I was recently offered a direct care assistant job (basically a CNA w/extra duties). The pay is paltry, and it is a long drive, but it would be good experience... I am thinking about turning down the offer, though . The instructors I have at school all STRONGLY recommend working as an aid while going to school, even if it is casual, and as much as I would like experience, I don't know if it is really realistic for me to have two jobs. Quitting my main job is not an option, and I also have school, and a husband. I am busy with these things, and we are trying to start a family. So, basically my question is... which is more important to an employer, good grades while in school or experience as an aid?
While I think the CNA experience will serve you best in the end, do keep your grades up. I have been asked for my GPA/transcripts for many positions. Many hospitals where I am will only hire new grads through a residency program, and some of the programs have a GPA cutoff. Finding a job as a new grad is cutthroat right now and depending on the area you are in you very well may be asked for your GPA/transcript/release of educational records.
In my opinion it would be ideal to have both the CNA experience and a great GPA. This seems to be what recruiters are looking for.
Right now in this economy I say health care experience is KEY. It used to be if you had a license you could get a job, but things have drastically changed.
Currently in my area the only way to get into a hospital as a new grad is if you are hired internally. Then again there are a lot of hospitals in my area that won't even do that. Training new grads is expensive.
I graduated in December with a 3.12 average (which I consider good) and 6 years of CNA experience. So far no one has asked me my GPA they've all asked me about my experience in nursing, including CNA work. Since graduating in December I've only gotten 5 job interviews and no job offers.
You really have to do everything you can to make yourself marketable in this economy.
IMO, depends what department you are applying to after graduation. In my case, I worked through school as a surgical technologist with the full intention of going to the OR. I had friends that were ER techs who went to the ER after graduation. So, I suppose if you want to do med/surg, then working as a CNA may help.
It's not a clear cut answer for this. I think if I were hiring someone, both grades and experience would play a role, but neither would be a deal breaker. After all, just because someone was a CNA beforehand does not mean they will be a good nurse, because they are different jobs. I had many classmates who had difficulty leaving the task oriented CNA mindset behind(ie had trouble with critical thinking)The same thing applies for grades.
I think in your case, I'd stick with the job you have now, especially if it pays more than CNA work. You have enough on your plate right now.It's not going to do you any good if you flunk out due to overwork, KWIM?
I'm not saying healthcare experience doesn't help-it does. I guess my point is, if you know what you want to do after graduation, try to get an job in that department. For example, in my department, having CNA experience would mean close to nothing..you'd be better off getting a job as an orderly or perhaps in sterile supply. The ideal would be NS intern, but not all places have that. And I am of the opinion that any healthcare experiece comes in handy. I knew people who were pharmacy techs, phlebotomists etc and they all got jobs too. It doesn't have to be a CNA, because not all nurses work the floors. Good luck whatever you decide.:)
Experience is important, but there's been a recent trend to focus on GPA scores when hiring new grads. So GPA does matter. Employers want to see it on your resume for a reason.
Basically, (and yes, I'm speaking from experience) If you work at the same time you are completing your nursing program, this will have an effect on your GPA score and your day will look something like this:
0800 - 1400 - Attend class at College
1500 - 2300 - Work at the hospital. (I worked in an ER - 150,000 pt's/yr. and loved it!.. Yes, I openly admit, there's something definitely wrong with me.:))
Here's what happens:
2400 - Arrive home from workday, eat, get ready for morning class.
0100 - Actual time you get to bed and start sleeping. (hopefully if there is no laundry like scrubs to clean for the next workday.)
0630 - Get up, shower, eat breakfast get ready for class.
0730 - An hour later, Leave home in time to drive to school - get to class on time.
0800 - Start Class
1400 - End Class
1430 - Rush from College to get to work on time. (no time to go home in between)
1500 - Start work
2300 - End work
Lather, rinse and repeat for 4 years.
Yup that was my schedule for a while and it just about kills you. You hardly get any sleep, no time to unwind, it really affects your psychosocial status after a while.
Doing this will affect your GPA and yes, even your work performance! Can we say "sick days?" (That's going to look good to your next employer isn't it? - Well at least you will have "experience" now huh?)
Besides, there's nothing like slugging patients around, dealing with car accident traumas every day, abd pain, cp, general complaints - you name it, helping to suture pt's, putting on plaster casts, skin traction, dealing with crack heads and running to codes all over the hospital doing CPR on pt's when you are about ready to drop dead from exhaustion and ready to code yourself. :) Eventually you just start acting stupid because you are sooooo tired.
I would suggest focusing on the classes and if you want to gain the experience, wait till your done the program, take the 120 hour CNA class if you want too (you wont have to) and get your experience at the same time while applying and waiting for RN work to come up.
Don't let work interfere with your education. You will thank me later. :)
I am in management and do a lot of the hiring of nursing staff.
I never inquire about CNA experience, nor do I inquire about grades. Of course it may be because I went to nursing school without ever being a CNA but it never factors into if I hire someone or not.
