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?
Generally employers are interested in the fact that a nursing assistant is certified and in good standing, and they are interested in previous work history, just as with any employee. Education is typically secondary to those criteria.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
To be completely honest, having CNA or healthcare experience is what is important. Employers assume that you have "good grades" since you were able to make it out of the program.
I agree with this. Assuming your grades are good enough to pass your courses, an employer really doesn't care if you had a 4.0 or graduated with honors (although that will definitely be a factor if you're planning on applying to grad school). IME, they care more about if you have previous experience in healthcare. Also, working as a CNA while in school will often HELP your grades and schooling. When I work with students, I can always tell which ones are working as externs or CNAs. They have a greater comfort level in dealing with patients, and just seem more adept.
I agree with this. Assuming your grades are good enough to pass your courses, an employer really doesn't care if you had a 4.0 or graduated with honors (although that will definitely be a factor if you're planning on applying to grad school). IME, they care more about if you have previous experience in healthcare. Also, working as a CNA while in school will often HELP your grades and schooling. When I work with students, I can always tell which ones are working as externs or CNAs. They have a greater comfort level in dealing with patients, and just seem more adept.
Maybe it's a regional thing.....I know the hospitals around here want a transcript for new grads.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
When was the last time you seen a CNA stitch patients, start an I.V., administer injections, do EKG's or draw blood samples?
How are you, as an NA, able to stitch patients? I can't even do that as an RN.
Perhaps your scope was broader in the military, in another country, but that's kind of irrelevant to a discussion about NAs and CNAs here in hospital settings in the US.
At the hospital I worked at last, nursing assistants actually had LESS training/education than CNAs. CNAs were certified by the state and could work as a CNA anywhere. Nursing assistants took a short course offered by the hospital, and could only work as an nursing assistant at THAT hospital.
She was just trying to understand the job described. We don't have nurse assistants in my state (I'm assuming they aren't in SmartNurse's state either as she hadn't heard of them), we have CNA's, LPN's and RN's. That's not me undervaluing your experience, that's what my state BON decided.
Take a deep breath, no one was devaluing your experience.
Tnank you so much. I do know in the militarywith the description she or he is writing about,that they were known as a medic in the military,which is equivalent in civilian life to an lpn. Well,I guess I learned something new today,nusing assistants are different then Cna's.
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 wasn't a CNA, I was a Surgical Technologist. I worked evenings and went to NS during the day. Actually, my tech school loan is one I'm still paying off!
Regarding the foleys, my employer knew I was in nursing school and the NS interns we had in the OR were allowed to do foleys under supervision. So, if we had an extra surg tech on the schedule,that tech would set up, the RN would supervise me doing the foley, then I'd go scrub. As for the sterile dressings, in the OR, the surg tech normally puts the dressing on-surgeon is long gone by then..So when it came time for me to do this skill in clinical, I was all set.
When I graduated NS, the new grad pay for an OR nurse was only a couple of dollars more than what I was making at the time-that was kind of a shocker..but, it's paying off now.
We are doing peer interviews right now at my work and the number one thing we have been looking for is attitude. Neither experience or grades matters as much as a positive, can-do attitude. We have talked about it and decided that if someone comes in with a good attitude and makes a good impression, why not give them a chance. They have the 90 day probation period to see if the job is a good fit or not. People with a good attitude and realistic expectations of the job are usually trainable.
. 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? 
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
Generally employers are interested in the fact that a nursing assistant is certified and in good standing, and they are interested in previous work history, just as with any employee. Education is typically secondary to those criteria.