How being a CNA effected your nursing career?

juliaann · Jul 14, 2010

The CNA exam is not hard. It sounds like you are very well prepared. I passed my CNA exam the first time. I had 5 skills - handwashing, vitals (everyone got those 2), bed bath, back massage, and oral care. Esay easy. I was told I had 2 hours to do my computerized test. It took me 15 minutes. I got a 100%. Don't stress. Be confident. You'll be fine.

I'm glad I got my CNA because now I have a sweet job in a hospital, have great contacts for when I'm trying to get that ever-elusive new grad RN job, and I'm eligible for tuition reimbursement. :) Totally, totally worth it.

megan.burch · Jul 14, 2010

Do you need to know the skills portion EXACTLY for the exam? Im nervous. Im going to become a CNA through a place in Detroit and it only cost $575 for two weeks!!! I was in a health science class for 2 years in highschool, so I know the basics. But I always froze when it came to the skills test, but i always got 2nd or 3rd chances by my nice teacher! Help me become more confident! PLEASE!

RescueNinja · Jul 14, 2010

Well, I'm in Ontario and we don't have CNAs here, but I worked as a Personal Support Worker (very similar to a CNA) through school at a LTC home and it really helped me get more comfortable with speaking to residents and forming and maintaining therapeutic relationships and whatnot. Also, it helped me learn the tips & tricks of the trade for dealing with people with dementia and lifts/basic nsg skills.

I wouldn't say that I gained a lot of nursing knowledge, but it definitely made me feel more confident with my skills and I'm really glad I got that job Plus...the money was a LOT better than the pocket money I was getting before that from odd babysitting jobs.

10ACGIRL · Jul 14, 2010

Hey everyone,
I've been on here for a few months now and I have learned so much. I have always been looking forward to progressing through my journey to become a nurse with you guys. From me graduating from High School (June 11th 2010) and starting college this summer to now.
Well, this Saturday at 7:30am I will being taking that true first step toward licensure! I take my CNA exam (both my written and skills evaluations). I am very nervous. I mean I've been on the Pearson Vue website and took the practice exam and missed four questions out of the 60 question full length practice test. I was the top student in my High School Allied health class, which is where I got my CNA training and clinical. I made a 98 on my final exam in that class out of 100 questions. I am still nervous though. The past two days I've been brushing up my clinical skills with one of my mom's (she's and L&D RN) co-workers who teaches a CNA I class at a local CC. Her class is getting ready to test in August and were reviewing their skills. Since I have been out of clinical for month and a half she let me practice with her class. I did well on all of the skills she gave us to do, just like on the testing day.
I'm not to worried about the written part of the test because everyone says it's easy, and if it is anything like that practice test or my final exam I know I'll be OK because they were very easy for me. It is the skills part that scares me to death. They say they are pretty fair, but other say they are very strict. If I miss an important step in the random skills they choose for us to do that day or fail one skill, they'll fail me. I don't want to walk in the testing site all cocky and over-confident, because I want to do well and I am a little nervous.
Was the CNA exam hard for you? Did you pass both parts at the first time?
Anyway, for those nurses, nursing students, and CNAs, how has being a CNA affected your nursing career? I know it will be helpful in NS, but I want to know your experiences that mad you appreciate getting your CNA. Also any advice will be greatly accepted and appreciated. Thanks in advance.
P.S. Hopefully if I pass this Saturday, my username (if we can change our usernames, can we?) will be PatMac10CNA. Lol!!!!

I took me 3 imes to pas it ad t oo my cousin 3 timeso pass her RN state exam.

JP2011 · Jul 14, 2010

I passed the exam in 10 minutes, the clinical skills part for me (let me see I was 18 so this was 3 years ago)... I had oral care, bed bath, and emptying a foley catheter.I forgot to close the door or pull the curtain every single time! But my last skill was the foley, I also forgot to chart the output, but my instructor sort of looked at the paper for me to chart it before I said I was done. I then realized that every single time I did not pull the imaginary curtain or close the imaginary door for every task. I was a bundle of nerves, but I still passed because I acknowledged the fact before saying "done". As long as you address mistakes before declaring you are finished your proctor is usually pretty nice.

