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Discussion

need advice pleeeeeeeeease

Hi everybody,

I got my acceptance letter for nursing program; however, I never worked in a hospital environment before and I am very very worried about being behing in the clinical because most of the students i know did work as a CNA. my question is which one you think will more helpful for me to take before starting the program? Is it CNA or the phlebotomy technician certificate.

PLEASE , fellow in the field, give me any advice.

THANK YOU SO MUCH

Hali

Featured Replies

There is always some students that will know more about a subject than you. Does not make them more intelligent than you. When I started Nursing, I had only been in a hospital to visit people. I did OK and am now graduating this July with a Masters in Health Administration. Of the two choices that you have listed the CNA covers more topics than the other. I was 17 when first admitted to nursing school and now I am 60 getting my Masters. Hang in there, it will be fine. ~_~

There were only a handful of students in my class that were (or had worked as) CNAs. They did have an advantage in therapeutic communication w/patients, and a lot of the CNA skills...no doubt there. But pretty soon we all caught up and you couldn't tell the difference between who worked as a CNA and who didn't before nursing school.

Don't worry about it! You will do fine. If you have time and the money, I would suggest going through a CNA program. But if not, don't let it bother you at all. You'll get the experience you need when you start, and they will start you slowly (first changing linens, proper body mechanics, then bed baths, then progress to assessments, etc.).

~J

I agree with baambi. It's not what you know going in - it's what you get while you're there. There may be some who seem to have a "leg up" on you, but as long as you are absorbing all the info they're throwing at you - you'll do fine. Having said that, it may help you to take the nursing assistant course - but NOT if you're going to have to pay an arm and a leg for it. These skills they learn are basic, and they're common sense. If it's free- go ahead you have nothing to lose. If not - as I said, you'll learn it in nursing school.

Pleaaase, don't waste your time worrying about what other people think. It's so not worth it. Life is too short.

Just do your very best - learn from your experiences and..oh, yeah...DO YOUR BEST!

Have a great day!!!

vamedic4

  • Author

Hi,

I am very pleased to read all your responses. thank you for replying.

I was really going to pay$900 for CNA ( april to july) which is beyond my means thinking that I would earn some nursing skills to help me in my future clinical. Thank you dearly for reading my email and taking time to respond to me.

Love to all of you,

Hali

I did not have any healthcare experience, & I was also worried as you are. In my class we had mostly LPN's & experienced CNA's....yes I felt way behind! For my program it was mandatory that we had CNA certification, & that did help. I soon caught up, and had not learned bad habits...so that was a plus. I will graduate in May...so you can do it too! If you can do the CNA training I think it really helps.....check out vocational schools, community colleges, ect you should be able to find one that is affordable. Another thing...you might check with your local unemployment office, where I live they have an educational assistance program. I get mileage paid to school, books & tution. I think the max is for 2 years @ ~$5000.00 a year. I did not qualify for any thing but loans, because my spouse makes too much $$$$:angryfire yeah right! Anyway this might help you to get your CNA plus a little other help! Good Luck

  • Expert

I hadn't set foot in a hospital or any other kind of healthcare facility as a worker before starting nursing school. I got a job as a nursing assistant in my second year of nursing school to help support myself. I do not feel that it is necessary to become a CNA and experience what a CNA does before going on to nursing school. The first semester (or quarter) of your nursing classes is where you will learn everything you will have learned in a CNA course plus a lot more. I have talked with a lot of nurses, nursing students, and other people who work in the healthcare field over the years and one thing is pretty common. Many of us were scared to death about going to our first clinicals. In my case, I used to get nearly physically sick every time I was walking into the hospital for every clinical session. This went on for over 2 years! It came from a fear of accidentally killing someone. Well, of course, I never killed anyone, accidentally or otherwise. I do think, however, that my fear and anxiety helped me to be more cautious of everything I was doing with patients at the time. I thought about everything I was doing for patients, the reason, the nursing theory behind it, the proper procedure, the rules we were supposed to follow. You are not alone in your worries. Take your CNA or phlebotomy classes if you feel you must, but my opinion is that you do not need to.

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