? about needing CNA for nursing school

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Hey all! I just noticed this forum was here! I guess I've been so focused on the pre-nursing I didn't even look up! LOL

Anyway... I'm taking my CNA course this summer as a requirement to apply for the nursing program at my school.... My question is this....those of you who have had to get the CNA certificate prior to nursing school.... did you just take the class and the exam or did you have to work as a CNA as well???

I'm confused because I read somewhere where you need to work so many hours as a CNA to keep the certificate current.... but I thought I was just taking the course to get into the program... not so much to work as a CNA...

As it is... I have 3 kids, my husband travels M-TH... I have classes 2 nights a week, I volunteer at the hospital and teach Sunday school on Sundays... that doesn't even include my kids activities...

I'm worried that I misunderstood what this was for and I'm going to need to work as well as go to school....

I would LOVE the experience as a CNA but I just don't think I have the time... again... if anyone has done this... could you clarify for me what you did... is it just for the program.. or are you required to use it or lose it???

TIA

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

In the state I am in, you only need a few hours working during X period of time to keep your CNA certificate. The CNA cert is good for two years, and you're only required to work for 20 hours as a CNA within the last 6 months if you plan on reapplying for it. I hope that explanation makes sense.

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Specializes in LTC.

Minnesota requires that to stay on the state registry you must work at least 8 hours every 2 years and have 12 hours of inservice education every year.

You'll be covered with the certification for 2 years so you may want to check with your nursing school to see if you need to keep the certification current through the program (I wouldn't think you would).

You also may want to check with your program to see if they base acceptance based on work experience. I know of at least one school in MN that requires you to have so many hours of paid health care experience before they'll consider accepting you to the program.

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Hey.... thanks guys! Casi... where in MN are you?? (if you don't mind??)... I'm currently going to Normandale and I haven't seen anything stating that I need to continue to work as a CNA throughout the program... and while I know experience is great... it isn't a requirement for the program... I've been volunteering at the hospital for a year now and plan to continue throughout the program as I really love it and it has been invaluable experience (even though it's unpaid).... So I'm hoping that helps.... But again... that isn't a requirement either...

I guess I'll have to verify with my school just to be sure... Thanks again everyone!

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm currently attending Century College and they do seem to have the requirement of having X amt of hours working in healthcare. I think it comes down to the fact that they are flooded with applications and need to weed people out somehow.

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Thanks....

My friend is finishing up the radiology program at Century.... she will be done this spring...

Small world huh?

Thanks for your help... I'm going to call Normandale today...

Take care!

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Specializes in MSN, FNP-BC.

It's a requirement at my school also. While we don't HAVE to work as a CNA, I highly recomend it. Especially if you can get into a hospital and get exposure to all sorts of things. I plan on working through as much of my school as I can, nursing classes included, just for the expierence. I think seeing different procedures first hand and even helping in them, will make me a better student/catch on quickly. I don't know about where you live but where I live, CNA's can get certified to instert d/c Foleys and NG tubes. We can also get certified to draw blood and (i think...) start IV lines but not administer the medicine. Those skill in themselves make the whole expierence worth more than anyone could possibly pay me.

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