JP2011 · Jul 14, 2010

Oh and as a CNA it helps me remember where I came from. I will be graduating as a nurse in 2013 and I will be a CRNA by 2018. I will definitely respect everyone below me when I become a nurse because too many people often forget that there is honor in all jobs, from CNA to doctor.

Selene006, BSN, LPN · Jul 14, 2010

Good luck PatMac10! Something tells me that you'll do just fine!

jdlunger1 · Jul 15, 2010

PatMac10,

I am about to enter my senior year of nursing school. BSN class of 2011! I am a CNA, although in Ohio its considerd a STNA or state tested nurse aide. Honestly it the best move I could have made career wise while in nursing school. And I'll tell you why.

1.) It determines if you really have what it takes to be a RN. Your job is to do the grunt work no one else wants to do. The basic care and basic human needs. If you can do this without major burnout then nursing is the career for you. It develops good assessment, and communication skills.

2.) You'll be ahead of your nursing class (RN) because you'll have the basic skills down for clinicals. Clinicals are already nerve wracking enough you don't want to freeze up with a washcloth in your hand wondering what to do with it. (Trust me this happened to some students I was with) Also working as a CNA between summers and breaks keeps your skills up.

3.) If you can land a job as a tech at a hospital you can get hired internally when you become an RN and not have to fight this hard economy we have now. I worked at a nursing home for one summer then the next got a tech job. They trained me on some new skills such as EKGs and Phlebotomy. So helpful for the jr/sr nursing clinicals.

I hope your test went well. You sounded prepared! Best of luck with your schooling. Nursing the best profession you can be in. I am convinced of this.

PatMac10,RN, RN · Jul 15, 2010

Do you need to know the skills portion EXACTLY for the exam? Im nervous. Im going to become a CNA through a place in Detroit and it only cost $575 for two weeks!!! I was in a health science class for 2 years in highschool, so I know the basics. But I always froze when it came to the skills test, but i always got 2nd or 3rd chances by my nice teacher! Help me become more confident! PLEASE!

All of the nurses I talk say that you don't have to folllow the skills exactly just remember to have some sort of order when performing your skills. Most people do say it is easy.

nursesaurus · Jul 15, 2010

When I did my STNA licensure I passed the first time. I even forgot to lock the wheelchair when transferring a patient but I remembered immediately and told them and I still passed. So you will be fine. Btw, I was an STNA 3 years before becoming an LPN and I feel it gave me so much experience and has helped me so much and I am so thankful for the experience I had.

sistasoul · Jul 15, 2010

I am a nurse who worked as an aide while in school. I loved that job. It is physically hard work but the communication skills you learn are invaluable. If you work with an RN who likes to teach you may be able to pick up some knowledge. Truthfully, when I worked as an aide I never had time to learn to much from the nurses as I was always too busy with my own tasks. I feel as a nurse that the aides sometimes spend more time with the patients than I do. You will learn to deal with a lot of different personalities with the patients. Some of the elderly have dementa and that is always a challenge but you will learn how to best deal with them.

Now that I am a nurse I am glad I got to experience both sides. I have a lot of respect for my aides and could not do my job without them. They are truly invaluable. Please remember that when you see a nurse sitting at the nurses station they are just not sitting there. They have MD orders to deal with, calling MDs, dealing with physical therapy, dietary, pharmacy, family members and the all time consuming charting. Most nurses do not get a lunch or a break even though lunch is deducted and we still leave late. Aides get a meal break and leave on time. Please remember that even though the nurse would love to help you he/she is so tied up in what they are doing and so far behind in their own work that they sometimes cannot help.

I would not have traded my time as an aide for anything. I truly enjoyed taking care of my patients especially the little old ladies and gents. They are so adorable. Enjoy your patients. You will get a lot out of your experience as an aide.