do you have to necessary be a CNA to become an lpn?!

[margueritef]

Hi guys

OK I would like to attend nursing school to become an lpn. But I've never been a CNA.

Now I've heard people say you have to be a CNA to earn experince ,I just would like to make sure.

Also I work a 40 hour job and also have a new born son it will take a year to finish. But I feel this is the best opportunity for me to support my son..I know I will miss him a lot so should I do it?

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

it depends on the program your applying to as to whether or not you need to have cna experience. i would contact the school and talk to an advisor.

[ItsTheDude]

doubt you have to work or be employed as a cna to get into a program (you may get pts for it though in a competitive program), but some programs do require cna certification to get into the program, serves to weed out those that don't really have a clue.

you need to find info about the specific programs you are interested in via the web, email or a phone call.

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

Some states require it and some do not. Arkansas, for example, requires students to be CNA's before LPN or RN. I don't really understand the logic behind it, as CNA work does not prepare you for nursing other than getting used to patient contact.

If you're deciding on a pre-nursing career to get your hands dirty, I would go with EMT instead. You'll get more experience with skills, patient assessment, interacting directly with physicians and other nurses, and learning to control pucker factor when things go bad. Also, no changing diapers.

[redessa]

There's a nursing school in my area that requires CNA certification before starting their RN program. They claim it's because the hospitals require it in order to do your clinicals. The funny thing is, none of the other 3 nursing programs in the area list CNA cert as a prereq for entering their programs.

[pnsiny]

nah i wasn't i'm a lvn now never been cna summit career college, acc, cni, everest r some college u might wanna check out

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

There's a nursing school in my area that requires CNA certification before starting their RN program. They claim it's because the hospitals require it in order to do your clinicals. The funny thing is, none of the other 3 nursing programs in the area list CNA cert as a prereq for entering their programs.

I think its a great requirement. I had to work as a cna to be competetive for my bsn program. one shift a nurse was asking me about it and i explained it to her and she said 'i think that that is stupid they require it....i can't see how that would help you be a good nurse...i was never one" She was the WORSE nurse i had ever worked with....and it showed to everyone.

Im not saying their aren't some fabulous nurses that didn't have cna experience but I think experience as a cna can only be an asset when you are delegating as a nurse. Even in some of the post above there shows a lack of respect to the value of the role of a cna....while it certainly isn't a glamorous job it's a role that all nurses should respect. They have an important job and i for one am so glad they are there! i also want to reiterate that regardlses of the philosophy of whether or not you need it to be a good nurse (which as an lvn since you will most likely work in ltc...supervising multiple cnas....i think it SHOULD be required) it comes down to each inividual program and the origional poster should contact her program.

[mochomito]

i think it depends on state law. in the state on illinois, YES, you have to be a CNA, it is just recent so a few schools aren't up to date yet, but most of them will ask you to be CNA first.

you don't have to work as a CNA you just have to be a registered CNA, so take the class, pass, take the state test and register. then go on and study LPN.

[Boonce1]

I have never been a CNA I went strait to LPN school then went back to become an RN currently working on my master to become an Family nurse practitioner

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Not required in Texas yet, but I do think it a good idea to weed out people who do not understand the industry.

As for "can you do it"? Yes, if you have family/friends support. Nothing worthwhile in life is obtained easily. I wish you all the luck in the world.

[NurseLil-lea]

it is not required to attend a cna program in missouri before attending a lpn or rn nursing program. i went straight into my lpn program and a cna certification was not required. although a lot of nursing students in my class quit their regular jobs to become cna's and this was just to help them out with patient care during our clinicals. i wish that i could have afforded to quit my regular job to become and cna when i was in nursing school but i couldn’t. it would not hurt to become a cna while attending nursing school, it does help.

[ChasingRain]

In TN it's not required. However, I do understand why it is required in some places. Like the previous posters have stated, it can serve to "weed" out those who do not understand the dynamics of nursing. Even though as a nurse you may or maynot be doing the same thing that a CNA does, I think it gives you a better understanding of being a "care giver".

I am starting my program next week, and I have never worked as a CNA. However, I would love to have had that experience, and feel like those starting with me who were/are CNAs have an advantage over me as far as taking BP and all the basics go...

There are plenty of ppl starting class with me that have kids and are planning to work full-time. I'm sure if you are determined enough then it can be done. But, in orientation they told us that working more than 20hours a week and attending the program will be very hard, esp. if your program is full-time(5 days a week, 7 hours a day) like mine. So it may be something you'll want to talk about with the directors of the program you are planning to attend. I'm sure there are a lot of ppl who have worked full-time and finished school; it just depends on how much you can handle and how determined you are :redbeathe Good luck