It is hard to do(work and school) but if you have no choice, you can make it work. I did it and managed to graduate with a 3.27 GPA.It did kind of suck that my college didn't have grades in increments(ie B+, A- etc), so there was no difference between a high B and a low B points wise. I was happy with my B's in my nursing classes. The RN to MSN programs I'm looking at require at least a 3.00 GPA, so that's what mattered most.
I had to work, I was already paying off a loan and I was in my early thirties and single. No one to pick up my slack. I lived on coffee and Red Bull.
But then again, I did have benefits to working where I did..I got to see anatomy up close and personal. I kicked butt at sterile dressings and foleys(was allowed to put them in under a nurses supervision at work.) And of course, I was pulling in $19.00 an hour, so I was hardly a starving student. Nice to not have loans after school too!:)
I'm going to say good grades matter. Some jobs have asked me to have official transcripts sent to them. When I go on interviews they have asked me how long have been an Rn. No one has asked,or even cared,that I had both cna and lpn experience. I really don't see how having cna expereince would matter when you are doing different tasks and have different responsibilities.
It is hard to do(work and school) but if you have no choice, you can make it work. I did it and managed to graduate with a 3.27 GPA.It did kind of suck that my college didn't have grades in increments(ie B+, A- etc), so there was no difference between a high B and a low B points wise. I was happy with my B's in my nursing classes. The RN to MSN programs I'm looking at require at least a 3.00 GPA, so that's what mattered most.
I had to work, I was already paying off a loan and I was in my early thirties and single. No one to pick up my slack. I lived on coffee and Red Bull.
But then again, I did have benefits to working where I did..I got to see anatomy up close and personal. I kicked butt at sterile dressings and foleys(was allowed to put them in under a nurses supervision at work.) And of course, I was pulling in $19.00 an hour, so I was hardly a starving student. Nice to not have loans after school too!:)
What state were you in making 19.00/hr as a cna?what was your title? I made 9.25 tops,and this in Nj. I have never heard of them making that much. More likely the op will not be putting in foleys and doing dressing changes,as these are out of the scope of practice of a cna in most states.
I would say take the job. If you find it is too much, you can drop it later. Not only will it help you after you graduate, it will help you in school. When you are doing your clinicals you will be more confident, and you will also see a lot of cool things that you might not get a chance to in school. A lot of nurses will also show you things if they know you are a nursing student, and sometimes even let you do it. I was a pca for 1 1/2 years, and it really does make you a better nurse. You have your patient care down pat, and you are more comfortable. Good luck with whatever you decide.
I want to point out don't tell anyone you are in school. Sometimes it backfires because they know you are there temporarily.
I agree CNA's don't insert Foley's and do dressing changes. There's seems to be a lot of confusion regarding, "Nursing Assistants" and their scope of practice. They are not in any way, shape or form, the same thing as CNA's.
They are similar to LPN's but without a license. Some states call them "Advanced Unlicensed Assistants" (AUA) and they register and must be accountable to the state's board of nursing just like RN/LPN's are.
Typically, these are usually nurses who have been assessed by the board of nursing to either have a foreign nursing credential or they have the necessary education, training, skill and capacity to function with respect to accepted nursing standards and required qualifications to function in a similar desired and equivalent capacity. ( military medic, nursing orderly, hospital corpsman etc.)
There is no substitute to being a CNA. I believe, and if you don't build rapport with your CNA's you may have problems. When I was a CNA working at a brain injury facility, talking with the DON and the quad that we were working with, he said that he wanted to talk to the nurse. In front of her, I told him, "I hope you know that CNA's are the real nurses, they are just med passers and pencil pushers." Well that may not be true, but CNA experience will give you an insight that school cannot offer. I am now a nurse and am so grateful for my CNA experience. The rest is just how any given DON's opinion will be.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
I think the main benefits of CNA/PCT positions during school lie in getting comfortable interacting with patients and in having your foot in the door of a hospital for potential hire after graduation. Many of the hospitals now will only hire new grads internally. Less risk for them - they already know your work ethic and if you are a good fit for their organization. Many also do look at grades. The hospital I just got an externship at requires a minimum 3.0 GPA.
With the way the economy is, I would say having your foot in the door and having good grades are both equally important.
. The instructors I have at school all STRONGLY recommend working as an aid while going to school, even if it is casual, and as much as I would like experience, I don't know if it is really realistic for me to have two jobs. Quitting my main job is not an option, and I also have school, and a husband. I am busy with these things, and we are trying to start a family. So, basically my question is... which is more important to an employer, good grades while in school or experience as an aid? 
Bobbkat
476 Posts
While I think the CNA experience will serve you best in the end, do keep your grades up. I have been asked for my GPA/transcripts for many positions. Many hospitals where I am will only hire new grads through a residency program, and some of the programs have a GPA cutoff. Finding a job as a new grad is cutthroat right now and depending on the area you are in you very well may be asked for your GPA/transcript/release of educational records.
In my opinion it would be ideal to have both the CNA experience and a great GPA. This seems to be what recruiters are looking for.