Promoted from within, CNA to Nurse

susy40 · Aug 5, 2008

I too work as a CNA and just pass my exam. I did my clinical rotations in this hospital and a summer internship last year. I did clinical rotations in two more hospitals but did not like them. I am working in the same floor I did the intership. I already went for interview and I am staying in the same hospital. I know is one of the best hospitals in the state. the benefits are wonderful and they pay 100% tuition if you want to go to school. It is very hard to get a job here. I love the staff and my orientation will be very easy, since I know the system and got a lot of experience because the nurses always treated me as nursing student. They teach me a lot in this one year I have been working here. If you do not love the place you are working now, just move on. I did investigated more options but still my hospital is still the best. It is wonderful when you can find the perfect place to work.

squee-gee · Aug 5, 2008

Another newbie RN here! I just started the new grad RN program at the hospital where I worked as a CNA for a year. Singinharmony, you are lucky to have choices! For me, it was the only option. Hospitals in this area ONLY hire new grads who have worked for them in some capacity - and even then you weren't always guaranteed a position. We had 15 nursing student employees apply for 7 new grad positions. It's okay, though...I like this hospital, even though it's not as nice as some others I did clinical in.

The only con I can think of is that it will feel weird delegating tasks to my ex co-workers. But, as long as we remember where we came from and treat the CNA's the way we used to like to be treated, I think it will work out alright.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to look around at other facilities in your area. Even though you sound as though you like where you work, you must have some doubts, or you wouldn't be posting. If they offer you a job, ask for a few days to think it over and see what else is out there. I wouldn't turn them down, however, unless you had an offer elsewhere.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2008

I did NOT take my employer's nursing scholarship because I didn't want to lock myself in to the hospital....and I wound up staying there anyway. I almost feel like I need to apoligize while I delegate tasks, but I help when I can. Other than that, I just let the techs know what's going on with the patients.

You have a job to do, same as them....so just don't be above helping out and they will have your respect...

sewin2music · Aug 6, 2008

I do love where I work at this time. The thing I do not like is there is not a lot of benefits. There is no retirement plan, but for this area, they really do pay well. I was offered a position, and I think I will take it, but I will still keep my ears open for the best place for me.

Harmony

mcknis · Aug 10, 2008

I am also a nurse where I was first an RN and it made knowing where supplies are, general flow of the unit easier to get through. But, things are definitely more different than being an aide. The flow is not the same and expectations, well you know those are different.

Pro's - knowing staff, docs, other units, where thigns are kept, expectations during certain situations...

Cons's - not knowing flow/expectations for nurses, delegating to certain individuals, etc.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2008

I already have a job lined up after graduation in the very same ICU I work in as a monitor tech.

Here are what I foresee the pros and cons to be:

PROS:

I already know hospital and unit policies and procedures.
I know where stuff is and how to use it!
The nurses I work with are great and are pulling for me to succeed.
I can take leadership positions in several groups/committees I'm already a member of, starting my way up the clinical ladder.
We're moving to a brand new building and will be slowly taking more advanced, complicated patients, so I will be introduced to new things at the same pace as my colleagues.
I won't lie that it will feel good to walk through the halls with my shiny new RN tag and blue scrubs, while having to explain to people I'm an RN now.

CONS:

Internship program at my hospital is in its infancy-- I will be the first new grad to do an ICU internship here (Yay guinea pig!).
Obviously, changing roles and titles will create confusion amongst those in other departments I have to interact with (what do you mean I'm giving report to the monitor tech?!?).
Not too worried about delegating to the PCAs as I've been separate and "above" them so to speak in the hierarchy already. I have to delegate things like electrode/battery changes, 12 lead EKGs, and distributing a strip urgently to another floor to them already.