Nursing/CNA Experience

[lilshamrock]

hello,

i don't post often, but i just wanted to send out a general question. i've noticed lately in my classes that many people are rn's or cna's and are going to get their bsn's. im starting to feel out of the loop because i have no nursing experience at all.

i've been tempted to get my cna certificate (which would only take one semester) then get a job so i could have the experience (which seems like cna jobs are scarce here). a part of me says why spend the money on becoming a cna when a yr or two later i'll have my bsn. plus i really don't want to go back to working while i'm in school, because im blessed enough to have my hubby let me quit work so i could go to school full time. i don't want it to jepordize my study time.

it just seems like everyone in my microbiology class has some type of health care experience but me. only experience i have is helping my father check his diabetes, and that's about it.

what i wanted to ask, is there anyone out there without any nursing experience at all that is going into the nursing program?

thanks :)

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Littleshammy, if you can afford the private college route, then maybe that would prove the best option. In my area, becoming a CNA has nothing to do with admission to nursing school but it helps to have some experience somewhere in the field. It could be administrative or clerical and it's still considered experience in the field.

Some at my community college have decided to do a progression of CNA to LPN to RN because they can see no other way that they would get into the ADN program. Of course another option would be to apply for admission to a BSN program after taking prereqs at the community college level.

I have just recently taken on a per diem patient care tech job at the hospital where I do my first semester clinical. Believe me, if I didn't have to work, I wouldn't do it just for the experience. It's only one 12 h shift a week but I know it will take its toll.

Wishing you the best of luck.

[lilshamrock]

well its not that i can really "afford" the private school route, it just means i'll have to take out more loans *sigh*

thanks for the advice rnkittykat... i don't want work to take away from my study time. i quit my job so i could go to school full time. now that i only have 3 semesters left of prereq's and the wait for the program is so long, it makes me want to get the certificate just so i can work after im done with classes and while im waiting to get in the program. im still going to apply to two other schools to see if im any closer to getting in.

thanks everyone for your advice!

[studentnurse74, LPN, LVN]

A teacher at my school said the first semester of nursing school is basically CNA duties, anyhow. Vitals, bedmaking, etc. If you don't really want to get certified as a nurse aide, don't do it just because most of your classmates are. Everyone starts somewhere. You're going to nursing school because you're LEARNING to be a nurse.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

I was a CNA for many years before nursing school. I do agree that it helped me tremendously in the clinical aspect of school.

On the flip side though, don't worry. There are plenty of folks in nursing school who are and will be wonderful nurses.....you'll be one too! Stop worrying so much.....

[lilshamrock]

Thanks! :rotfl: heheee