Needing help with a decision

Nurses Men

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Hello guys and gals, I am fresh new into nursing. Actually not even in nursing yet. My advisor has me applying in october, in the fall I'm taking psy, bio, and math. And in spring I'm taking micro bio and my last math. Then if I'm lucky enough to get into the nursing program I can be started the following fall. My question is I am a supervisor at a golf course for 2 years now. Kind of repetitive and boring now. I'd like to get my foot into the door and get some experience to help me with nursing, but while being paid more, bc money is slowly started to be needed more and more. Would it be better to go off at a nursing home or something to get my Cna certificate since I wouldn't have it at this 2 year college I'm at until after the fall semester a year from now? I've tried applying to two jobs, 1 told me I didn't have enough experience (medical assitant) and the other I've not been able to get a reply from. (Transportor tech at local hospital). Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

19, male, no experience in medical besides what I've learned in general biology classes:/

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I don't see how a CNA certificate would be of much benefit to you. The level of responsibility is not comparable to nursing, nor would you be given any credit for nursing experience for having one.

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Okay so that makes no sense. I can't get a nursing job without certification to be a CNA or a tech or some sort. Then you come and say it's not beneficial to me at all? How in the world would it not be if that's what allll these employers are asking me to have before I could get accepted into the job?? It kind of seems to me the most benifical in order for me to get my foot in the door of the medical field and actually get paid while doing so, because I'm not wanting to just volunteer or have some kind of unpaid internship

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Specializes in NICU.
Okay so that makes no sense. I can't get a nursing job without certification to be a CNA or a tech or some sort. Then you come and say it's not beneficial to me at all? How in the world would it not be if that's what allll these employers are asking me to have before I could get accepted into the job?? It kind of seems to me the most benifical in order for me to get my foot in the door of the medical field and actually get paid while doing so, because I'm not wanting to just volunteer or have some kind of unpaid internship

CNA experience does not count as "X yrs of nursing experience". CNA may have a benefit if you are working as a CNA at a nursing home that you plan to work at as a nurse. Same for getting a job as a PCA at a hospital and desire to work as a nurse on the unit that you work as a PCA. I have never seen a RN job posting requiring CNA experience to apply.

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Okay maybe I was just unclear here. I'm not searching for a nursing job dude. I'm extremely far from being close to that. I'm just wanting a job in the medical field, and like 2 years from now when I'm done with schooling I'll be a registered nurse. So again. JUST LOOKING TO GET INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD UNTIL I AM CERTIFIED FOR A CNA OR COMPLETE MY CLASSES/TEST FOR A RN.

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Specializes in NICU.

Nursing home- CNA

Hospital- PCA (CNA-type work), Unit Secretary, ER Tech, transporter, orderly in OR

Some hospitals have positions for student nurses. They go by different names, for example, Student Nurse Associate or Student Nurse Intern. They require you to have completed first year of nursing school.

Also look for Summer Externships for next summer. Applications would available in Spring. They are one-on-one preceptorships with a nurse. Those will get you a leg in the door instead of a foot in the door. I am not sure if the students we have are ASN or BSN. All of our Summer Externs from last year were offered positions on our unit after graduation. They work as an Apprentice between externship and graduation. My preceptorship (Senior Capstone) was included in our final semester of classes for BSN.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

Anything you can do to get your foot in the door of healthcare can help. Babyland put some great titles to look for. You are on the right track. I would hire a new rn with 3 year cna with hospital experience 10x over before I would hire a new rn with fast food/yard work/retail experience....

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

The first consideration of course is if you can still pay the bills with a job change. Otherwise, I had no hospital experience when I attended nursing school. It seemed to me that those who had hospital or similar medical experience, like CNAs, seemed to grasp the nursing courses concepts better and understand the applications better. Additionally, some of them already had hospital contacts and positions virtually secured upon their graduation from nursing school. Best of luck.

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When I applied to my nursing program they told me to get my CNA license because it would help me to get used to dealing with patients. I would think that it would be beneficial in helping someone get into a nursing program.

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I agree that being in the medical field helps when you become a nurse. I was a CNA for a year and a half before becoming a nurse. In my state, they allowed us to challenge the CNA exam at the American Red Cross after taking the first nursing course, which is what I did. If you had extra time to do it now you could always take a CNA course (sometimes they're expensive though). You also said you applied as a transporter, that's good too! I know many transporters who were hired as patient care techs without taking a CNA course. Maybe you can apply as a secretary on one of the units in the hospital too. All these jobs will give you further insight into the medical world and you'll have your foot in the door if you want to work there as a nurse when you graduate. Good luck!

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This hospital is not exactly the best in the world as I've noticed. I sent in my application maybe a couple weeks ago, called the HR office 3 times now (days apart of course) and different times. So far have not been able to get a hold of them. So now I'm believing it's time to apply at another hospital or try some of these nursing homes (...just really not looking forward to the poo poo u deal with at nursing homes lol been trying to avoid those)

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Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
This hospital is not exactly the best in the world as I've noticed. I sent in my application maybe a couple weeks ago, called the HR office 3 times now (days apart of course) and different times. So far have not been able to get a hold of them. So now I'm believing it's time to apply at another hospital or try some of these nursing homes (...just really not looking forward to the poo poo u deal with at nursing homes lol been trying to avoid those)

The medical field, especially the hospital is always going to be impacted with other people going in nursing and/or other medical profession. It may take some time to get any position in the hospital setting or even a nursing home simply because you have zero experience and no certifications at this time. Best bet is to keep trying and toss your application anywhere and everywhere, but don't always bank on each application you send it. Just like any other job, it'll take time. You may come across a point where you won't even get a job until you have your CNA certification. If so, that should be your goal. As on the posters mentioned above, there are other positions in the hospital you can apply for that do not require specific certifications; however, I as I have just mentioned, it's your application versus everyone else's.

Also it is good to note that just because a hospital is NOT "the best in the world" (no hospital is) does not mean it's not worth trying to work at. It all comes down to getting work experience and getting your resume to look nice in the future. Like you had said, the goal is to get your foot in the door as your progress through your nursing academic career.

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