Have no choise BUT to be a cna first!

[AARONS007]

OK, so here's my delema. I only need A&P 2 and Microbiology and all my prereqs are done....one more semester, maybe two. The CC I'm going to here in FL now is requiring applicants to volunteer for one year in a hospital before applying to the RN program. I currently work as a Service Advisor at an auto dealership who is not willing to work around my schedule once I enter into the RN program. SO, I'm going to get my CNA lisence, the hospital I'm sure will be willing to work around my school and to boot reimburse some tuition. Plus, I won't need the year of volunteering since I'm working in a hospital. Only downfall here is that a CNA salary is about half of what I make now. I know that with the experience I will gain and the tuition reimbursment that will make up for it somewhat, but it's going to be tough. Any thoughts would be great.

Thanks,

Aaron

[Graduation2016]

The experience you will gain as a CNA will be invaluable for nursing school. First off you have your foot in the door already once you graduate and pass your NCLEX. Second, even nursing school won't teach you experience. It is a small sacrifice but the pay out will be amazing! Good luck!

[student4u2]

If you work as CNA at the hospital, try to get hired in at registry. That is only putting four- 8 hour shifts per month. You are allowed this option while going to school. Not to mention the fact that the hospital will reimburse some of your nursing tuition while employed there. I work at as a CNA at a hospital here in Chicago on registry while attending school.

[Sparrow91]

I guess I would do somemore research first befor jumping into this. In my state most hospitals want at least 2 years of CNA experience befor they can consider you for a postion. My suggestion would be to keep your current job and do your volunteer work. Then you can take a CNA course that will fit with your current work schedual, this way when you start nursing school you can find a job as a CNA at a NH or where ever will take a new CNA. Good luck!

[Alisonisayoshi, LVN]

I don't work as a CNA, I'm still trying to find a course that fits with school (it's required for a BSN program I'm applying for). Instead I work as a Patient Care Aid. I make pennies (p.s. the CNA's only get 50 cents more an hour anyhow) but I'm getting patient care experience. I did A LOT of research (called potential employers, talked to nurses in the area, ect) and found that where I live getting hired fresh out of school without any patient care experience is a joke. Employers in my area want to see that you got the patient care experience while in school. My job is literally, in my eyes, volunteer work it pays so little. I'm living off grants and loans. My advice? Work as a CNA through school. Period. Even if its 10 hours a week, you still did it. Make yourself marketable to potential employers down the road.

[AARONS007]

Thanks for your comments, I should've mentioned I was a firefighter in the Air Force so I do have some medical back ground. I'm hoping this should help me get a job. I believe I can survive off a CNA salary, it's just not going to be easy. But like I said and have read on this forum, I think the payout in experience will be TOTALY worth it!

[friendlyjane]

I have read in many places where people that have some medical back ground have a hard time finding a job like ever other nursing graduate. I am sure it helps but it is not an in by any means. I am still getting my prereqs but soon I am going to get my cna not because I have to for school but because it would be more likely that I would be hired by the hospital I work for as an RN over other applicants because I am already employed by that hospital system. My whole goal it to make connections on the floor I would work on, work my butt off when I am there and make a great impression on the staff. For me it is all about getting my foot in the door over all the other peeps that are trying to do the same thing. Good luck!