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...
From my experience working as a carer will benefit you when you graduate.
When i was in nursing school my first clinical placement was in a medical ward. There were six of us and i was the only one who wasn't a carer. I was so far behind, i didn't know how to use a lifter, help someone from a chair, change a pad etc. I was told outright that i needed to improve if i wanted to become an RN. I gained employment in a nursing home and learned these valuable skills that i still use even now in the OR. As an RN your expected to know these basic nursing skills when you work in acute care.
Scrubby
1,313 Posts
From my experience working as a carer will benefit you when you graduate.
When i was in nursing school my first clinical placement was in a medical ward. There were six of us and i was the only one who wasn't a carer. I was so far behind, i didn't know how to use a lifter, help someone from a chair, change a pad etc. I was told outright that i needed to improve if i wanted to become an RN. I gained employment in a nursing home and learned these valuable skills that i still use even now in the OR. As an RN your expected to know these basic nursing skills when you work in acute care.