Get CNA cert? Before NP?

[Polly Peptide]

I'm not sure where to put this, so I'm starting here. Will let mods move it if necessary.

I will be starting an MSN program this fall, which admits those with degrees in other fields; so I do not have any nursing experience. I do however have about 15 years experience on the business side of healthcare (which includes some population health management and financing), but of course nothing clinical. This is a very reputable program and is well known for graduating prepared NPs (though I'm under no illusions that you really begin learning when you start to practice).

My question is - because I am not an RN, and I will most likely start to practice as an NP without RN experience, would it benefit me to get my CNA certification and then work as a CNA while I am waiting for school to start? Pros, cons, neutral? I understand this is not what I will be doing as an NP, but I wondered if it would provide any skills practice, or even any 'street cred'? Would it help (AT ALL) in the hiring process down the line?

My specialty will be AG-ACNP.

Thanks for your advice.

[Ayvah, RN]

CNA experience can be helpful. The largest positive is that it will get you comfortable with working intimately with patients. You'll also get exposure to some of the basics, such as blood sugars, foley management and ekg setup, and may give you an intro to some emergency situations. Having some clinical experience might help you network a little too.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

CNA experience can be helpful. The largest positive is that it will get you comfortable with working intimately with patients. You'll also get exposure to some of the basics, such as blood sugars, foley management and ekg setup, and may give you an intro to some emergency situations. Having some clinical experience might help you network a little too.

Yes but realistically..... In her role she won't be doing any of that. Helpful skills to have ........ But she will have an lpn / rn for those tasks. It's a totally different ballgame For nps.

[Get2theChoppa]

I'm in an ABSN/MSN program. I graduated from the ABSN part, and moved directly onto the MSN/NP program. Our program lets us go part time in the MSN portion. Is that something you can do? RN experience will be helpful, CNA not so much.

That being said, there are some RN positions that can work with your schedule. I'm working as a forensic nurse examiner, which also perfectly aligns with my goal to work in women's health/sexual health education in the future as an NP. Others who wanted to stay on full time in my program went into home health, where they can make their own schedules--their agencies give them more stable patients, as they are new nurses.

[Nurseboy1]

As a practicing ACNP, I can tell you finding a NP position without any nursing experience will be difficult. You may want to consider a program that will allow you to become a nurse first and get some experience prior to starting the NP portion of the program.

[Bumex, DNP, NP]

What program is this?

[Polly Peptide, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

What program is this?

Vanderbilt. I have to assume that they know what they're doing. Their AG-ACNP program is ranked 5th in the country.

I do understand the challenges I will face going into the job market with no RN experience, but I've seen people do it. I intend to take advantage of every additional learning opportunity they offer; use every preceptorship as an extended job interview; and fortunately I just don't LOOK as green as many of these I will graduate with. I've got some experience under my belt, even if in another arena.

They do offer the specialty year on a part-time basis, but not for students like me. I will certainly check into options that might work with my 2nd year course load though.

[Bumex, DNP, NP]

I did have a professor do this program many years ago and she's a great acnp now, but she has little understanding of nursing as a whole. It would still benefit you to go part time in the clinical year, regardless of how it is. It will be extremely beneficial to you to work as a staff nurse. But I do understand if you can't. Where I'm at (Chicago) if would be rare to get a job as an acnp without previous icu or ER RN experience, sometimes places accept tele RN experience. Maybe you would have more luck in a rural setting. Good luck!

[CBlover, BSN, RN]

You mean that an NP program will admit someone without an RN degree?? I've never heard of such. Wow.

[CBlover, BSN, RN]

I just looked around online and sure enough, found schools that will do such. Interesting.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

Vanderbilt. I have to assume that they know what they're doing. Their AG-ACNP program is ranked 5th in the country.

I do understand the challenges I will face going into the job market with no RN experience, but I've seen people do it. I intend to take advantage of every additional learning opportunity they offer; use every preceptorship as an extended job interview; and fortunately I just don't LOOK as green as many of these I will graduate with. I've got some experience under my belt, even if in another arena.

They do offer the specialty year on a part-time basis, but not for students like me. I will certainly check into options that might work with my 2nd year course load though.

I don't really buy into national rankings for nursing programs.... It's all about local recognition and reputation. If organizations have had good luck with grads from that program you should be fine.

[BearJones]

What state is this? Ive never heard of such a thing. The programs that i know of that are even similar to this topic are MSN entry programs to obtain an RN license and then from there allowed to enter a post-masters NP program. If im not mistaken its not even possible in state law for a school to enroll a person without an RN license or BSN for that matter. Let alone most reputable schools wont accept a person without a minimum of 1-2 years RN experience.

[Polly Peptide, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

What state is this? Ive never heard of such a thing. The programs that i know of that are even similar to this topic are MSN entry programs to obtain an RN license and then from there allowed to enter a post-masters NP program. If im not mistaken its not even possible in state law for a school to enroll a person without an RN license or BSN for that matter. Let alone most reputable schools wont accept a person without a minimum of 1-2 years RN experience.

Vanderbilt is in TN. The program is two years for those with bachelors degrees in fields other than nursing (though this is slightly variable if you seek a dual MSN, like FNP/CNM). The first year is spent essentially like an accelerated (very) BSN year, but they don't award the BSN. At the end of the first year, you must take the NCLEX and become an RN in order to move on into the second year (the specialty year and the true "masters" portion of the program). However the entire program is considered graduate level. Vandy does not offer any undergrad nursing degrees.

Vanderbilt has multiple specialty options and does not allow those without experience into certain ones (ENP, NNP, P-ACNP). Others they do.

There are quite a few other programs, and well known ones that do this. Johns Hopkins is an example.