help!.. interested in CNA but also work fulltime and school full time

[missycares]

I work full time and go to school full time i need to pass 4 of the prequiset classes to see if i can get into nursing program.

just wondering if any of you know if its a good or bad idea to take on the work load since my ultimate goal is to be rn. i still however need to do well in my classes and pass them to try and get into the acceptance part for the program.

do you think working at a nursing home to get cna certified would be a waste of time or pointless even if i want to do well in classes?

I am lookn to quit my current job and work in a medical field wether it be receptionist or something light weight..but closer towards the health field my reason for that is to help get me closer to where i want to be career wise.

ive called around to ask nursing homes if they offer cna training and its offered in end of sept with a enterence test that needs to be passed 37 q's

they did however say it was general questions you cant really study for..just wondering what theyre on. I thought it would be general common sense questions that would relate to nursing etc but mistaken when she said it was on general ed courses.

any idea what i can expect if i were to take it?

any help/ comments feedback anything would greatly be appreciated!

[RNMeg]

You mentioned in your post that you're considering quitting your current job to get a job in the medical field..why not just work as a CNA after you've finished the training for it? I've personally never worked as a CNA (though I'm trying to get a PCT job at a hospital) but many posts on here say working as a CNA before nursing school prepared them well.

I can't help you on the entrance test questions, though..I'm not a CNA, so I don't know what that would entail

Best of luck in whatever you decide!! :heartbeat

[mikeicurn, ASN, RN]

Hi Missycares,

You sound like you are at about the same point I am. I am taking my pre-req's in anticipation of entering the nursing program Fall 09. One of the requirements of the nursing program here is to either be on the CNA registry, or complete the CNA class offered at the college. I am taking the CNA class now, and we have been told that they will change the requirements by the time we start classes in the Fall.

Now, we will not only have to complete the CNA class, but we will have to take the State exams and be on the registry. I would say half of the people I am taking classes with are CNA's, many who are working at nursing homes now. It is actually a good job for them while they attend school because of the flexibilty of the hours, and for my area pretty good pay. I have 3 people I study with in my anatomy class, and they all work at the same nursing home as CNA's and were trained by the nursing home. The just graduated high school this past spring and received their training their senior year of high school. They have looked at the stuff that I am doing in CNA class and they have said they didn't have to go through half of that stuff in their training, so from that I would guess that the test you mentioned probably wouldn't be too difficult for you to pass. After they invest the time and effort to train you, it would be in their best interest to make sure you were prepared to pass the test and come to work for them.

Good luck, whatever you choose to do.