New here, deciding between CNA and LVN

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Hi all!

I am Amanda from Texas... Mommy, wife and soon to be Nursing or (CNA) student and i am NERVOUS!

I did take Phlebotomy back in 2000 but I was not able to find work due to my preceptors. Only a few gave me good scores, the rest, well... not so good. But i did enjoy it, and the experience was a lot of fun. I can remember bits and pieces of Medical Terminology but it will come back to me :idea: I hope.

Also, i did take some Adult Basic Education classes last summer (and spring of 09) and I just received my GED certificate in the mail yesterday... that was a great accomplishment, and pushed me forward.

I MIGHT go ahead and do the LVN (or LPN) course because it's only a year and I will be a f/t student and eligible for daycare on campus. I will just have to see if I'll have time to take the entrance exam before Fall semester begins...

For anyone who is on this journey of "deciding what to do" know that you aren't alone!

Cheers and Good Luck to any beginners.

:redbeathe

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Good luck to you!

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Hello!

I am a CNA and I overall really enjoy it. I'm starting pre-nursing this Fall so I can't comment on that yet, but being a CNA is really rewarding and will get you used to the less glamorous parts of nursing :barf02: I'm not sure how they do it at your school, but the CC where I go you have to be a CNA before you can even apply to the nursing programs and working as a CNA gets you eligible for more scholarships which is definitely nice. I also want to congratulate you on your GED!

I hope that helped! Good luck on the journey

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Why not do both? The CNA course should only take a few weeks, and the LVN program is probably going to be anywhere between 12 and 18 months.

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Currently a CNA of 6 years...start LPN program this Fall. ( finally) I would recommend CNA first. That way you get a first hand look at everything (good and bad) that nursing entails. I can also tell you that the BEST charge nurses were always CNA's first, and as a future LPN, it gives you a REAL good idea of what to expect from your CNA's. Good luck!

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I have to agree with being a CNA before going to nursing school. I have been a CNA/CMA for 10 years now. I start NS July 5th. The program I applied to did not require you to have your CNA, but I feel as though it should be a reqiurement personally. As a CNA you get a real feel for nursing. The best charge nurses I have ever had have always recieved thier CNA before NS.

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Thanks for all the input... And yes after going over the prices, I think I would benefit better from being a CNA first :) Have a great weekend all

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