Need advice - Is it good to work as a CNA while in Nursing School?

ToBANurse2010 · Dec 16, 2009

working as a cna while in nursing school is a plus. it will give you a good fill of what the medical field is really aout . some employers won't work with your school schedule, but most will.

good luck with your success in the nursing field :yeah: :specs:

Hazel11 · Dec 17, 2009

Working as a CNA helped me become more comfortable in clinicals. It also helps me pay off some of my loans.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Dec 17, 2009

I am working only 24 hrs a month, but it is still working. I then can pick up extra shifts during breaks.

It will help you learn how to move people and how to be more comfortable in the nursing enviornment

tokidoki7, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

I agree that you should become a CNA to become more familiar with the hospital or nursing home environment. I must warn you that the job can be demanding and exhausting. I suggest working part-time and then picking up extra hours when you have the time and energy.

studentnurse2175 · Dec 17, 2009

It is very difficult these days to get a job as a new grad RN or LPN these days. Its even harder with no healthcare experience. School does not count. My advice is this, keep your job in marketing for now. Once you have been in nursing school long enough to qualify as a nurse extern get per diem jobs at hospitals/specialties you want to work once you graduate. I say get around 2-3 positions. Work when you can at each of them. This way you have got your foot in the door several places. Do great work when your there be friendly with the nurses and let them know " at all places" that once you graduate this is where you want to work.

As I said before getting a job as a new grad right now is very hard and will be harder once you graduate. This will increase you chances of being employed once you graduate. Good luck. :specs:

MiahMSN, MSN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

Thanks everyone for the advice. I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to keep my marketing job and my pretty good salary. However, it's just not possible. My job is demanding and the program that I'm hoping to get into is a full-time accelerated 2yr MSN with a Clinical Nurse Leader role option. The directors of the program and even current cohorts have said it is almost impossible to work even part-time; it's that demanding. But I'm hoping that I could at least do 8 hours a week as a CNA, both for the money, as little as it may be, and the experience. I work for the country's largest public health care plan now, so I'm not new to health care administration, but clinical is a totally different beast. Even the nurses in my company advise that I owe it to myself, my program and future patients to commit as much of myself as possible to the program. Thankfully I'm single without kids, so I only have to worry about me; but a CNA job will help a lot! Heck working fulltime and completing my prereq sciences have been a struggle, I couldn't imagine fulltime work and fulltime nursing school! I envy those who can do it!

sweetiepeas · Dec 17, 2009

I am sure that have some CNA experience is good for getting some experience. I was told by one of my instructor to wait a year into school and go for a nurses tech job, especially if it is somewhere you want to work in the future. Mainly because it is hard once they see you as a CNA to be seen as a nurse. Plus you really want to be teaching yourself to think like a nurse not a CNA. I am not saying there is anything wrong with CNA's I know they work hard but this is what I was advised.

BanoraWhite · Dec 21, 2009

I was a CNA for 2 years before I started Nursing School..

I learned so much about the profession and what to expect, it also made me more relaxed in clinicals....I felt since I knew the basics I could better focus on the more nurse orientated tasks at hand ( ie more time learning about new equipment than freaking out over how to empty a catheter).

The cons were since I was working a lot, I was of pretty much second in charge in my area beneath the RN (I did all the documentation and charting and follow ups for my other 3 co-workers :angryfire and was the go to person for the residents families), I felt it was hard going to work when I had a bunch of school things on my mind....or concentrating in class when I was mentally thinking about what tasks needed to be done that night at work .

r0b0tafflicti0n · Dec 22, 2009

You will learn way more as a CNA than you will in school:)

Try to get a casual position. There is no way in hell you're going to be able to work much during a program like that. Believe me. I work, like, 8 hours a month and I'm pulling my hair out. Of course, I have a 2-year-old, but it is really hard to stay on top of school with work.

SingDanceRunLife · Dec 22, 2009

I'm planning on working as a SNA (student nurse aide) starting Spring 2011. My school has a program for that...in fact, the hospital doesn't hire aides other than students from the college of nursing.