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Discussion

Getting Ahead

Hello fellow nurses!

I am 19, from Missouri, currently in community college getting my ADN, still in my pre-requisites and I am planning on entering the nursing field within a year! I was wondering if there were any ways to get ahead before starting nursing school?

I am planning on getting certified as a CNA and in phlebotomy before this year is over but my overall goal is to become a CRNA. There was also the possibilities of getting my BLS,ACLS and PALS before I even start nursing school. Would that be a good idea?

I know as a CRNA you need experience in ICU or Critical Care, majority of the time, before they can enroll in CRNA School but I was thinking about getting a CCRN Certification before CRNA School.

A little help, please?

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    • Experts

    I think the first thing you should do is explore the job market for new graduate ADN's in the region where you plan to live after graduation. All those certifications, etc. that you are planning to get won't mean much if you don't get an acute care job after graduating with your ADN.

    There is no need to get BCLS, ACLS, PALS, etc. before starting nursing classes -- unless you are an EMT/Paramedic and need them for your work. In fact, if you don't have significant health care experience, the ACLS and PALS are too advanced for you to be worth you time and attention even as a nursing student. Where I live (not your area) we don't even allow beginners to take those courses. We reserve the slots in those courses for people who have the experience to make the most of the content -- and who will use the content in their jobs. (Get whatever the school recommends, but there is no need to get more at this point.)

    Before spending time, energy, and money on courses that you don't need ... invest those things in whatever you need to do to get a good hospital staff nurse job when you graduate. What does that mean in your region? Does it mean doing volunteer work at the hospital of your choice? Does it mean getting a part-time job as a nursing assistant? Whatever that means in your region, that's what you need to focus on. Because without that, you'll never get a job in an ICU ... which you will need to get into a CRNA program.

    In my region, BSN's are strongly prefered for new grads trying to get hospital staff nurse jobs. ADN's are hired only if they have experience -- or maybe if they are already involved in a BSN program. Most new ADN grads work for LTC facilities -- and a few lucky ones get jobs in clinics, offices, and a very few get hospital staff nurse jobs. That may not be true in your region -- but you need to find out what is the usual situation in your area.

    At least 70% of your time, energy, of money should be focused on succeeding in school.

    At least 20% of your resources should be focused on doing whatever else it will take to get a good job after graduation.

    10% of your resources can be used to think about, investigate, and invest in anything that will help further down the road.

    Don't get so caught up in your long-term dream that you don't invest enough in the "here and now."

    Good luck

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    • Author

    Short-term goal it is! Well, would the firs step be focusing on school first and finish getting my ADN? I thought about the fact that getting CNA certification may help supplement the schooling as I want to work and gain some experience while in school because I don't want to be a fresh graduate out of college with no experience in this field. How would I start getting a job as nursing assistant or in a LTC facility?

    I have done a lot of research but I don't know what the best option would be.

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    • Experts

    If you want to be a nursing assistant, go to a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program ... complete the course ... and take the certification exam. Then start applying for jobs. Good luck!

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    It really depends on where you want to work and how much schooling you are expecting... I am BLS certified but I am doing the BSN route. As the commenter above me says I wouldn't worry about those certifications unless told otherwise by your nursing advisor. CRNA is a great field :) keep in mind the time it takes. A handful of people get to the BSN level and after 4-5 years of school they say "I think I'm okay where I'm at" and never pursue the MSN, or the CRNA, or the FNP degrees. So go to your school's nursing degrees curriculum and look at their estimated time it takes to get to where you want to be :) it will take on average maybe 6.5-8 years to become a CRNA so keep this in mind and keep your head up!

    good luck!

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    • Author

    Haha seeing how I only just started getting in school, It would be longer for me! If I can ask what made you want to get your BSN from BLS?

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    Pre-nursing that wants to be a CRNA? Shocker.

    Get into school then worry about the rest.

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    Haha seeing how I only just started getting in school, It would be longer for me! If I can ask what made you want to get your BSN from BLS?

    BLS is basic life support...it's cpr. It should be required for you when you get into nursing school

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    • Author

    Oh thanks! Haha, I knew what BLS meant but I appreciate the clarification!

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    • Author

    Any advice while in school? Besides the whole academic propaganda!

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    What is it that you want to know?

    Pick out a school you want to go to, call them and find out the requirements to apply. Take those prerequisite courses, and apply.

    That's all you have to do. Once accepted, your school will send you instructions on what to do, such as getting BLS.

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    Here's some stuff NOT to do.

    Do NOT get caught shoplifting, vandalizing, smoking weed, selling weed, driving under the influence of weed or alcohol.

    Do NOT stalk, harass, bully or post stupid pictures of yourself smoking weed in your underwear on the internet.

    These silly indiscretions of youth live on in the digital age and can haunt you at a most inopportune time like when applying for NCLEX examination, licensure, or employment. Read some threads about nurses with a criminal history to avoid getting one of your own.

    Totally agree with obtaining CNA certification and getting some exposure to the healthcare field. Being familiar with the culture and language will put you miles ahead in nursing school.

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    As everyone said BLS is basic life support in other words a "CPR" class. If you just insisted on being BLS certified then there's nothing wrong with that..complete the course...it's only 8 hours :) and as for me choosing this field? Well lol I was brought up around nursing since age 14. My mother is a nurse, my dad is a nurse and my brother just graduated last year and he's a nurse. Then you have me :) i just always wanted to help people and hear their stories and where else would I get that opportunity? I am a level 3 soon to be level 4 student and at my school all that means is, is that I'm a senior and my last semester is August. Find a field that works for you because when I do my clinical rotations my preceptors (nurses who supervise you through your clinical shift) ask me all the time, "so what do you want to do?" I reply and say I don't know and I'll be graduating soon lol. So when you're in the program don't wait! But anyways, don't go in this field for money or anything other than first having a desire to do it. At my school a girl got through all 4 levels...passed NCLEX (exit exam to be a nurse) and then worked a month then realized...this isn't for her and she then changed careers. I hope this help and sorry if I babbled! I can understand why you ask these questions. I'm a little older than you but not by much so I know how excited you are!!

    Good luck again!

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