Nurses req. to be CNA's before becoming a Nurse?

[Phoenix16, RN]

Hello Again,

Let me start off by saying that this post is not intended to offend/insult anyone! I want to hear peoples opinions and point of views on the matter, so PLEASE, do not have my head.

So, I have been reading quite a few post from nursing students who are now questioning if nursing is for them. Those questions are not based on their grades, its based on their experiences in the clinical sites. Some are grossed out by what they have seen, others claim they didn't think it would be like that, and more than a few don't think they are cut out for It, and do not have the patience to deal with "difficult" patients.

So this is my question; should nurses be required to be a CNA (for at least 3 months) before they enter the field of nursing?

Please remember, this is only a question not a recommendation in anyway. I am really curious because I have seen people spend all that money only to drop out because once exposed to the reality of nursing they find out that its not something they can handle. Also, it would prevent them from wasting their money, and or preventing other prospective students from getting into the program who would really love the nursing profession.

[RescueNinjaKy]

Feb 21 by [COLOR=#003366]BuckyBadgerRN, RN[/COLOR] Here are my thoughts. Your idea is a good one in theory, but what you've laid out will go one of three ways:

1) Prospective student will get certified, interview, land job, get trained, work your mandatory 3 months and say "Oh heck no! This is NOT for me" and quit.

2) Prospective student will get certified, interview, land job, go through training, hit the three month mark and think "Oh YES! I was BORN to be a nurse". Will proceed with his/her dream while working as a CNA for the experience/money/connections.

3) Prospective student will get certified, interview, land job, train, get to 3 months and think" Yep, confirms what I thought, I want to be a nurse" and will quit the job to focus on becoming a nurse.

In 2 out of 3 examples, whatever facility hires and trains said CNA loses said CNA at the magical 3 month mark. LTC's in particular could become a revolving door of potential nursing students dipping their toe into the world of healthcare because of this silly requirement. Not to mention, the work of a CNA is very unlike what a person will do as a nurse!

My school required that you successfully complete the CNA class before applying, mostly so we had the basic skills of toileting, ambulating, turning, etc and could perform those tasks with confidence---they just don't have time to teach those things in nursing school!

I think your first reason made my point for me. They would know that it is not for them and save both time and money, not to mention the fact that they would have made space available for someone who really wanted to get into nursing school and become a nurse.

You also confirmed it again in the last paragraph; they really don't have time to be teaching those things in nursing schools. So when you think about it, I believe it would be in my best interest as a prospective student to get a jump start on the things that instructors just really don't have the time to be going over.

I'm going to have to disagree with you points.

It is not good idea to have it mandatory just to let some students know what nursing is like. They can all complain and say "I didn't know nursing was going to involve poop, or that it's so hard, what am I going to do?" all they want. They didn't do the research. If it's something you want to do, do some research first, find out what the job entails before investing time, money, and emotions. A simple search let's you know. I find that many of those who complain about it, dug their own hole and should face the consequences.

I will not stand for being required to spend extra time and money just because those who are uninformed and unmotivated didn't want to research on their prospective careers. Research is an important nursing skill. And if they are lazy enough to not research, then they should be left to their own choices.

And honestly all those cna skills don't take long to learn. One or two demonstration / practical session, follow up with some reinforcement in online videos, then constant practice when you're doing adls in clinicals pretty much makes sure you're learning the skill and hardly any time is taken out.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

I would just like to say that many LTC's already have a revolving door especially for CNA's. I worked at one place in particular that I saw excellent, hard-working, strong and determined CNA's wrung of all their enthusiasm for the work; they were not slackers, they were intelligent, compassionate people. Their ratio was ridiculously absurd, and certainly the patients were at a terrible disadvantage, only getting perfunctory essential care performed as fast as possible in order to get all in their assignment done. And they went at full tilt for their entire 12 hours.

I hope SOMETHING will break this awful trend in patient care.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I would just like to say that many LTC's already have a revolving door especially for CNA's. I worked at one place in particular that I saw excellent, hard-working, strong and determined CNA's wrung of all their enthusiasm for the work; they were not slackers, they were intelligent, compassionate people. Their ratio was ridiculously absurd, and certainly the patients were at a terrible disadvantage, only getting perfunctory essential care performed as fast as possible in order to get all in their assignment done. And they went at full tilt for their entire 12 hours.

I hope SOMETHING will break this awful trend in patient care.

Sad but I am afraid this trend will never change. Every federal and state budget seems to cut more and more from medicare/medicaid and those programs are where the vast majority of LTC income comes from. Hence higher ratios and stagnant or even less pay. If the facility doesn't get paid we sure don't get paid.