eliz.edwards0630

I have been a CNA Going on 13 years now so I have worked with numerous nurses who were CNAs prior and nurses who were not, I think it is invaluable to your experience. After working as a CNA you understand that the patient care better, I am graduating on December 14, and in my interviews my CNA experience has always been brought up as a positive toward getting hired. I think you gain a lot of experience and you can better understand what it takes to be a nurse after working as a CNA. I would say go for it I am in Illinois and the colleges here required you to get your CNA although you do not have to work as a CNA before you are accepted into the nursing program. I think that it is an experience that you will be glad you took advantage of when you are working as a nurse

Thank you for the advise and input. Not sure where I will go but you have good points. I have worked thirds and seconds before O u know what it is like. It's bit that I am worried about. My husband has to be at work at 4 am and 5 am in different days so he couldn't help with my daughter and getting her up, it is a lot to take in. Going to see what both interviews offer and hope I make the right choice.

Hello all... hoping to get some advise from more seasoned nurses. I graduate December 14th and have 2 interviews set up with the hospitals here in town this week. My predicament is... one is a general interview for an un-specified position, but, we have all been guaranteed that it will most likely be a 3rd shift position, which I expected. The other, is the hospital that I have worked at for 9 years and is in HR then up to my boss, it is an interview for a position in Psych where I have been a tech for 9 years. It is a full time position on day shift, I know everyone I work with and LOVE working with them, know the unit routine and computer system. I also have a 6 year old daughter and a 4 year old step daughter as well as a husband that works full time days. My question is... I love critical care and ER, I hope to be in these areas one day, so if I take a position in psych I worry that I will lose/not develop some skills that you would use on a medical unit. We generally do not have IV's, foleys, dressing changes, NG tubes, etc. Will me accepting an RN position on psych for a few years while I go on to get my BSN hinder my ability to move to a medical/critical care area later on? Or, since both of these places see psych patients on a fairly regular basis, will that be a positive? I am very conflicted as what to do. A full time days would be wonderful, but I do not want that to be a disadvantage to me either... any suggestions? I would love to hear feedback, Thanks!