How many people here HAVE NOT become CNA certified before applying to Nursing school?

meanttobe · May 22, 2011

I never was a CNA and am starting an ADN program in the fall. I worked for two years at a MRDD facility where they did not require anything of the sort.

jesskidding, LPN · May 22, 2011

And I'm not opposed to doing the CNA route other than it adding on more time to pre-reqs. I'm hoping to enter into a nursing program next year but if I don't, since I'll be done with all my pre-reqs, I'll probably do a CNA course. I've looked at them many times, I just don't have a way to fit them in at the moment. Plus then it is another $1k out of my pocket for the local CC program. I'd be all for the trade off though of learning more skills.

WOW! :eek:

That must be some CC you are going to! $1,000.00 for a Nurse Aid class? The NA class at my CC is $120.00, and that includes everything. You might want to look somewhere else for a less expensive class.

leenak · May 22, 2011

WOW!
That must be some CC you are going to! $1,000.00 for a Nurse Aid class? The NA class at my CC is $120.00, and that includes everything. You might want to look somewhere else for a less expensive class.

Ha! yeah. Actually I've looked. Apparently a lot of the high schools around here have Nurse Aide classes but other than that, it is the CCs and ours aren't cheap. My pre-req classes are a little over $500 each. I am definitely jealous of areas with inexpensive CCs.

Leeann83 · May 22, 2011

I am not a CNA and I applied and was accepted to nursing school. I was, however, an EMT previously, from 2003 to 2007.

Streamline2010 · May 22, 2011

I didn't become a CNA, and I won't become a CNA, unless I decide to settle for just a CNA $8/hour job as a new career.

For those displaced workers who have lost their jobs due to foreign competition, you can get, with approval of a Trade Act petition, up to $26,500 toward training, plus they pay for all fees, tests, books, uniforms, shoes, and any required equipment. And you can also get up to 24 months of extended unemployment while you go to school.

It's a federal program, administered by states. Some allow you to use this money in spite of having college degrees or certifications. some states have a higher limit of training dollars, and some have a lower one. $26k - $27k is about average.

Ah, now, so you get your CNA first, and you are now employable. At $8/hour. And your request to use the Trade Act money that is due you will be denied, because you don't need a skills upgrade because you can get a CNA job. If you don't become a CNA, and you apply to RN school, and presto, you are more likely to be approved for training dollars.

It's just a little gotcha to keep in mind, you older students and career changers.

I don't know why the RN schools are not concerned about this. Maybe with such a glut of students, they can fill all the seats. Also, Trade Act payments are made at the end of the semester. and the other students must pay the school up front.

IF nursing schools stop teaching baths and all of that, I'd hope that they'd also decide that none of that is within the scope of an RN's job. It would settle the disputes once and for all, hahahaha!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 22, 2011

I did not get a CNA cert at any time prior to getting accepted to RN school. Regardless of how you get it, I think that it's a great idea to have some kind of patient care experience though. That way you get a chance to see if caring for patients really is something you really want to do. I don't care if it's through CNA, EMT, PCA, MA... whatever... you just want to work at that job long enough for the rose-colored glasses to come off. Then decide if you want to continue in healthcare.

Certainly, getting some patient care experience is not required, but I've heard of many stories of people that go through the training and realize at the end that they really hate taking care of patients...

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · May 22, 2011

Streamline2010 - Most nursing schools in Oregon require a CNA prior to applying. During the first several months of clinicals, most of the work we did was CNA type work. Even when we were allowed to administer meds, which takes about 10 minutes, we did a lot of direct patient care along with assessments. That is part of caring for patients. I'm not a CNA but have the certification and I've been told by my classmates who are CNAs that they become unavailable to assist certain RNs who feel a job is above them. As an RN, you may need to assistance of a CNA to complete a task. You likely won't have time to bathe a patient when you are a fully trained registered nurse but until you're competent to do all of your RN skills, it is good training to assist patients with basic care.

LMICHEL,RN2B · May 22, 2011

I did not become a CNA and I just graduated my RN program in December of 2010. some people say that it is a disadvantage, because when you go into nursing school, you go in knowing all of the things you saw being done on the floor, which may not be the right things. A lot of my friends said that they picked up bad habits from working in the hospitals/nursing homes. Its nice to get the eposure but, you will still get plenty of exposure at clinicals. The people that just graduated with me are not even able to get jobs at the sites where they work as RN's, even though they've been there for years as CNA's. Hope this helps.

Lmichel.:)

eharper · May 23, 2011

I do not have my CNA/LNA and I was accepted into a BSN program for this fall. I would have loved to have gotten it before starting but, the cost and time I just didn't have to spare. The only places around here that offer the classes are local high school vocational centers, the nursing homes around here won't even hire then train you, you have to have your LNA before applying for a position. OH and the classes run about $1100. SO, I decided that I would just continue to complete as many classes at my CC that would transfer over to my BSN and now I get to start as a sophomore! I know that I'll get experience in clinical so I'm not too worried about it :).

KatieJ91 · May 23, 2011

I am not getting my CNA. My school does not require it. They don't even give extra points if you have it. I just got accepted to school and after the first quarter will be able to certify for it. All of the nurses in my lfe did not have it before they became a nurse. They all felt after knowing me that they thought I could handle all I needed to i.e poop and blood and other bodily secretions! LOL I too would like to find a job that works with my schooling after I certify to gain some experience and hopefully make some connections in the hospital.

LindaB73 · May 23, 2011

I am not a CNA but I really wish I would have done it. I think it gives you a lot of confidence dealing with patients. If I was to do it again I definitely would get my CNA.

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · May 23, 2011

I am an older student and when I compare my younger (20-something) classmates who are CNAs to those who are not CNAs, there is a huge difference in the level of confidence the experienced ones have with patients. The confidence (for the non-CNAs) comes after a year or so of clinicals but those CNAs seem to have it right up front.