How can I make myself stand out among nursing students

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 1, 2010

CNA's are certified, not licensed. Your grades will go a long way in making you a desirable candidate. CNA certification and EMPLOYMENT as a CNA will certainly help you learn basic nursing tasks, how to function in that environment and other good skills. Please do not over commit yourself. You will need time to study.

aflac381 · Jun 1, 2010

The two jobs that you are doing are good, but not good enough. Get the CNA license like you mentioned. That will open the door majorly to employers because you can an advantage on people. Not only will that help now, but trying to get a job in a hospital as a RN later down the road will like easier for you. thanks

CMille14 · Jun 1, 2010

Different schools have different admission priorities. For the program to which I applied, out of 100 possible points on the admission score, 50% was NLN score, 25% GPA, 25% interview. Check your school's admission policy, and use your time wisely by focusing on getting the highest scores on the highest weighted areas.

rn/writer, RN · Jun 1, 2010

Different schools have different admission priorities. For the program to which I applied, out of 100 possible points on the admission score, 50% was NLN score, 25% GPA, 25% interview. Check your school's admission policy, and use your time wisely by focusing on getting the highest scores on the highest weighted areas.

My impression was that the original poster is a student and was looking for ways to stand out over other students when applying for a job.

Perhaps the OP can clarify?

CMille14 · Jun 1, 2010

i am a nursing student, and i am trying to figure out the best way to make myself look the best over all other students, how would i go about doing this. currently, i work as a volunteer on an ambulance as an emt, and i work as a pharmacy technician in cvs, what other ideas do you have on how to make myself look superior for getting into the program at my school? would something such as a cna license be a good idea?

:):):)

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 1, 2010

I think the way the OP phrased it threw us off a bit: she/he states they're a nursing student but wants to know how to get into a nursing program...

For getting into most NS, a good GPA is a big deal. What may be more important are your grades in the prerequisite courses; they'll be more impressed with your As in A&P and Micro than they would with the As in Fine Art and Basket Weaving. If you have to write an essay, be sure you proofread it, then have someone else proofread it...a lot of people forget to do that. Having your CNA may or may not help you get into the school--depends on the school. I don't think it'd be a deal-maker, IMO: your grades, essay and interview (if any) will go a lot further.

Good luck!

anon695 · Jun 2, 2010

There is no need to become a CNA simply to get into nursing school. What you need are good grades, a good score on the entrance exam, an excellent personal statement, and a polished, professional interview.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2010

The two jobs that you are doing are good, but not good enough.

Actually, I think they're fine. The EMT shows you are good under pressure and the fact that it's volunteer shows commitment to the community. I was a pharmacy tech at a CVS for a while and it gave me a great advantage in pharmacology (you'll be surprised at how much you ARE learning); you're also honing customer service skills and learning about the importance of attention to detail.

There is a LOT of direct patient care (even as a pharmacy tech!) going on in both places and it's a different context than in the hospital.

Personally, if it were down to you and someone with a CNA and everything else were equal, and I was the admissions person holding the two packets, I'd give the slot to you. I'd be teaching you basic nursing skills; you're bringing stuff to the table I wouldn't have time to teach - and you've proven yourself capable of learning new stuff.

The other poster's right - leave yourself time to study. When it comes time to interview, be prepared to talk about the two very different experiences and relate them to nursing.