Getting experience before nursing school

hopeless romantic · Jul 6, 2015

I had no experience before starting school. A lot of my classmates were CNA's, PCA's and even phlebotomist. It was much VERY easy for them to get jobs after graduation because they had their foot in the door already. I would go the CNA route because you get hands on experience, but being a volunteer is great to because I think it shows a lot about your character in how you are willing to come to a place everyday or so and help out AND not get paid for it at the same time. It's a tough call. Which would you be more interested in? Volunteering or have CNA experience? I think they both look good on resumes and nursing school apps

mirandaaa · Jul 6, 2015

I had no experience before starting school. A lot of my classmates were CNA's, PCA's and even phlebotomist. It was much VERY easy for them to get jobs after graduation because they had their foot in the door already. I would go the CNA route because you get hands on experience, but being a volunteer is great to because I think it shows a lot about your character in how you are willing to come to a place everyday or so and help out AND not get paid for it at the same time.

I was a CNA for three years and only stepped out of it because I wasn't making enough money. If money isn't an issue for you, I definitely suggest a CNA job. It'll give you experience and I have always felt that the best nurses I've worked with had been CNAs before.

Most brand new CNAs have trouble getting into a hospital, but if you can, go that route. You'd learn a lot more in hospitals as far as medical things go. However, if you have some experience as a CNA, you can apply to PCA/PCT positions in hospitals which allow you to do more medical things (removing catheters, removing IVs, etc).

Volunteering is good too, but sometimes they aren't permitted to do as many things as the CNAs are since they aren't technically employees and the facility can be liable for any injuries etc.

Another thing to look into is that a lot of places allow you to work as a CNA after your first semester of nursing school. I believe it varies from state to state but I know in my state you are allowed to take the CNA test and get licensed after successfully completing certain courses during the first semester. This is good because you don't have to pay for the CNA course (mine was $700) and you'll still be able to get that CNA experience in before graduating/looking for nursing jobs.

jarae · Jul 6, 2015

I had no experience before starting school. A lot of my classmates were CNA's, PCA's and even phlebotomist. It was much VERY easy for them to get jobs after graduation because they had their foot in the door already. I would go the CNA route because you get hands on experience, but being a volunteer is great to because I think it shows a lot about your character in how you are willing to come to a place everyday or so and help out AND not get paid for it at the same time. It's a tough call. Which would you be more interested in? Volunteering or have CNA experience? I think they both look good on resumes and nursing school apps

Do you mean that it was easy for them to work as nurses at the facility they were already at, or just in general?

ahosoda · Jul 6, 2015

I would highly recommend going the CNA route out of the two. I noticed that everyone with CNA experience had a much smaller learning curve during the first semester of nursing school.

But here's an idea: Have you thought of doing both? I volunteered in an ER and I was a CNA at a retirement home. They were two entirely different experiences and I learned a lot from both. But my CNA experience is what helped me out more during nursing school.

hopeless romantic · Jul 6, 2015

Do you mean that it was easy for them to work as nurses at the facility they were already at, or just in general?

Yes. They got jobs immediately as a nurse after graduation because they were already CNA's at the facility.