.

OH and an added side bonus...because I was a CNA at the hospital I now work at, they helped pay for my school!!! and when I was in my last semester I was approached by many dept heads asking what my plans were after graduation. So i didnt have the stress of ok I am a graduate, now I need to find a job.

Long story short, my advice to you. Get your CNA, I think it will only help you in the future!

Best of luck.

leslie :-D · Feb 25, 2008

I'm thinking of getting my CNA but I've heard it's a lot of butt wiping and horrible work. I'm going to start volunteering and job shadowing and I'm wondering if this will give me good experience/exposure to nursing so I can bypass being a CNA?

yes, there is a lot of "butt-wiping" and other personal (and physical) care.

i think shadowing would benefit you, in a number of ways.

hopefully, you would observe the dynamics of teamwork between nurse/cna.

any 'good' nurse will recognize the necessity in providing personal care when needed; and that it is not only a cna's job.

in an ideal environment, we are there to help ea other, all in the name of assisting our pts.

if, after shadowing, you still are repulsed by dealing w/excrement, i would seriously consider another profession.

best of everything.

leslie

chocokitten · Feb 25, 2008

My answer would be No, unless your school requires it (which doesn't make too much sense to me, as my school had no such requirement)

I worked as a Resident Assistant at an assisted living throught my nursing school career and thought that this experience was 10x more valuable, clinically, than a CNA job. As a RA I passed medications, took vitals, performed initial assessments, communicated with the nurse on call (she was only in the building two days week for about 4 hours, to review MARs), update MAR's, take verbal orders over the phone, order meds, provide direct patient care (changing, showers, feeding, etc). It was quite comprehensive. Even though I got paid a LOT less than a CNA I felt this experience helped me to pass several classes, especially pharm ("oh yeah, Mrs. blank was on that med... for her hypertension") :nuke: