Pre nursing student needs advice

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I have recently been accepted into a nursing program, BSN program at Kennesaw State University, and I really need some experience. I have looked at CNA, which requires education and more money. I know some ppl become ER techs and hear this may not be as good as CNA, but I really cant go and pay $700 more for CNA training. also I know some are patient care techs but usually you need at least 1yr of nursing school. I really want some experience and need some direction in this area. I cant really volunteer because i need to make some money, so, long story short, what is my best option? Thank you for the advice and I cant wait to really "get into it" and out of pizza delivery! :)

I know you said you couldn't volunteer, but I have a job at a call center (yes, it sucks, but I work with my friends, get awesome pay and they work around my school schedule) and I applied to volunteer at a hospital over the summer when I'm not in school. I also didn't have any hospital experience, but I actually get valuable experience, get to work around nurses/patients and I have a job that I can keep during school and summer that supports my living expenses. Just a thought in case a hospital job is hard to find! I tried to apply to hospital jobs but I only got one call back and the position couldn't work around school :/. Most of them want to hire students who have started the upper division (actually accepted into nursing program and doing clinicals). Next fall, I plan on applying to the scholar programs the hospitals (tuition reimbursement and weekend shifts) and if that doesn't work out, the summer before your senior year some hospitals have extern programs which pay and offer jobs when you graduate. Just some ideas, good luck!!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Hemodialysis.

I know once I finished my Foundations of Nursing (some schools refer it to Fundamentals of Nursing) my instructor filled out a form and I could take my state's test to become a CNA. You might check with your college and state to see if this is an option.

Some local colleges and adult education centers may offer CNA courses as a reduced or free price and it might be worth looking in to.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Some employers give free CNA classes to people willing to work for them after they finish the course. Check with nursing homes near you.

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Specializes in CNA.

I agree with the above poster, check with the local nursing homes. A lot of times they will offer free CNA courses. Being a CNA will get your foot in the door, but as someone else said it does only give you a very limited view of what Nursing is or can be. The thing about being a CNA first is, it gives you perspective, it allows you to become more comfortable dealing with pts and family and it does make clinicals somewhat less scarey. Good Luck in whatever route you decide to go!!

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Thank you all so much for the advice! So many great suggestions I gotta say I'm not sure which one is the way to go, but now I have a much better idea and that's a start. Guess the best thing to do is put myself out there. There definitely appear to be some understaffed nursing homes around here that I can call. I'm so appreciative of everyones responses and this forum rocks. Ill let you know what happens. Thanks again and peace and love Laura :)

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

My nursing home pays people to get certified as CNAs, provides all the training, and pays for the test and you have a job at the end. Check out nursing homes around you.

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Does your school require that you have experience to start? Honestly, I just finished school last month in a BSN program and you'll get plenty of experience at school. A lot of my friends got PCA/PCT jobs after the first two semesters and it was really good. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it. Focus on school. Maybe even look into other school opportunities. I went to EMT school in between my 2cnd and 3rd semesters (the summer) to add to my resume. I learned a lot of new skills and assessment tools too.

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I don't understand why ED techs are considered not as good as CNAs. Our ED techs have the same skills as CNAs but also start IVs, place foleys, and apply splints. I would think an ED tech would have the advantage when it comes to being hired as a nurse.

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Specializes in ER.
I don't understand why ED techs are considered not as good as CNAs. Our ED techs have the same skills as CNAs but also start IVs, place foleys, and apply splints. I would think an ED tech would have the advantage when it comes to being hired as a nurse.

Amen!! Actually, I'm from the Kennesaw State area and have been an ER nurse for a year now. Our techs are the BOMB. I think it is much, MUCH better experience because you can start IVs, put caths in, and you see EVERYTHING. Esp if the nurses know you are in nursing school! You do still have to clean poop up in the ER sometimes, but the whole day isn't about giving baths and turning pts. Our techs help us triage, transport pts, do compressions during a code.. it's really endless because we see so much different stuff!

Good luck with whatever you decide! Just want to make sure you are well informed! :lol2:

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Specializes in Neurosciences, cardiac, critical care.

Many hospitals will hire you after your first semester of nursing school. I actually had my hiring manager at the hospital that I work as a student nurse tell me not to get my CNA, basically that it would be silly. Would you start your nursing program soon? If so, I don't think it makes a ton of sense to drop money on a CNA program when you'd be able to do the same work after 1 semester of school.

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Amen!! Actually, I'm from the Kennesaw State area and have been an ER nurse for a year now. Our techs are the BOMB. I think it is much, MUCH better experience because you can start IVs, put caths in, and you see EVERYTHING. Esp if the nurses know you are in nursing school! You do still have to clean poop up in the ER sometimes, but the whole day isn't about giving baths and turning pts. Our techs help us triage, transport pts, do compressions during a code.. it's really endless because we see so much different stuff!

Good luck with whatever you decide! Just want to make sure you are well informed! :lol2:

I have to absolutely concur with this. Even if you don't think the ED is an area you would like as a nurse, it's still valuable experience.

I have to add that some of our techs are also ACLS certified and can transport pts on a monitor to PCU. They just can't transport by themselves to ICU. And when I was new in the ED, some of the ACLS techs knew more than I did when it came to codes.

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Specializes in Med/ Surg/ Telemetry, Public Health.

Like you I couldn't afford to pay $700 for a CNA class. I eventually put a app in for a Patient care tech, and got hired, they train you and pay for your certfication. I have been a PCT for 6 yrs. I will be starting nursing school Jan 2012. I feel like the experience that I have as working as a PCT will help me when I am in the nursing program. I am more comfortable around patients and I strive to give good patient care.

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