Is working as a CNA beneficial?

aundrea543 · Feb 8, 2008

Hi everyone,
I've been thinking about getting certified to work as a CNA but I'm a little nervous to just because of the horror stories I've heard on here. 1. Will working as one help get a better job or help get a job altogether?
2. Is being a CNA a lot like being a nurse?
3. Do most new grads have previous work experience as a CNA or something associated to the medical field?
From the stories I've heard about being a CNA, if that's just a taste of what being a nurse is like, I might have to rethink my idea of going back to school for my BSN...
All feedback (+/-) is welcome!

The following link will bring you to a CNA discussions forum. Poke around and ask some ?'s I've been learning a lot from the people who have the experience. hope this helps

https://allnurses.com/forums/f265/

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2008

Hi everyone,
I've been thinking about getting certified to work as a CNA but I'm a little nervous to just because of the horror stories I've heard on here. 1. Will working as one help get a better job or help get a job altogether?
2. Is being a CNA a lot like being a nurse?
3. Do most new grads have previous work experience as a CNA or something associated to the medical field?
From the stories I've heard about being a CNA, if that's just a taste of what being a nurse is like, I might have to rethink my idea of going back to school for my BSN...
All feedback (+/-) is welcome!

Let me be honest.....the nursing students who don't work in the medical field often have problems relating to patients and their activities of daily living. I work in a hospital and find that I have much more exp dealing with problems, crashes, codes, etc, then if I was green right off the street.

Often, CNAs can tell if a nurse was NEVER a CNA. They're the kind of nurses that come find you if so and so needs a bedpan, needs water, needs to get up, etc.....I believe that it is a good exposure to nursing, and teaches you how to interact with families and so forth.

1. I personally believe that employers look at CNAs with their new RN as possibly able to relate better to other people. It's also a good way to know who you need to know for referances and such.

2. Being a CNA is NOTHING like being a nurse. CNAs do front-line, vitals, transfers, requests, etc. Nurses have to do medications, monitor the patient, read labs and orders, know when and what to do in regard to docs, make sure that all orders written out are followed, etc.....

3.some do, some don't....but if you don't, culture shock will probably hit you within the first few days. There is such a difference between real world nursing and school nursing.

beachbum3 · Feb 8, 2008

I haven't worked as a CNA and am getting ready to graduate from an ADN program in May. I don't feel like I'm at a disadvantage at all.

As for finding a job being easier/harder- that has yet to be seen.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2008

Both work, a CNA's and a nurse's can have moments of overburdened, gee I wish I could take my break, times. I was a CNA prior to being a nurse. Sure, there were times when I would be put down by others for having to do what some of us had to do (clean up BMs), but so do nurses clean up BMs but not as frequently. Of course there's ICU where you as the nurse do total care including perineal. Just don't let anyone put you into the box of she or he's the crap wiper; work as a CNA is greater than all that!

Here are some of the things you'll learn to do well as a CNA that you will probably use in your nursing field:

1. Transferring said patients from bed to chair efficiently and assisting with dressing of patients (quite the challenge with those broken hip or recent stroke cases!).

2. Measuring outputs from foley catheters, Jackson pratt drains, Chest tubes, NG to LIS suction and all inputs, ie meals and drinks.

3. Bathing of patients in the bed; challenging when either you're in an isolation room or dealing with an obese patient weighing 300+ pounds.

4. The taking of vitals, hopefully with a stethoscope and sphigmomometer; you'll get used to odd rythms of the heart this way and see the symptoms related to a poor heart versus a healthy one.

Good luck to you. Not most but some nurses were CNAs in my nursing class. You have everything to gain by learning the role of a CNA; you'll have compassion for your aides and assist them when the going gets rough!

jessiern, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2008

I haven't worked as a CNA and am getting ready to graduate from an ADN program in May. I don't feel like I'm at a disadvantage at all.
As for finding a job being easier/harder- that has yet to be seen.

I would tend to disagree with you on that. Most nurses I know straight out of school without prior experience take a little more time to grasp the job. They have been used to one or two patients in clinicals, and dont' usually have the needed time management skills or orginazation skills. It really did help me a lot.

jlcole45 · Feb 8, 2008

Go a head and work as one. It's always good to understand the basics and what could it hurt? And yes, a CNA does - basic nursing care. You will learn a ton about patient care and interaction, and about organizing your tasks and prioritizing care. These are things that are addressed in school, but it's not as 'real' if you know what I mean.

I speak from experience.

I worked as a CNA through my diploma RN program and then went back later for my BSN.

BSN programs are known for being heavy on theory and lighter on practice. So having more 'real world' experience as a CNA will give you good work experience and make you aware of what it takes to do the work of a CNA. Besides the fact, it will demonstrate to an employer that you have some clue about what it takes to work in a busy setting.

Do it! Besides it will give you a little extra money and that's always good.

chadash · Feb 9, 2008

I know nurses who have never worked as Nursing Assistants that are very good at bedside care and very personable. It is not necessary.

If you are uncomfortable with patients, it would be best to test it out as a NA or tech before you invest money in education.

allevi · Feb 9, 2008

I was a CNA for years prior to becoming nurse, you can tell which nurses weren't cna's.

I personally think it helped me a great deal in being a nurse.

SharonH, RN · Feb 9, 2008

Hi everyone,
I've been thinking about getting certified to work as a CNA but I'm a little nervous to just because of the horror stories I've heard on here. 1. Will working as one help get a better job or help get a job altogether?
2. Is being a CNA a lot like being a nurse?
3. Do most new grads have previous work experience as a CNA or something associated to the medical field?
From the stories I've heard about being a CNA, if that's just a taste of what being a nurse is like, I might have to rethink my idea of going back to school for my BSN...
All feedback (+/-) is welcome!

1. No.

2. No.

3. There are no hard stats to answer this question, it's probably 50-50.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Feb 9, 2008

No hard and fast rule here, but I value all of my working experiences. CNA, LPN, RN, every role taught me something.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Feb 10, 2008

Getting a job as a CNA while in nursing school was the best thing I ever did for my education. When I came back from summer break I had a great deal more confidence because I had more experience working with the various tubes/drains that pts have and also interacting with people. (patients, their families, the nurses, doctors etc) Plus it was really cool to say after school, "I've got to go to work." :)