Prospective RN taking a CNA Class

[SingDanceRunLife]

Hi guys,

I'm currently finishing up my junior year of high school...But unlike most juniors, I have all sorts of things all planned out. I know that I want to major in nursing. I know where I want to apply.

After high school, I am plan on getting a BSN and then working. Depending on if I want to go back to school or not, and how I like what I'm doing, I might go for my Master's to become a PNP.

That's not in the immediate future though.

In the immediate future, I'm thinking of becoming a CNA. The local vocational/tech school offers a CNA program during the school year, and I've signed up to do it next year for various reasons:

1. It's free training and taking it would make me eligible to sit for the state exam.

2. I think it would get me good exposure to the nursing field.

3. It's very hands on, and I absolutely love hands on things.

The program is about 2 1/2 hours each day, Monday through Friday including both lectures and clinicals. Does this sounds good?

Along with the CNA program, I will be taking AP Bio next year because I realize that Bio is definitely needed when thinking about the medical field.

I do have a couple of questions though:

1. Many colleges that have BSN programs aren't direct entry...You have to go as a pre-nursing student and then apply to the nursing program. Will the CNA program help my chances in cases like that?

2. How hard is it to find a job as a CNA? I was thinking that maybe I could work as one next summer, and also summers while I'm in college.

3. Anything else I should know?

4. Out of these colleges (they're all ones I'm thinking about applying to), which do you think has the best nursing program and which do you think is the best school overall? Temple University, Howard University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Stony Brook.

Thanks!

Oh, and as to why I want to be a nurse (since lots of people ask me that when I tell them that's what I want to do)...

Well, the medical field was the first thing that I ever wanted to do. Like most little kids, I said I wanted to be a doctor...Well, doctors are great people, and definitely needed, but I'm more of a people person than that. The most appealing thing about nursing is the very patient oriented approach. I want to deal with people directly, I want to make a direct impact, and get to know them a bit. I also like working with other people...And medicine is incredibly interesting! I seriously watch Discovery Health Channel and read about all sorts of medical stuff online just for fun. And pediatrics? Well, I've absolutely always loved kids, so being a pediatric nurse blends my great interest in the medical field with my social skills and love of children.

...And yes, I have in fact given this more thought than many college students...And yes, I do realize that my plans might change...But I don't think I could stray too far. My life goal in terms of careers has always been to help people, and I'm sure that I'll do that in whatever I end up doing.

[katchup]

I think you on the right track i know your parents are proud of you!GOOD LUCK!

[SingDanceRunLife]

My parents like that I know what I want to do, and also that I'm not setting anything in stone right now...But, I do have a concrete plan. If everything goes as it should, I'll graduate with a BSN in 2013 at age 22 and I'll start working...Probably before either of my older brothers! (This however is because they both want to do joint PhD programs -- one math and medicine, the other psychology and law).

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

....snip

i do have a couple of questions though:

1. many colleges that have bsn programs aren't direct entry...you have to go as a pre-nursing student and then apply to the nursing program. will the cna program help my chances in cases like that?

2. how hard is it to find a job as a cna? i was thinking that maybe i could work as one next summer, and also summers while i'm in college.

3. anything else i should know?

4. out of these colleges (they're all ones i'm thinking about applying to), which do you think has the best nursing program and which do you think is the best school overall? temple university, howard university, suny buffalo, suny binghamton, suny stony brook.

....snip

1. some colleges do favor cna's because you already show that you can handle the body fluids and stuff. also, your first semester will be a lot of cna stuff, so that person will already be ahead of the game. other programs do not care if you were a cna or not. the schools main job is to get you to pass the nclex (the test to get your license to nurse) on the first shot!!! that's it!!! that's what it all boils down to. how, as a school, do you increase your chances of getting students that will pass on the first shot? first by not doing direct entry. make the students prove that they can "make the grade" and put a heavy weight on how they do in a&p and micro!! secondly, make nursing school hard!! now some will do great in pre-nursing and great during the program, but still not pass the nclex the first time, but the school's main objective is to put the odds in their favor by selecting the students carefully. and yes, just because one can pass a test doesn't mean they will be good nurses, but it does mean they can pass the test.

2. some areas have plenty of cna positions and others do not!!! it really depends on the area. most of the time, in my experience, it is easier to get into a nursing home than into a hospital, but hey, that's what i did. i worked in a nursing home, got the experience and then went to a hospital once i was in the nursing program. many hospitals love to hire nursing students because they get the first chance to hire you when you graduate since you are already there and familiar with the hospital.

3. you may want to find out if you even have to go to cna school. in some areas, after you complete your first semester of nursing school you can either sit for the cerification test for nursing assistance or you can skip the test and go directly to working in a hospital as a student nurse. i know many of my fellow classmates that never worked as cna's and never took the test, they just worked for the hospital as nurse interns/student nurses.

4. i am not familiar with the schools, but i'd say apply to all of them. the best school for you could be whichever one accepts you into their program!! (lol). after you graduate, it doesn't really matter that much. of course, when applying for a graduate school, it may help out, but otherwise, no big deal.

hope that helped a little.

sincerely,

jay

[SingDanceRunLife]

Thanks.

I'm not going to CNA school per say...Instead, I'm doing a program at the local voc/tech school. I'm still in high school, so my choices are more limited. This program seems good because it's free other than having to buy a uniform, and is more spread out so it's not so much stress at one time which is good because I'll be a senior next year so I'll have college apps to worry about in the Fall.