LPN student, considering CNA job while in school

Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN · Dec 20, 2012

Why don't you try and do home health care for some type of experience? I think that would help out a lot in clinicals and nursing fundamentals.

Compassion_x · Dec 20, 2012

I would still do it if I were you. Even if it's just for a couple months, you can get some good learning experiences. I know it's definitely helped me in my first semester of nursing school.

Mewsin · Dec 20, 2012

I'm keeping my CCA job while i'm in the LPN program. I am really only going to be working one or two weekends a month (I work nights) The one thing I have found, after telling everyone I was accepted into the program, is that the nurses have taken me under their wings and are showing me procedures. I can also ask them to clarify if necessary. Also, with working nights, I am actually able to bring things to read or work on while I'm working.

student forever · Dec 21, 2012

You could do prn to get some experience. That way you can control the scheduling when the later parts of school get more difficult.

sbear24 · Dec 26, 2012

thanks for the advice, i've had several people suggest home health or prn, and i think that would work best with my school/home/life

Ninjanurse14 · Dec 27, 2012

I am in nursing school and work on an as needed basis, and every once in a while I take a few scheduled shifts a week. The experience is amazingly helpful in school, and well worth the time. If you are raising a family though and money is tight, it may not be worth the extra stress of making less money.

lpnstudent2013 · Dec 31, 2012

I work PRN as a CNA while in nursing school. The experience is PRICELESS! Most nurses are really nice and once they know you are in school, will let you help with some procedures and show you things. I typically only get about 20 hrs a week in, but then work a lot on holidays and school breaks so it makes up for it. Just a word of advice, very rarely does anyone get hired on at a hospital as a CNA without previous expereince. So you might have to stick with home health, rehab, skilled nursing, or a nursing home. I applied at a hospital and got turned down flat because of no experience. I got hired at a skilled nursing/rehab facility because I hand walked my resume in, introduced myself, and asked for a job there.

kkostelnikPN · Jan 1, 2013

I would definitely advise getting a job as an aide. FIRST before working in a hospital make sure they hire LPN's.. in my area they do not. IF the hospital doesn't hire LPN's i would look into a CNA position in LTC. if you plan to keep your current job because of the money then i would just take a PRN position because not only will you learn a lot but you will have your foot in the door and a job waiting after graduation.