How many nurses had hands-on experience before starting nursing school?

shoegalRN, RN · Mar 31, 2008

Well, nursing is a second career for me. I had no prior experience in the medical field before entering nursing school. I am a 3rd year BSN student and I didnt start working as a Nurse Intern until last December. I really enjoy it!

I would strongly recommend you get some experience by either becoming a CNA or a Tech before entering nursing school. It will help with your time management skills and make you a little more comfortable with patient interaction. I think being a CNA is a pre-req for some nursing schools.

Keep in mind though, a CNA or Tech job is not the same as a RN's job.

Midwest4me · Mar 31, 2008

I worked as a nurse's assistant(I don't recall anyone being "certified" nurse's aide back then) for about 9 mos before going to nursing school. It was very beneficial and I recommend that prior to starting nursing school.

TazziRN, RN · Mar 31, 2008

I was a CNA for several years before graduating nursing school, but that's not when I decided. I knew all my life I wanted to be a nurse, being a CNA was a foot in the door while I worked for it.

miko014 · Mar 31, 2008

I did a year as a tech/UC before I started nursing school to see if I liked it/could handle it, and I am SO glad I did! Just getting used to the environment was amazingly beneficial, not to mention all the other stuff I learned/saw there. I HIGHLY recommend it. Being a CNA/Tech is a very tough job, but you really do learn a ton by doing it. I recommend doing it at a hospital rather than LTC or something else, but anything would be helpful. Good luck!

Calgon-take.me.away · Mar 31, 2008

I, too, had many years of hands on as a CNA and an EMT before attending nursing school. I found it very helpful in class, as well as after graduation and becoming a nurse..

It also helps you realize how your CNA's feel and how hard their work really is. I never fail to thank my CNA's at the end of every night for their hard work. And helping them when they are being pulled in every direction, makes the CNA appreciate and more willing to work WITH you.

There is nothing more discouraging then having a nurse sit at the nurses station while bells are going crazy, or having a nurse walk by a call light that is going off.

diveRN · Mar 31, 2008

Worked in the field as an EMT / Rescue Scuba Diver.

That training led me to be a nurse and the ER. Found that the ER wasn't my cup of tea. It's just not the same as the field. The EMT and DMT training was helpful in school, looks good on the resume, and certainly gave me some life experience, but nothing that directly correlates to being an RN.

CNA experience would be good. Most of the CNA > RNs I know are VERY good in large part because of the experience they got as aids.

One option to consider: maybe try for a transport tech if facilities in your area use them. Requires minimal training and gets you exposure to the hospital environment and pays just about what an aid makes. CNAs (at least here) still have to go to school.. You can also check into being a hospital volunteer. We use them a lot for various tasks.

.02

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2008

I had no hands-on experience in healthcare prior to entering nursing school. Looking back, I wish that I had. I see people complaining on these boards from time to time that they are being forced to become a CNA as a pre-requ for school, but I have no problem with it: I wish it HAD been required for our class. Certainly would have eliminated those who realized in the first semester that nursing was too "icky" for them, LOL!

MentalRn · Mar 31, 2008

I was a CNA for several years, then a med assist CNA, then an LPN, and now RN of several years. It certainly has helped me a great deal, but most importantly I understand what it is like to fill the shoes of each of these proffessions, and they have my respect.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2008

I worked as a CNA in the 1970's, putting myself through my first degree program (which was not nursing related). Later I worked as a CNA as a second job. I thought my CNA experience was extremely helpful when I later pursued my BSN. There wasn't much that school could throw at me that hadn't already been thrown at me! :)

In my second degree program, I often heard people say that they wished they had worked as a NA first. Of the successful grads of my program, many left nursing very quickly (within 2 years).

I know being a CNA isn't mandatory most places but I do recommend it.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2008

Before I jumped feet first into nursing school I worked as a CNA ---I have never ever worked so hard for such little money!!! But i gained much more from the exp than a little pay check---I remained a CNA until I graduated and passed boards. The experience I gained helped me more than any text book or lecture I attended.

I really think of nursing as an on the job training profession and because I was a CNA for 4 years my transition into RN role went relatively smooth---not to mention the hospital I worked for as a CNA helped pay for my nursing school and as I approached graduation I had 3 jobs to pick from!!!!! Now that is priceless.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2008

I worked as a nurse aid for about a year in the late 1970's. My next experience was 1988 as a volunteer EMT and started working as an agency nurse aid. In between those two I ran a small working farm and gave injections and did small wound suturing along with learning to communicate with mammals much larger than myself and not get injured in the process. I started nursing pre-reqs and finished paramedic classes then worked as a paramedic while I went to nursing school.

Yes the experience helped me a lot with nursing school and with obtaining the jobs I really wanted as a nurse.

I was 34 had 3 kids and had run 3 different self employed jobs by the time I graduated from nursing school so some life experience was also helpful with interviews etc.