Please listen!!!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I can't tell you how badly I wish I would have known this before I started Nursing School. Please if you want to become a RN, go get your CNA and work in the field for a while before enrolling in the program. If you have no medical background please take the time to get your feet wet before you jump in the deep end with no floaties. It is going to prepare you and really give you an advantage in the RN program. I just don't want anyone else to struggle like I am. It will be worth the time and your life will so much less stressful!!!!!

Specializes in Critical Care.

Working as a CNA would benefit you in many ways, getting used to the hospital environment, the need for speed, practical hands on care and tips, and if you pick the brains of the RN's and then you can use that to learn more and do better in nursing school and later as a new grad! How much you benefit out of it would depend on you. You don't have to go to school to get a certification, many times you can work as a CNA or intern after completing your first RN clinicals. Also gives you a chance to make friends and network for a job ahead of time!

Nursing is a combination of intellectual and hands on care so being a CNA can give you a head start if you use it to your advantage. It's what you make of the opportunity given. In my experience new grads who have been CNA's or interns are much more confident and fly thru orientation. On the flip side, being a CNA could make you realize you don't want to become an RN after all when you see all that's required and you have time to change your mind before you are many thousands of dollars in student loan debt!

I am not certain how networking gets you your first nursing job. The only person I graduated with that got a job from networking was a girl who was a waitress and she just so happened to do a great job while waiting on a nurse manager of a CV unit. In our "pod" of 24 students (we had 200 and something graduate so I dont know their stats) there were only a handful like 5 or 6, that immediately found jobs after graduation. In fact, my employer, somewhere that makes you do a rigorous nursing residency, made a seperate hiring of new grads. There were 10 of us, we all were already employed with them and all had graduated within a term of one another. We did not have to do the residency program. The first term of nursing school is nothing but CNA work. If you already are prepared and comfortable, you could potentially spend you free time else where studying, instead of practicing putting in foleys on dummies, or giving a bed bath, or when the instructor needs to be in two places at once, you can show your peer how to shave a man's face, and she can do more important things. True story. If beign a CNA first will burn you out on your career faster, you are in the wrong field.[/quote']

Great explanation!! You couldn't have said it better. But you know for some reason some individuals think they are "above" CNA work.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

The only thing the CNAs have an advantage on over those of us who chose a different route or did not have experience was they already knew how to do positioning, make beds and provide beside/personal care. Now that we're done with those skills there is no advantage when we're in skills lab. We're doing SubQ, IM & IV meds now and they are in the same boat as every one else.

As a phlebotomy technician, I feel confident locating a suitable vein for IV insertion, but that doesn't mean I'll be better at it than anyone else. My point is, yes, some type of experience is somewhat beneficial, but if you can't afford it or can't complete any certification prior, don't freak out that you're going to be behind. It all evens out quickly. We just finished our 5th week and now we're all on an even playing field.

Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.

I didn't network or become a CNA or SNT or PCT before hand. Nor did I volunteer, or get involved in school activities, research etc. I had a job 2 months after I graduated. Possibly my school affiliation with the hospital I work at, plus my GPA.

Specializes in med/surg, step down, I have seen it all.

Don't listen to this. It don't mean a hill a beans if you are a CNA before or not. It might help you learn bed/baths and butt wiping better but that's it. And as one stated above and I know that the university hospital is the same they like fresh people so they can train them the proper way or there way that way they can teach nurses to be great nurses, leaders, and advocates. cNA work is back breaking more so than nursing. Save your back and put your nose in your book and pass the boards and Good Luck to each and everyone of you bc nursing is the hardest job you'll ever have. You'll love and hate it te rest of your life.

I know that the university hospital is the same they like fresh people so they can train them the proper way or there way that way they can teach nurses to be great nurses, leaders, and advocates.

the university hospital said that ?

I think it's like a lot of jobs where you get out of it what you put into it. If like Glycerine you take it as an opportunity to learn and network, it will be helpful. If you show up, do what's required of you and that's it, and watch the clock until it's time to go home and study, it probably won't be.

It sounds to me from this thread like for the most part people who were CNAs say you should be a CNA and people that weren't say you shouldn't. Basically, it's up to you.

I plan on doing it but I am annoyed that my school requires it, but doesn't offer it. I have to go to the community college for it on my own time, and it's hard to work in with my other classes. Most people do it over the summer but I was out of town and working last summer, and don't want to wait til this summer.

Specializes in Accident and Emergency, Tutor & Assessor.

Not a doctor, no - but still a lot more educated than a CNA! I have spent years trying to please CNA's by being the nurse that mucks in with them, so they wouldn't talk about me - only to be the nurse left finishing my own duties after all the others have gone home. We have our jobs, and you have yours - but they are not the same - and no amount of working as a CNA will help you in becoming a good RN except in the eyes of the CNAs!!

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I think the OP's intention, since she mentioned doing the training before enrolling in nursing school, was to say that working in an inpatient environment is unlike anything some people who aspire to becoming nurses can imagine and who have no personal experience with it. It's not about whether or not you know how to take vital signs.

We've had a number of people drop out of nursing school after becoming CNAs because of what they observed about nursing from the inside out, not what they were taught in their CNA courses.

Specializes in retired LTC.

There are some grains of wisdom in OP's post. And many others' postings also have valid reasons, pro & con.

I see one BIG advantage for being a CNA before and/or during EARLY nsg school. It provides an invaluable opportunity for the prospective nurse to see first-hand the real, working environment in healthcare today. A dress-rehearsal, if you will.

Nursing is NOT for the faint-of-heart. NETY, under-appreciation, workplace violence, crazy hours with 24/7/365 obligations, being underpaid & overworked, poor staffing, poor management, personal healthcare exposure risks, workplace safety, etc etc etc.

At least there's a chance to see if one really wants to continue on to nsg or NOT. And if it's not going to work out, at least one could cut their losses before more time and money is spent in a nsg direction.

Just my opinion.

I'm glad I've been working as a CNA - I love what I do and its made me that much more excited to go back to nursing school. I work with great nurses and have been exposed to so much over the past year. I don't think working as a CNA will make me a better RN - but the fact that I'm comfortable working in a hospital taking care of people will help me personally feel less nervous when I start my career.

Specializes in Forensic Psych.
Uhh I have never seen a PA school that looks favorably on CNA in particular most PAs I know were exclusively EMTs or medics in the military at one point but never have I seen CNA to PA. I mean I'm sure it's happened but its far less common.
Uh, they all look favorably on CNAs. The point is that you've been in health care. You know the environment and you can be fairly certain it's the right place for you. What's up with being so snarky about the subject? Are you particularly offended by the idea of being a CNA?

OP, I think you've made a good suggestion. Unfortunately it's one of those things that people may not see the value in until they're actually IN the field and understand it a bit better. That's when those phrases like "But CNAs and nurses do different jobs!" start to fade away.

I agree that it isn't a one size fits all issue, and some people are better off not working or doing something completely different, but I think some people on this thread are in for a very rude awakening.

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